AMR PH GL 2007 CL001 Phase 3 Trial in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer After Failure of First-Line Chemotherapy

Small cell lung cancer represents approximately 13% of the cancers of the lung and presents as extensive stage disease in 60% to 70% of patients. Sites of metastases include bone (35%), liver (25%), bone marrow (20%), brain (10%), extrathoracic lymph nodes (5%), and subcutaneous masses (5%). Small-cell lung cancer has prominent markers of neuroendocrine differentiation.

The staging classification for SCLC is the 2-stage Veterans Administration Lung Study Group system that categorizes patients as having limited or extensive disease. Limited stage SCLC is disease confined to 1 hemithorax with or without adjacent mediastinal and/or supraclavicular lymph node involvement, but without a pleural effusion. This extent of disease can be included in a tolerable radiation field. Extensive-disease SCLC is any disease beyond the definition of limited-stage disease.

There are few proven treatment options for SCLC patients who fail first-line chemotherapy. New treatment strategies must be evaluated. The need to discover active agents with better toxicity profiles continues to be of great importance. Amrubicin may be an effective treatment for this population.

Inclusion criteria

• Histological or cytological diagnosis of SCLC at study entry according to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) histopathologic classification. Mixed or combined subtypes according to the IASLC are not allowed;
• SCLC that is either sensitive (defined as a response including stable disease to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, with subsequent progression >/= 90 days after completing first-line chemotherapy) or refractory (defined as best response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy or progression < 90 days after completing first-line chemotherapy);
• Extensive or limited disease; patients with limited disease who are candidates for local or regional salvage radiation therapy must have been offered such treatment prior to participation in this study;
• Radiographically documented progression after first-line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy;
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen;
• At least 18 years of age;
• ECOG performance status of 0 - 1

Exclusion criteria

• Chest radiotherapy with curative intent to the primary disease complex </= 28 days prior to first dose; CNS radiotherapy </= 21 days prior to first dose; radiotherapy to all other areas </= 7 days prior to first dose;
• Prior anthracycline, topotecan, or irinotecan treatment.
• Prior anthracycline or topotecan treatment.
• Patients with know history of seropositive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or patients who are receiving immunosuppressive medications that would increase the risk of serious neutropenic complications