Background
Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has become a standard option for extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) patients. CALGB 30504 was a randomized phase II study of sunitinib vs placebo in ES-SCLC patients responding to platinum-based therapy requiring pre-enrollment brain imaging. PCI was at the discretion of treating physicians. We performed a secondary analysis of CALGB 30504 to determine the impact of PCI on ES-SCLC patients.
Methods
Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were conducted to test the differences between PCI and non-PCI patients. Kaplan-Meier analyses described PFS and OS for PCI and non-PCI patients.
Results
85 patients received maintenance (41 placebo, 44 sunitinib). 41 received PCI, 44 did not. Characteristics were balanced between PCI and no-PCI patients. PCI patients receiving sunitinib had non-significant 2.7-month PFS improvement (5.0 months vs. 2.3 months, p=0.14, HR=0.62 (95% CI: 0.33–1.18)), trending toward improved OS (8.9 months vs. 5.4 months, p=0.053, HR: 0.47 (0.22–1.03)). PCI was associated with a trend toward improved median PFS (2.9 months vs. 2.2 months, p=0.096, HR=0.69 (95% CI 0.45–1.07)), but not median OS (PCI 8.3 months vs. no PCI 8.7 months, p=0.76, HR=1.07 (95% CI 0.67–1.71)). Placebo patients had no PFS or OS difference.
Conclusions
Trends for improved PFS and OS were seen in patients receiving PCI and sunitinib supporting the need for further prospective research evaluating the integration of maintenance systemic therapy and PCI in ES-SCLC. Improved outcomes for ES-SCLC patients after induction chemotherapy may require PCI and systemic therapy to achieve control of both intracranial and extracranial disease.