The use of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy together with standard systemic treatments for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer shows promise in clinical trial. Photo: Novocure
Promising results from the Phase 3 LUNAR clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) led by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University medical oncologist Ticiana Leal, MD, were published today by The Lancet Oncology. The trial evaluated the use of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy together with standard systemic treatments for patients with metastatic NSCLC after platinum-based therapies.
The LUNAR trial tested a wearable TTFields device developed by Novocure. Adding TTFields therapy to physician’s choice of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) or docetaxel, a type of chemotherapy, resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 3-month improvement in median overall survival. Notably, the data demonstrated the efficacy and safety of TTFields therapy with no additional systemic toxicities or new safety signals.
The trial’s primary investigator expressed optimism about the findings. "The results of the LUNAR trial support the use of Tumor Treating Fields therapy in metastatic NSCLC in the second line and beyond,” stated Leal, who is also associate professor and director of the Thoracic Medical Oncology Program in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. “This is a promising development for a population of patients with limited treatment options. The results suggest that Tumor Treating Fields therapy can safely be used along with standard systemic therapies to extend survival without reducing quality of life."
Patients who received TTFields therapy together with standard therapies demonstrated a median overall survival of 13.2 months, compared to 9.9 months in patients treated with standard therapies alone. Additionally, patients who received TTFields therapy in combination with physician’s choice ICI demonstrated a median overall survival of 18.5 months versus 10.8 months in patients treated with an ICI alone.
LUNAR was a phase 3 trial that investigated the safety and effectiveness of TTFields therapy when used together with ICI or docetaxel (experimental arm) versus ICI or docetaxel alone (control arm) for patients with metastatic NSCLC who developed progression during or after platinum-based therapy.
The LUNAR trial data is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second half of 2023, laying the groundwork for future advancements in lung cancer treatment.
Trial results were initially reported in June at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Read the full published manuscript in the latest issue of The Lancet Oncology.