In a significant advancement for cancer treatment, AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) has emerged as the first and only immunotherapy to show a survival benefit in a global Phase III trial for patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). The ADRIATIC Phase III trial unveiled positive high-level results, revealing that Imfinzi significantly improved both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in LS-SCLC patients who had not progressed following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT), compared to a placebo post-cCRT.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents a highly aggressive lung cancer variant, often characterized by a swift recurrence and progression despite an initial positive response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, particularly in LS-SCLC cases. The prognosis for LS-SCLC patients has historically been grim, with only 15-30% surviving five years post-diagnosis. The ADRIATIC trial’s findings mark a crucial shift, offering new hope to patients battling this formidable disease.

Suresh Senan, PhD, Professor of Clinical Experimental Radiotherapy at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, and the principal investigator in the trial, emphasized the significance of these findings. “ADRIATIC is the first global Phase III immunotherapy trial to deliver significant, clinically meaningful improvement in survival in this setting, marking a breakthrough for patients with this devastating disease,” he stated, highlighting the decades-long stagnation in standard care for LS-SCLC.

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, underscored the transformative impact of Imfinzi in the treatment landscape of small cell lung cancer. “These exciting results build on the transformative efficacy of Imfinzi in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and demonstrate the potential to bring a curative-intent immunotherapy treatment to this earlier-stage setting of small cell lung cancer for the first time,” Galbraith noted. She further pointed out the pioneering role of Imfinzi in early lung cancer treatment post-chemoradiotherapy, reinforcing its status as a key player in the fight against lung cancer.

Imfinzi’s safety profile was consistent with previous findings, with no new safety signals identified. The study’s results are poised for presentation at an upcoming medical conference and will be communicated to global regulatory authorities.

Notably, the trial also includes a secondary experimental arm testing Imjudo (tremelimumab) in combination with Imfinzi, which remains blinded and will proceed to the next planned analysis. Imfinzi has already garnered approval in various global markets for the treatment of extensive-stage SCLC and as a curative-intent therapy for unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer, further solidifying its role in oncology.

The ADRIATIC trial’s success exemplifies the potential of targeted immunotherapies in transforming cancer treatment paradigms, particularly for diseases with historically limited treatment options. As the medical community awaits further data, the promise of Imfinzi in improving patient outcomes illuminates the path toward combating one of the most challenging cancers.

  ADRIATIC Trial, AstraZeneca, Chemoradiotherapy, Imfinzi, Immunotherapy, Small cell lung cancer, Survival Benefit