Therapeutic Strategies in Patients With Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Brain Metastases (METAL2)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02162537 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(Slow inclusions due in part to a change in practices. The first chemotherapy become a standard for patients with NSCL with asymptomatic brain metastases.)
First Posted : June 12, 2014
Last Update Posted : February 1, 2019
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The patients carrying a complicated primary lung cancer brain metastases die in less than 3 months of delay disease in the absence of treatment. The median survival of these patients is approximately six months when the treatment associated with radiotherapy chemotherapy based on cisplatin is now the standard treatment. In most studies the patients die of their brain disease in one case only two, so it is likely that some patients do not require brain irradiation (prognosis in this case is linked to extra-cerebral disease ). The benefits for patients in group B (without systematic irradiation) are not to suffer the side effects of this radiation. The risks are in the same group to see brain metastases become symptomatic.
The role of cerebral radiotherapy in the patients treated with chemotherapy is unclear: should all patients be irradiated systematically (since the "reference" treatment is involved and with the aim of obtaining better control of the brain lesions and maintaining a better neurological status) or should only the patients showing cerebral progression be irradiated (avoidance of possibly useless brain radiotherapy and its side effects). The aim of this study is to better determine the position of cerebral radiotherapy in this context.
Main objective:
determine whether there is a difference in terms of progression-free survival between a therapeutic strategy with initial systematic brain radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy cis-platine/alimta + / - Bevacizumab and strategy with an initial chemotherapy cis-platine/alimta + / - Bevacizumab associated with brain radiotherapy only in cases of cerebral progression in patients with NSCLC with asymptomatic brain metastases
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Adenocarcinoma of Lung Metastatic to Brain Cerebral Metastases | Drug: Cisplatin Drug: Pemetrexed Drug: Bevacizumab Radiation: Cerebral Radiotherapy | Phase 3 |
This is a trial comparing two strategies with the aim to determine the best place for cerebral radiotherapy (initially or only systematic progression).
Arm A: Initial cerebral radiotherapy and chemotherapy, standard arm Arm B: Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy brain if clinical or radiological cerebral progression , experimental arm (The chemotherapy treatments are standard treatments using drugs with authorization in this indication)
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 95 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Other |
Official Title: | Multicentric, Randomized, Phase III Trial Comparing 2 Strategies in Patients With Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Asymptomatic Brain Metastases |
Actual Study Start Date : | December 2013 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 2018 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2019 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Arm A (standard arm)
Arm A: Initial Cerebral Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy (Cisplatin and pemetrexed with or without Bevacizumab)
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Drug: Cisplatin
Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 IV (with adequate hydration) on D1 every 3 weeks.
Other Name: Cisplatine Drug: Pemetrexed 500mg/m² IV(10 min. infusion, preceded by the usual folic acid, vitamin B12 and corticosteroid premedication)on D1 every 3 weeks
Other Name: Alimta Drug: Bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg on D1 every 3 weeks. In case of eligibility for Bevacizumab, the latter will not be started until C2.
Other Name: Avastin Radiation: Cerebral Radiotherapy Cerebral radiotherapy (encephalon in toto, 30 gy 10 sessions and 12 days) immediately after randomization before D1.If the number of brain metastases is less than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 5 cm size, cerebral stereotactic radiotherapy condition may be proposed. The recommended interval between randomisation and D1 will be approximately 4 weeks.
Other Name: Brain Radiotherapy |
Arm B (experimental arm)
Arm B: Chemotherapy (Cisplatin and pemetrexed with or without Bevacizumab) and Cerebral Radiotherapy if clinical or radiological progression brain
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Drug: Cisplatin
Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 IV (with adequate hydration) on D1 every 3 weeks.
Other Name: Cisplatine Drug: Pemetrexed 500mg/m² IV(10 min. infusion, preceded by the usual folic acid, vitamin B12 and corticosteroid premedication)on D1 every 3 weeks
Other Name: Alimta Drug: Bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg on D1 every 3 weeks. In case of eligibility for Bevacizumab, the latter will not be started until C2.
Other Name: Avastin Radiation: Cerebral Radiotherapy Cerebral radiotherapy (encephalon in toto, 30 gy 10 sessions and 12 days) immediately after randomization before D1.If the number of brain metastases is less than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 5 cm size, cerebral stereotactic radiotherapy condition may be proposed. The recommended interval between randomisation and D1 will be approximately 4 weeks.
Other Name: Brain Radiotherapy |
- To compare the progression-free survival rate in both arms [ Time Frame: From date of the randomization until the date of first detection of progression, or until the date of death, assessed up to up to approximately 90 months ]Whether there is a difference in terms of progression-free survival between a therapeutic strategy with initial brain radiotherapy followed by systematic chemotherapy with cis-platinum / alimta and a strategy with initial chemotherapy with cis-platinum / alimta with brain radiotherapy only if brain progression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases asymptomatic.
- Overall survival [ Time Frame: From the date of randomization until the date of patient death, assessed up to 90 months ]After 4 cycles of chemotherapy with platinum salt-pemetrexed (with or without bevacizumab) possibly followed, in case of control of the disease and if the patient's condition allows, by pemetrexed (alone or with bevacizumab if the latter was part of the initial treatment) as maintenance treatment until progression.
- Disease control rate (response + stability) [ Time Frame: Baseline, between 21 and 28 days, then every 6 weeks, up to approximately 24 months ]Repeat examinations to assess the measurable lesions or initials and examination necessary to confirm the appearance of a new lesion in case of clinical suspicion of disease progression (minimum CT scan and MRI).The radiological treatment response will be measured according to the RECIST 1.1 criteria
- Tolerance of treatment [ Time Frame: Every 3 weeks, up to approximately 24 months ]The safety of the induction combination of cisplatin or carboplatin plus pemetrexed (Alimta®) +/- bevacizumab, the maintenance treatment with pemetrexed (Alimta®) +/- bevacizumab and the pancerebral radiotherapy will be assessed based on the CTC toxicity criteria v3.0.
- Quality of life assessment [ Time Frame: Baseline, between 21 and 28 days, then every 6 weeks, up to approximately 24 months ]The quality of life assessment measurement will be performed by self-questionnaire. The EURO-QOL questionnaire will be used.
- Neurological assessment [ Time Frame: Baseline, between 21 and 28 days, then every 6 weeks, up to approximately 24 months ]The neurological assessment measurement will be performed by self-questionnaire. The MOCA questionnaires will be used.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with histologically or cytologically proven non-epidermoid, non-small cell lung cancer, non-EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor)-mutated (or mutation test impracticable).
- Patients with brain metastasis/metastases without neurosurgical indication.
- Asymptomatic patients (without treatment or with stable steroids or antiepileptic treatments for ≥ 5 days prior to obtaining the baseline MRI of the brain, and ≥ 5 days prior to first dose of study treatment (Cycle 1, Day 1).
- At least one lesion measurable according to the RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) criteria.
- ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) Performance Status 0 - 1
- No previous chemotherapy for this cancer, apart from adjunctive chemotherapy more than 18 months ago.
- Prior surgery is authorized in case of documented recurrence or progression.
- Adequate biological functions (hematologic, platelets, hemoglobin, hepatic function, alkaline phosphatases, ASAT (Aspartate transaminase) and ALAT (Alanine Aminotransferase); creatinine clearance).
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For women: Effective contraception for women of childbearing age during treatment and for 6 months following treatment.
For men: They must be surgically sterile or accept the use of effective contraception until 6 months after the treatment period.
- Patients of more than 18 years of age.
- Estimated survival of at least 12 weeks.
- Consent signed by the patient
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients presenting with a brain lesion eligible for curative treatment (neurosurgical).
- Symptomatic brain metastasis/metastases in spite of symptomatic treatment.
- Epidermoid carcinoma.
- Con indication of Bevacizumab is furthermore
- Patients presenting with a brain lesion eligible for curative treatment (neurosurgery or radiosurgery).
- Symptomatic brain metastasis/metastases in spite of symptomatic treatment.
- Epidermoid carcinoma.
- Cons indication of Bevacizumab
- Inability to take the folic acid or vitamin B12 vitamin supplementation or the dexamethasone premedication (or any equivalent corticosteroid), or any inability to comply with the study procedures.
- History of cancer, with the exception of cervical cancer in situ, skin cancer other than melanoma, adequately treated low-grade prostatic cancer (Gleason score <6), unless this cancer was diagnosed and treated more than 5 years ago without any signs of recurrence.
- Patients presenting with a systemic disorder which, in the investigator's opinion, compromises their participation in the study for reasons related to treatment safety or compliance.
- Patients incapable of discontinuing their aspirin treatment when the dose is > 1300 mg/day or their non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment two days before the day, on the day and two days the day of administration of pemetrexed (Alimta).
- Patients presenting with a 3rd sector (pleural effusion, ascites) which is clinically detectable and uncontrollable by simple measures of the evacuatory puncture type or other treatment before inclusion in the study.
- Patients presenting with neuropathy of grade > 2 according to the criteria of CTC (Common toxicity Criteria) v3.0.
- Patients whose foreseeable compliance or geographical distance renders monitoring difficult.
- Pregnant or breast-feeding women.
- Significant weight loss (≥ 10%) during the 6 weeks preceding inclusion in the study.
- Vaccination against yellow fever within 30 days preceding inclusion in the study.
- Cons-indication to taking steroids
- Persons deprived of their liberty as a result of a judicial or administrative decision
- Concomitant participation in another trial

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02162537

Principal Investigator: | Isabelle MONNET | Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Créteil |
Responsible Party: | Isabelle MONNET, Physician, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Creteil |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02162537 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
METAL 2 |
First Posted: | June 12, 2014 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 1, 2019 |
Last Verified: | January 2019 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Strategy Radiotherapy Chemotherapy Cisplatin |
Lung Neoplasms Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung Neoplasm Metastasis Adenocarcinoma of Lung Respiratory Tract Neoplasms Thoracic Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms Lung Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Carcinoma, Bronchogenic Bronchial Neoplasms Adenocarcinoma Carcinoma Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial |
Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplastic Processes Pathologic Processes Bevacizumab Cisplatin Pemetrexed Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological Antineoplastic Agents Angiogenesis Inhibitors Angiogenesis Modulating Agents Growth Substances Physiological Effects of Drugs Growth Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |