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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT02194738

Genetic Testing in Screening Patients With Stage IB-IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer That Has Been or Will Be Removed by Surgery (The ALCHEMIST Screening Trial)

This ALCHEMIST trial studies genetic testing in screening patients with stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that has been or will be removed by surgery. Studying the genes in a patient's tumor cells may help doctors select the best treatment for patients that have certain genetic changes.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To centrally test resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for genetic mutations to facilitate accrual to randomized adjuvant studies.

II. To obtain clinically annotated tumor tissue and patient-matched non-malignant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from peripheral blood, as well as detailed epidemiologic and clinical follow-up data, to allow clinically annotated advanced genomic analyses in concert with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To characterize the natural history of molecularly characterized NSCLC to allow subsequent development of targeted therapies against genotype-defined subpopulations in the adjuvant and recurrent settings.

II. To cross-validate local genotyping assays for EGFR and ALK and PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a central reference standard, when available.

EXPLORATORY/OTHER OBJECTIVES:

I. To study the genomic evolution of lung cancers by comparing genomic characteristics at resection and at recurrence.

II. To understand reasons behind lack of enrollment to adjuvant targeted therapy studies for potentially eligible patients.

III. To study the clinical significance of circulating tumor DNA within the plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from early stage lung cancer patients.

IV. To perform proteomic analyses on lung cancer specimens obtained at the time of resection (to identify prognostic biomarkers).

OUTLINE:

STEP 1 (SCREENING): Patients undergo collection of blood and tissue samples for EGFR, ALK, and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/cytotoxic t-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) testing via direct sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Patients that have had surgery prior to pre-registration will submit samples from the previous surgery for testing.

STEP 2 (TREATMENT): Patients with a mutation targeted by one or more of the investigational drugs used in this study or those without mutations are assigned to 1 of 4 treatment subprotocols.

A081105: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 treatment arms.

ARM A (BLINDED ERLOTINIB- CLOSED 06/14/17): Blinded patients receive erlotinib hydrochloride orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM B (PLACEBO- CLOSED 06/14/17): Patients receive placebo PO QD on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM C (UNBLINDED ERLOTINIB): Unblinded patients receive erlotinib hydrochloride PO QD on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM D (OBSERVATION): Patients (including patients previously randomized to placebo) undergo observation at least every 6 months for 2 years.

E4512: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

ARM A: Patients receive crizotinib PO twice daily (BID) on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM B: Patients undergo observation.

EA5142: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients receive nivolumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 4 weeks for up to 1 year in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo computed tomography (CT) and/or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT throughout the trial and blood sample collection during screening and follow-up. Patients may undergo an echocardiography (ECHO) as clinically indicated on study.

ARM II: Patients are followed serially with CT and/or PET/CT imaging for up to 1 year and then during follow-up. Patients also undergo blood sample collection during screening and follow-up. Patients may undergo an ECHO as clinically indicated on study.

A081801: Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 arms.

ARM A:

INITIAL THERAPY: Patients receive 1 of 4 platinum doublet regimens* based on the treating physician's choice. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

CONTINUANCE THERAPY: Patients then undergo observation.

ARM B:

INITIAL THERAPY: Patients receive 1 of 4 platinum doublet regimens* based on the treating physician's choice. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

CONTINUANCE THERAPY: Patients then receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) over 25-40 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 17 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM C:

INITIAL THERAPY: Patients receive 1 of 4 platinum doublet regimens* based on the treating physician's choice and pembrolizumab IV over 25-40 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

CONTINUANCE THERAPY: Patients then receive pembrolizumab IV over 25-40 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 13 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

*ACCEPTABLE REGIMENS: DOUBLET I: Patients receive cisplatin IV over 1-2 hours and pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1 of each cycle.

DOUBLET II: Patients receive carboplatin IV over 30 minutes and pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1 of each cycle.

DOUBLET III: Patients receive cisplatin IV over 1-2 hours on day 1 of each cycle and gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 of each cycle.

DOUBLET IV: Patients receive carboplatin IV over 30 minutes and paclitaxel IV over 3 hours on day 1 of each cycle.

After completion of study, patients that are not enrolled on either A081105, E4512, EA5142, or A081801 are followed up every 6 months for 5 years.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • PATIENT PRE-REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
  • For pre-surgical patients
  • Suspected diagnosis of resectable non-small cell lung cancer; cancers with a histology of "adenosquamous" are considered a type of adenocarcinoma and thus a "nonsquamous" histology; patients with squamous cell carcinoma are eligible
  • Suspected clinical stage of IIIA, II (IIA or IIB) or large IB (defined as size >= 4 cm); Note: IB tumors < 4 cm are NOT eligible; stage IB cancer based on pleural invasion is not eligible unless the tumor size is >= 4 cm; the 7th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging will be utilized
  • For post-surgical patients
  • Completely resected non-small cell lung cancer with negative margins (R0); patients with squamous cell carcinoma are eligible only if they have not received adjuvant therapy
  • Pathologic stage IIIA, II (IIA or IIB) or large IB (defined as size >= 4 cm); Note: IB tumors < 4 cm are NOT eligible; stage IB cancer based on pleural invasion is not eligible unless the tumor size is >= 4 cm; the 7th edition of AJCC staging will be utilized
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • No patients who have received neoadjuvant therapy (chemo- or radio-therapy) for this lung cancer
  • No locally advanced or metastatic cancer requiring systemic therapy within 5 years prior to registration; no secondary primary lung cancer diagnosed concurrently or within 2 year prior to registration
  • No prior treatment with agents targeting EGFR mutation, ALK rearrangement, and PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4
  • No patients known to be pregnant or lactating
  • Patients who have had local genotyping are eligible, regardless of the local result
  • No patients with recurrence of lung cancer after prior resection
  • Note: Post-surgical patients should proceed to registration immediately following preregistration
  • PATIENT REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
  • Tissue available for the required analyses (either clinical tissue block or slides and scrolls)
  • Completely resected NSCLC with negative margins (R0); cancers with a histology of "adenosquamous" are considered a type of adenocarcinoma and thus a "nonsquamous" histology
  • Pathologic stage IIIA, IIA or IIB, or large IB (defined as size >= 4 cm); Note: IB tumors < 4 cm are NOT eligible; stage IB cancer based on pleural invasion is not eligible unless the tumor size is >= 4 cm; the 7th edition of AJCC staging will be utilized
  • Patients with squamous cell carcinoma are eligible only if they have not received adjuvant therapy
  • In order to allow for time for central genotyping and eligibility for the ALCHEMIST treatment trial, patients must register within the following eligibility windows:
  • Squamous patients:
  • No adjuvant therapy permitted, register patient within 77 days following surgery
  • Non-squamous patients:
  • If no adjuvant therapy, register patient within 75 days following surgery
  • If adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy only, register patient within 225 days following surgery
  • If adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation, register patient within 285 days following surgery

Treatment and study plan

Biospecimen Collection

Procedure

Undergo collection of blood samples

Other names: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Sample Collection, Specimen Collection

carboplatin

Drug

Given IV

Other names: Blastocarb, Carboplat, Carboplatin Hexal, Carboplatino, Carboplatinum, Carbosin, Carbosol, Carbotec, CBDCA, Displata, Ercar, JM-8, JM8, Nealorin, Novoplatinum, Paraplatin, Paraplatin AQ, Paraplatine, Platinwas, Ribocarbo

Cisplatin

Drug

Given IV

Other names: Abiplatin, Blastolem, Briplatin, CDDP, Cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum, Cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum, Cis-diamminedichloro Platinum (II), Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, Cis-dichloroammine Platinum (II), Cis-platinous Diamine Dichloride, Cis-platinum, Cis-platinum II, Cis-platinum II Diamine Dichloride, Cismaplat, Cisplatina, Cisplatinum, Cisplatyl, Citoplatino, Citosin, Cysplatyna, DDP, Lederplatin, Metaplatin, Neoplatin, Peyrone's Chloride, Peyrone's Salt, Placis, Plastistil, Platamine, Platiblastin, Platiblastin-S, Platinex, Platinol, Platinol- AQ, Platinol-AQ, Platinol-AQ VHA Plus, Platinoxan, Platinum, Platinum Diamminodichloride, Platiran, Platistin, Platosin

clinical observation

Other

Undergo observation

Other names: observation

Computed Tomography

Procedure

Undergo CT or PET/CT

Other names: CAT, CAT Scan, Computed Axial Tomography, Computerized Axial Tomography, Computerized axial tomography (procedure), Computerized Tomography, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, CT, CT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type, tomography

Crizotinib

Drug

Given PO

Other names: Alkixen, Crizocent, MET Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor PF-02341066, PF 02341066, PF-02341066, PF-2341066, PF02341066, Xalkori

Cytology Specimen Collection Procedure

Other

Undergo collection of blood and tissue

Other names: Cytologic Sampling

Echocardiography Test

Procedure

Undergo ECHO

Other names: EC, Echocardiography

Erlotinib

Drug

Given PO

gemcitabine hydrochloride

Drug

Given IV

Other names: dFdCyd, Difluorodeoxycytidine Hydrochloride, Gemcitabine HCI, Gemzar, LY 188011, LY-188011, LY188011

Nivolumab

Biological

Given IV

Other names: ABP 206, BCD-263, BMS 936558, BMS-936558, BMS936558, CMAB819, MDX 1106, MDX-1106, MDX1106, NIVO, Nivolumab Biosimilar ABP 206, Nivolumab Biosimilar BCD-263, Nivolumab Biosimilar CMAB819, ONO 4538, ONO-4538, ONO4538, Opdivo

paclitaxel

Drug

Given IV

Other names: Anzatax, Asotax, Bristaxol, Praxel, Taxol, Taxol Konzentrat

Pembrolizumab

Biological

Given IV

Other names: BCD-201, GME 751, GME751, Keytruda, Lambrolizumab, MK 3475, MK-3475, MK3475, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar BCD-201, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar GME751, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar QL2107, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar RPH-075, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar SB27, QL2107, RPH 075, RPH-075, RPH075, SB 27, SB-27, SB27, SCH 900475, SCH-900475, SCH900475

Pemetrexed

Drug

Given IV

Other names: MTA, Multitargeted Antifolate, Pemfexy

pemetrexed disodium

Drug

Given IV

Other names: Alimta, Almita, LY231514, N-[4-[2-(2-Amino-4,7-dihydro-4-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)ethyl]benzoyl]-L-glutamic Acid Disodium Salt

Placebo Administration

Other

Given PO

Positron Emission Tomography

Procedure

Undergo PET/CT

Other names: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, PET, PET Scan, Positron emission tomography (procedure), Positron Emission Tomography Scan, Positron-Emission Tomography, PT

Primary outcomes

  1. Central and local clinical genotyping to facilitate accrual to the adjuvant Intergroup studies, E4512 and A081105

    Time frame: Up to 4 years

    Central and local clinical genotyping to facilitate accrual to the adjuvant Intergroup studies, E4512 and A081105, will be measured by the rate of accrual.

  2. Feasibility of research grade formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue collection for Center for Cancer Genomics (CCG) analysis

    Time frame: Up to 4 years

    Research grade formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue collection for Center for CCG analysis, will be measured by adequate specimens collected per month.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Disease free survival (DFS) rate for lung cancers which are wild-type for EGFR and ALK

    Time frame: Time from resection to the earliest of documented disease recurrence confirmed by biopsy, development of a new lung cancer confirmed by biopsy, or death from any cause, assessed at 2 years

    Using genomics performed at CCG, DFS rate will be calculated for each genotype-defined population constituting greater than 1% of the study cohort.

  2. Agreement of local genotyping methods (direct sequencing of EGFR, ALK fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH]) with central Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments genotyping

    Time frame: Up to 5 years

    For each locally used assay, agreement will be defined as the proportion of patients deemed mutant (or wild-type) by local and central assessment divided by the number of evaluable patients, where an evaluable patient is one who has a local assessment result and has submitted tissue for central assessment. An agreement rate of 90% or higher between the local assay and the central assessment will be deemed acceptable.

Other outcomes

  1. Spectrum of new mutations identified at recurrence

    Time frame: Up to 5 years

    Genomic analysis will be performed on tissue collected at time of recurrence and compared to baseline genomics. New mutations in key oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha and phosphatase and tensin homolog, etc) will be quantified.

  2. Proportions of patients who decline to enroll

    Time frame: Up to 5 years

    Reasons behind why potentially eligible ALK-rearranged/EGFR mutant patients decline to enroll onto the adjuvant trials will be summarized. Concern with randomization, or not needing further therapy versus those who become otherwise ineligible due to recurrent disease or missing the enrollment window will be catalogued.

  3. Variability in the levels of baseline cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) based on the timing of collection of these samples

    Time frame: Up to 4 years

    The levels of cfDNA (stratified by the timing of collection) will be correlated with clinical outcomes of overall survival and disease-free survival using Kaplan-Meier approach as well as exploratory Cox proportional Hazards models adjusted for baseline smoking, patient, and tumor characteristics as well as treatment information.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial (ALCHEMIST)

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 18, 2014
Registry last updated
Jul 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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