1728 - A phase III trial evaluating olanzapine 5 mg for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cisplatin: J-FORCE Study

Background

Olanzapine (OLZ) 10 mg added to standard antiemetic therapy including aprepitant (APR), palonosetron (PALO), and dexamethasone (DEX) has been recommended for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) caused by cisplatin. Guidelines suggest that OLZ at a dose of 5 mg should be taken into consideration in patients at risk of sedation. OLZ 5 mg showed an equivalent activity and favorable toxicity to somnolence in several phase II studies. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial to evaluate OLZ 5 mg in addition to standard antiemetic therapy for the prevention of CINV.

Methods

Patients receiving cisplatin (≥ 50 mg/m²) were randomly assigned to either OLZ 5 mg or placebo on days 1–4, combined with APR, PALO and DEX. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR), defined as no vomiting and no rescue medications in the delayed phase (24–120 h). As the secondary endpoints, frequency of sleepiness during daytime and appetite loss were assessed by patient reported outcome.

Results

A total of 710 patients were enrolled (OLZ 356 and placebo 354). CR in the delayed phase was significantly increased with OLZ than with placebo (79% vs. 66%, P < 0.001). CR in the acute (0–24 h) and overall (0–120 h) phase was also significantly increased with OLZ (95% vs. 89%, P = 0.002, and 78% vs. 64%, P < 0.001, respectively). Although the proportion of sleepiness during daytime was higher in the OLZ group than the placebo group on day 1 (75% vs. 68%, P = 0.002), there was no difference found on days 2–5 between the two groups. The proportion of patients who reported appetite loss was significantly lower in the OLZ group than the placebo group on days 2–5 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

OLZ 5 mg can be considered a new standard antiemetic therapy in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Sleepiness during daytime due to OLZ 5 mg seems to be tolerable and addition of OLZ 5mg to the standard antiemetic therapy may reduce appetite loss.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Masakazu Abe.

Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.

Disclosure

S. Iwasa: Honoraria (self): Taiho pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly Japan; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai Pharma; Honoraria (self): Ono Pharmaceutical; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squib; Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Serono; Research grant / Funding (institution): Otsuka; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer. N. Yamamoto: Honoraria (self): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai Pharma; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Ono Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly Japan; Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho Pharmaceutical; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Eisai; Research grant / Funding (institution): Astellas Pharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution): Daiichi Sankyo; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Research grant / Funding (institution): Kyowa Hakko Kirin; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (institution): Janssen; Research grant / Funding (institution): IQVIA; Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Research grant / Funding (institution): Abbvie; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Serono. Y. Ohe: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai Pharma; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly Japan; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, An Immediate Family Member : Ono Pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Kyorin; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Takeda; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Celltrion; Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan; Honoraria (self): Boehringer Ingelheim; Honoraria (self): Bayer; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Honoraria (self): MSD; Honoraria (self), Research grant / Funding (institution): Taiho pharmaceutical; Honoraria (self): Kyowa Hakko Kirin; Research grant / Funding (institution): Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): Ignyta. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.