Trilaciclib Reduces Chemotherapy-Induced Myelosuppression for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

According to results from a pooled analysis, administration of trilaciclib, a transient CDK4/6 inhibitor, prior to chemotherapy reduced the incidence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression among patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). 

“Significant side effects associated with systemic chemotherapy regimens are the major challenge in the effective treatment of SCLC,” stated Ying Liu, MD, JILIN Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China, and coauthors. 

In this study, researchers collected data from 325 patients with ES-SCLC treated with either trilaciclib (n = 164) or placebo (n = 161) prior to chemotherapy across 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Primary end points included the duration of severe neutropenia and/or the incidence of severe neutropenia during cycle 1. Key secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. 

At analysis, severe neturopenia was experienced by 11% of patients in the trilaciclib arm and 51.6% of patients in the placebo arm (P < .0001). The duration of severe neutropenia was 1.8 days and 4.8 days, respectively (P < .0001). The median PFS was 5.3 months in the trilaciclib arm and 4.9 months in the placebo arm. The median OS was 10.9 months in the trilaciclib arm and 10.1 months in the placebo arm. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 29.4% and 28.1% of patients, respectively. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events occurring in ≥ 10% of patients included neutrophil count decrease, white blood cell count decrease, anemia, and platelet count decrease. 

“Trilaciclib, administered prior to chemotherapy, significantly reduced the incidence of [chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression] in this pooled analysis through its myelopreserving effect,” concluded Dr Liu et al.  “The administration of trilaciclib prior to chemotherapy helps to reduce dose reductions or delays and significantly reduces the need for supportive care.” 

Source:

Liu Y, Wu L, Huang D, et al. Effect of trilaciclib administered before chemotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: A pooled analysis of four randomized studies. Cancer Treat Res Commun. Published online: January 16, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.100869