A Phase 2 Randomized, Controlled Trial of QL1706 Plus Chemotherapy and Quad Shot for Driver Gene-negative Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Status and phase: Not yet enrolling; Phase 2

Conditions: Chemotherapy; Immunotherapy; Radiotherapy; Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatments: Radiation: Quad shot; Drug: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Drug: Chemotherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07271602

UNION-LUNG-001

Details and patient eligibility

About

Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy has become the first-line standard treatment regimen for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). QL1706 is an antibody that can simultaneously block the CTLA-4 and PD-1. In a phase II clinical study, when QL1706 was combined with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 6.8 months and the objective response rate (ORR) was 45% at a median follow-up time of 12.6 months (range, 0.4-15.2 months).

Radiotherapy is one of the commonly used local treatment modalities for tumors, which has a synergistic effect with immunotherapy, can enhance the response to immunotherapy, and trigger the abscopal effect. Quad shot radiotherapy is a periodic pulsed hypofractionated radiotherapy, with a specific mode as follows: 2 fractions per day, with an interval of more than 6 hours between the two fractions, for 2 consecutive days, with a total dose of 14-14.8 Gy. This regimen can be repeated every 3-4 weeks for a total of 3 cycles, with a total treatment dose of approximately 44-48 Gy, and it can be used for palliative treatment of various advanced tumors.

This project intends to explore whether the addition of Quad shot radiotherapy to QL1706 combined with chemotherapy can improve local and systemic tumor control rates, prolong patients' PFS, and evaluate the safety of the combined therapy in treatment-naive patients with metastatic NSCLC.

Enrollment: 104 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Confirmed age: 18-75 years;
2. Histologically or cytologically diagnosed as lung squamous cell carcinoma or lung adenocarcinoma;
3. Staged as stage IV (T1-4NxM1) according to the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) Cancer Staging System (9th edition), with at least 2 evaluable lesions, including one distant metastatic lesion;
4. Driver gene-negative;
5. ECOG performance status: 0-1;
6. Normal bone marrow function: white blood cell count > 4×10⁹/L, hemoglobin concentration > 90 g/L, platelet count > 100×10⁹/L;
7. Normal liver and kidney function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5×upper limit of normal (ULN); aspartate transaminase (AST) and/or alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5×ULN; alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≤ 2.5×ULN; creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min;
8. Normal results of thyroid function, amylase, lipase, pituitary function, inflammatory/infectious markers, myocardial enzymes, and electrocardiogram (ECG). For patients aged > 50 years with a smoking history, normal pulmonary function test results are required. For patients with abnormal ECG or a history of cardiovascular disease (that does not meet the exclusion criteria listed in item 7), additional myocardial function tests and echocardiography are required, with normal results;
9. Patients have signed the informed consent form and are willing and able to comply with follow-up, treatment, laboratory tests, and other study requirements as specified in the study schedule;
10. Female subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use reliable contraceptive methods (e.g., condoms, regularly used contraceptives as prescribed by a physician) from screening until 1 year after treatment.

Exclusion criteria

1. Positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA quantitation > 1×10³ copies/mL, or positive for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody;
2. Positive for anti-HIV antibody or diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);
3. Active pulmonary tuberculosis: Patients with a history of active tuberculosis within the past year, regardless of treatment status, should be excluded. Patients with a history of active tuberculosis more than 1 year ago should be excluded, except those with confirmed regular anti-tuberculosis treatment in the past;
4. Active, known, or suspected autoimmune diseases (including but not limited to uveitis, enteritis, hepatitis, pituitary disorders, nephritis, vasculitis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and asthma requiring bronchodilators). Exceptions include type 1 diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement therapy, and skin diseases not requiring systemic treatment (e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia);
5. A history of interstitial lung disease or pneumonia within the past year requiring oral or intravenous steroid treatment;
6. Chronic systemic glucocorticoid therapy (dose equivalent to or exceeding 10 mg prednisone per day) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy. Subjects receiving inhaled or topical corticosteroids are eligible;
7. Uncontrolled heart disease, such as: 1) Heart failure with NYHA class ≥ 2; 2) Unstable angina pectoris; 3) History of myocardial infarction within the past year; 4) Supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias requiring treatment or intervention;
8. Pregnant or lactating women (pregnancy testing should be considered for sexually active women of childbearing age);
9. Previous or current malignant tumors other than adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, and papillary thyroid carcinoma;
10. Hypersensitivity to macromolecular protein preparations or any component of QL1706;
11. Active infection within 1 week requiring systemic treatment;
12. Receipt of live vaccines within 30 days prior to the first course of immunotherapy;
13. History of organ transplantation;
14. Other conditions assessed by investigators that may endanger patient safety or compliance, such as severe diseases requiring prompt treatment (including mental illnesses), significantly abnormal test results, or other psychological, family, or social high-risk factors.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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104 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

QL1706, chemotherapy, Quad shot radiotherapy

Experimental group

Description:

QL1706 is combined with chemotherapy for 4 cycles. Starting from Cycle 1, concurrent Quad shot radiotherapy is administered (for a maximum of 3 cycles), followed by entry into the QL1706 maintenance treatment phase.

Treatment:

Drug: Chemotherapy

Drug: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Radiation: Quad shot

Chemotherapy, QL1706

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

QL1706 is combined with chemotherapy for a total of 4 cycles, with one cycle administered every 21 days; subsequent treatment proceeds to the QL1706 maintenance therapy phase.

Treatment:

Drug: Chemotherapy

Drug: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors