Randomized, phase II, placebo-controlled trial of nintedanib for the treatment of radiation pneumonitis.

Publication/Presentation Date

3-6-2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is the most common dose-limiting toxicity for thoracic radiation therapy. Nintedanib is used for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which shares pathophysiological pathways with the subacute phase of RP. Our goal was to investigate the efficacy and safety of nintedanib added to a prednisone taper compared to a prednisone taper alone in reducing pulmonary exacerbations in patients with grade 2 or higher (G2+) RP.

METHODS: In this phase II, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, patients with newly diagnosed G2+ RP were randomized 1:1 to nintedanib or placebo in addition to a standard 8-week prednisone taper. The primary endpoint was freedom from pulmonary exacerbations at one year. Secondary endpoints included patient reported outcomes and pulmonary function tests. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the probability of freedom from pulmonary exacerbations. The study was closed early due to slow accrual.

RESULTS: 34 patients were enrolled between October 2015 and February 2020. Of 30 evaluable patients, 18 were randomized to the experimental Arm A (nintedanib + prednisone taper) and 12 to control Arm B (placebo + prednisone taper). Freedom from exacerbation at one year was 72% (CI 54%-96%) in Arm A and 40% (CI 20%-82%) in Arm B (one-sided p=0.037). In Arm A there were 16 G2+ adverse events possibly or probably related to treatment compared to five in the placebo arm. There were three deaths during the study period in arm A due to cardiac failure, progressive respiratory failure, and pulmonary embolism, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: There was an improvement in pulmonary exacerbations by the addition of nintedanib to a prednisone taper. Further investigation is warranted for the use of nintedanib for the treatment of RP.

ISSN

1879-355X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

36889516

Department(s)

Department of Radiation Oncology, Hematology-Medical Oncology Division

Document Type

Article

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