Primary Radiotherapy In MEtastatic Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death and is the second most common cancer in both men and women in Australia, and globally. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of cases. Almost half of the cases present with metastatic disease, in whom average survival is less than two years despite recent advances with immunotherapy. Drug therapies alone have not been able to overcome this ceiling in survival.

The primary lung tumour is a source of ongoing seeding of new metastatic (secondary) sites of disease, and we will test whether eradication of the primary tumour through non-invasive radiotherapy will limit metastases, enhance the effect of drug therapy and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Radiotherapy is a rapidly translatable solution to address this unmet need.

In the Primary Radiotherapy In MEtastatic Lung cancer (PRIME-Lung) trial, patients with metastatic NSCLC will receive standard of care systemic therapy with or without radiotherapy to the primary lung tumour. We hypothesise that radiotherapy will improve overall survival above standard of care drug therapy. PRIME-Lung is a randomised controlled phase III clinical trial and will provide a definitive answer to this critical issue.

The study team includes representation from radiation and medical oncology, physics, respiratory medicine, biostatistics, health economics and quality of life experts. The PRIME-Lung trial was designed in consultation with consumers to ensure acceptability and applicability to this area of unmet need. Furthermore, to accelerate rollout and accessibility, the trial will build on the existing AURORA lung cancer registry, leveraging the registry's established data management processes and over 25 already active sites. As radiotherapy is a pillar of oncology and widely available, upon successful completion of this trial we expect rapid translation into the community and widespread adoption of the trial results.

Inclusion criteria

• Newly diagnosed metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC, not amenable to curative surgery or curative radiotherapy
• Histologically or cytologically documented NSCLC
• EGFR/ALK/ROS1 Wild-type
• Primary suitable for radiotherapy and not requiring immediate palliative thoracic irradiation
• Investigator deemed appropriate for SoC systemic therapy
• Metastases in up to 3 organ systems

Exclusion criteria

• Medically unfit for systemic therapy
• EGFR/ALK/ROS1 mutation positive or actionable driver mutation with intention to use available targeted drug therapy
• Has had previous thoracic radiotherapy of > 36Gy within the 6 months prior to randomisation.
• Has been diagnosed and/or treated additional malignancy within 2 years prior to randomisation with the exception of: Curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, curatively treated early-stage cervical cancer, breast cancer or prostate cancer with no evidence of active disease and not on active therapy. Other exceptions may be considered following consultation with the principal investigator
• Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis or current pneumonitis that requires active corticosteroids with a dose equivalent of prednisolone > 10mg/d.
• A known diagnosis of fibrotic interstitial lung disease
• Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
• Uncontrolled brain metastasis not amenable to debulking surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy
• Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment within last year (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is allowed