Results of Pooled Analysis Show Positive Data for Trilaciclib in ES-SCLC

Jared Weiss, MD, associate professor of medicine at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the pooled analysis of 3 phase 2 trials looking at trilaciclib in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

In these randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, patients who received etoposide and carboplatin or etoposide, carboplatin, and atezolizumab [Tecentriq] or topotecan had a substantial decrease in severe neutropenia from about 53% with placebo to about 11% with trilaciclib. Febrile neutropenia went from 9.2% for patients on placebo to 3.3% for patients on trilaciclib, according to Weiss. Downstream consequences such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration, red blood cell transfusions, and grade 3/4 anemia all decreased on trilaciclib as well. The percentage of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents administration and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia also decreased.

Weiss says what is seen here is an improvement in numbers and an improvement in the supportive care required for patients with ES-SCLC who received chemotherapy. With this agent, there was a decrease in the adverse effects of chemotherapy. The safety signal for these trials was an improvement in safety rather than a harm in safety for these patients.

One of the reasons for the pooled analysis was to see if this regimen hurt progression-free and overall survival outcomes. There was no evidence of poorer survival outcomes with trilaciclib after treatment. The survival curves are superimposed on each other with a hazard ratio of 1.00, Weiss explains. There was a similar result with progression-free survival.

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