Clinical Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Profile of Lenvatinib, an Orally Active, Small-Molecule, Multitargeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor

Validation of a Lenvatinib Assay: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

Lenvatinib has demonstrated efficacy in improving progression-free and overall survival in patients with radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer. However, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) frequently cause dose interruptions and suboptimal dosing, underscoring the importance of monitoring of lenvatinib levels. Currently, there is no validated lenvatinib assay for clinical use. We describe the development of a mass spectrometry assay for accurate quantification of lenvatinib, along with a pilot study reporting peak and trough levels.

DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

A pilot prospective single-center study was conducted at Royal North Shore Hospital, to develop and validate an in-house high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for measuring plasma lenvatinib levels in patients with radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer. Patient data including dosage, TRAEs, and disease progression were recorded.

RESULTS

Lenvatinib doses ranged between 4 mg to 14 mg daily. Trough and peak levels were measured in nine and eight patients respectively. Duration of treatment ranged from 7 to 63 months (mean 29 months), with treatment duration at the time of testing ranging from 1 to 14 months. Trough levels ranged from 4.60 to 30.53 µg/L (median 21.74 µg/L). Peak levels for patients receiving 10 mg (n = 3) ranged from 78.50 to 237.72 µg/L (median 129.56 µg/L), while those receiving 14 mg (n = 4) ranged from 65.10 to 263.64 µg/L (median 185.23 µg/L).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study describes the successful development of a novel LC-MS/MS assay for quantifying plasma lenvatinib levels. Despite consistent dosing, we observed considerable variability in levels in this group. Further research is required to examine the utility of lenvatinib drug monitoring in the setting of thyroid cancer.

FGFR as a Predictive Marker for Targeted Therapy in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers constitute approximately 25% of cancers worldwide. The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family is a promising target for immunotherapy aiming  to enhance survival rates. FGFR alterations are associated with GI carcinomas. Their predictive value in different malignancies remains a focus area. While FGFR inhibitors have been approved for cholangiocarcinoma (CC) therapy, uncertainties remain regarding other GI cancers.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science. The search terms included "FGFR" and each of the GI malignancies. A total of 18 studies were included in this review.

RESULTS

The efficacy of FGFR-targeted therapy is evident. Strong evidence supports the use of FGFR inhibitors in CC, gastro-oesophageal cancer (GC/OC), and hepatocellular cancer, while there is limited evidence for pancreatic cancer (PC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Alteration forms like FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement are associated with CC, while FGFR2 amplification and FGFR2b overexpression are associated with GC/OC. The administration of multi-kinase inhibitors without prior genomic testing, makes distinct study outcomes not solely attributable to the FGFR blockade.

CONCLUSION

FGFRs have a predictive value for GI cancers. Certain FGFR alterations are predictable for specific GI cancers. The most established FGFR-targeted therapy is for CC. It is essential to expand the FGFR research field for PC and CRC. Consistent molecular diagnostics in clinical trials are vital to comprehend the patient population with the highest efficacy.

Case Report: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after lenvatinib treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized by headaches, vision loss, confusion, encephalopathy, seizures, and reversible focal edema on neuroimaging. Early recognition and treatment of PRES are essential to prevent severe complications. Lenvatinib is a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor that is used as a first-line treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lenvatinib-induced PRES is a less commonly recognized side effect.

Case presentation

A 72-year-old female patient with HCC, who had no history of hypertension, received lenvatinib therapy. The patient exhibited symptoms such as confusion, altered mental status, headaches, and severe hypertension during treatment. Neuroimaging revealed characteristic findings of vasogenic edema in the white matter of the brain. The patient's neurological symptoms gradually improved after lenvatinib discontinuation, and follow-up imaging showed a reduction in the white matter abnormalities.

Conclusion

The underlying mechanisms of PRES induced by lenvatinib remain unclear, but hypertension is considered a crucial factor in its pathogenesis. This case report adds to the understanding of the potential adverse effects associated with lenvatinib in patients with HCC, emphasizing the need for vigilance in monitoring and managing such complications to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients undergoing this treatment.

Acute vascular and cardiac effects of lenvatinib in mice

BACKGROUND

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor signalling are used in cancer therapy to inhibit angiogenesis. Unfortunately, VEGF inhibitors are known to induce severe hypertension in patients. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of the TKI lenvatinib on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, vascular reactivity, as well as cardiac function in a short-term murine model to shed light on potential contributors to cardiovascular (CV) toxicities associated with VEGF inhibition.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 2 cohorts, either treated for 4 days with lenvatinib 4 mg/kg/day or 40% hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin as control. In an additional study, mice were subjected to a 4-day treatment followed by a 4-day wash-out, with echocardiography and blood pressure measurements performed on day 2 and 7. Subsequently, ex vivo vascular reactivity of thoracic aortic segments was determined.

RESULTS

Lenvatinib induced hypertension and arterial stiffness (i.e., increased pulse wave velocity), starting from day 2 of treatment. Further, left ventricular ejection fraction was reduced and the ventricle dilated upon treatment. Lenvatinib induced neither endothelial dysfunction nor impaired vascular smooth muscle cell reactivity to nitric oxide (NO). Interestingly, lenvatinib demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in ATP-mediated relaxation. In addition, after the 4-day wash-out period, lenvatinib-treated mice did not show complete remission of hypertension. However, arterial stiffness, ATP-mediated relaxation and cardiac adaptation were recovered.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into the interplay between VEGF inhibition, vascular function and cardiac outcomes, emphasising the need for nuanced understanding and further exploration of the differential effects of lenvatinib on the CV system. Additionally, the study proposes a synergistic formation between VEGF and ATP, indicating an enhanced response via P2Yx receptor signalling.

Development and Validation of a Sensitive LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Lenvatinib and Its Major Metabolites in Human Plasma and Its Application in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Lenvatinib has been demonstrated effective in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics behavior of lenvatinib and its metabolites remains unclear. To investigate the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics behavior of lenvatinib and its active metabolites in advanced HCC patients, it is important to develop a simple and rapid method to analyze the exposures of lenvatinib and its metabolites in human samples. Here, we established and validated a simple and rapid method for determining lenvatinib and its three major metabolites, descyclopropyl lenvatinib (M1), O-demethyl lenvatinib hydrochloride (M2), and lenvatinib N-Oxide (M3) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Lenvatinib and its main metabolites were separated on an X-Terra RP18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 3.5 µm) at 35°C within 3 min, and the analytes were isocratically eluted with the mobile phase of methanol-water (10:90, v/v) containing 0.1% of formic acid at a flow rate of 0.15 mL/min. The calibration range was 1-1000 ng/mL for lenvatinib, while 0.1-100 ng/mL for M1-M3 under positive electrospray ionization mode. The inter- and intra-batch precisions and accuracy were acceptable for lenvatinib and its metabolites. This method was successfully applied to measure lenvatinib and its metabolites in plasma samples from HCC patients, which provides a robust tool for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics studies of lenvatinib.

Role of endothelin ETA receptors in the hypertension induced by the VEGFR-2 kinase inhibitors axitinib and lenvatinib in conscious freely-moving rats

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKIs) suppress tumour growth by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) which is an important mediator of angiogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that two potent RTKIs, axitinib and lenvatinib, are associated with hypertensive side effects. Doppler flowmetry was used to evaluate regional haemodynamic profiles of axitinib and lenvatinib. Male Sprague Dawley rats (350-500 g) were instrumented with Doppler flow probes (renal and mesenteric arteries and descending abdominal aorta) and catheters (jugular vein and distal abdominal aorta, via the caudal artery). Rats were dosed daily with axitinib (3 or 6 mg.kg-1) or lenvatinib (1 or 3 mg.kg-1) and regional haemodynamics were recorded over a maximum of 4 days. Both RTKIs caused significant (p < 0.05) increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP), which was accompanied by significant (p < 0.05) vasoconstriction in both the mesenteric and hindquarters vascular beds. To gain insight into the involvement of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in RTKI-mediated hypertension, we also monitored heart rate (HR) and MAP in response to axitinib or lenvatinib in animals treated with the ETA receptor selective antagonist sitaxentan (5 mg.kg-1) or the mixed ETA/ETB receptor antagonist bosentan (15 mg.kg-1) over two days. Co-treatment with bosentan or sitaxentan markedly reduced the MAP effects mediated by both RTKIs (p < 0.05). Bosentan, but not sitaxentan, also attenuated ET-1 mediated increases in HR. These data suggest that selective antagonists of ETA receptors may be appropriate to alleviate the hypertensive effects of axitinib and lenvatinib.

Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of serum biomarkers as predictors of tumor dynamics following lenvatinib treatment in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC)

Lenvatinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1-3, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors 1-4, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer. The primary objective of this work was to evaluate, by establishing quantitative relationships, whether lenvatinib exposure and longitudinal serum biomarker data (VEGF, Ang-2, Tie-2, and FGF-23) are predictors for change in longitudinal tumor size which was assessed based on data from 558 patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) receiving either lenvatinib or placebo treatment. Lenvatinib PK was best described by a 3-compartment model with simultaneous first- and zero-order absorption and linear elimination from the central compartment with significant covariates (body weight, albumin <30 g/dL, ALP>ULN, RR-DTC, RCC, HCC subjects, and concomitant CYP3A inhibitors). Except for body weight, none of the covariates have any clinically meaningful effect on exposure to lenvatinib. Longitudinal biomarker measurements over time were reasonably well defined by a PK/PD model with common EC50, Emax, and a slope for disease progression for all biomarkers. Longitudinal tumor measurements over time were reasonably well defined by a tumor growth inhibition Emax model, which in addition to lenvatinib exposure, included model-predicted relative changes from baseline over time for Tie-2 and Ang-2 as having significant association with tumor response. The developed PK/PD models pave the way for dose optimization and potential prediction of clinical response.

A developed and validated centrifugal ultrafiltration coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for rapid quantification of unbound lenvatinib in human plasma

In clinical practice, the determination of unbound drug concentration is very important for dose adjustment and toxicity prediction because only the unbound fraction can achieve a pharmacological effect. A fast, sensitive and accurate analytical method of centrifugal ultrafiltration coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and applied to allow the quantification of unbound lenvatinib concentration. The application of linear regression analysis was used to examine the effects of centrifugal force, centrifugal time, and protein content on ultrafiltrate volume (Vu). The results indicated that the centrifugal force and centrifugal time have an influence on Vu that is significantly positive (P < 0.05). This developed method with good linearity (r2 = 0.9996), good accuracy (bias % ≤ 2.24 %), good precision (CV % ≤ 7.10 %), and good recovery (95.46 %-106.46 %) was suitable for routine clinical practice and studies. Particularly, the ultrafiltration membrane had no non-specific binding to lenvatinib. The unbound fractions can be separated in just 15 min. This method was applied to quantify clinical samples and to determine the plasma protein binding and unbound fraction of lenvatinib. This study provides a more effective and promising method for determination of unbound lenvatinib. It could be beneficial to measure the unbound concentration of lenvatinib in personalized medicine and therapeutic drug monitoring in routine clinical practice.

Modeling the complexity of drug-drug interactions: A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic study of Lenvatinib with Schisantherin A/Schisandrin A

BACKGROUND

Lenvatinib's efficacy as a frontline targeted therapy for radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid carcinoma and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma owes to its inhibition of multiple tyrosine kinases. However, as a CYP3A4 substrate, lenvatinib bears susceptibility to pharmacokinetic modulation by co-administered agents. Schisantherin A (STA) and schisandrin A (SIA) - bioactive lignans abundant in the traditional Chinese medicinal Wuzhi Capsule - act as CYP3A4 inhibitors, engendering the potential for drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with lenvatinib.

METHODS

To explore potential DDIs between lenvatinib and STA/SIA, we developed a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for lenvatinib and used it to construct a DDI model for lenvatinib and STA/SIA. The model was validated with clinical trial data and used to predict changes in lenvatinib exposure with combined treatment.

RESULTS

Following single-dose administration, the predicted area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) of lenvatinib increased 1.00- to 1.03-fold and 1.00- to 1.01-fold, respectively, in the presence of STA/SIA. Simulations of multiple-dose regimens revealed slightly greater interactions, with lenvatinib AUC0-t and Cmax increasing up to 1.09-fold and 1.02-fold, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study developed the first PBPK and DDI models for lenvatinib as a victim drug. STA and SIA slightly increased lenvatinib exposure in simulations, providing clinically valuable information on the safety of concurrent use. Given the minimal pharmacokinetic changes, STA/SIA are unlikely to interact with lenvatinib through pharmacokinetic alterations synergistically but rather may enhance efficacy through inherent anti-cancer efficacy of STA/ SIA.

Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of azoles on pharmacokinetics of lenvatinib in rats both in vivo and in vitro by UPLC-MS/MS

BACKGROUND

Lenvatinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors. This study aims to investigate the potential pharmacokinetic interactions between lenvatinib and various azoles (ketoconazole, voriconazole, isavuconazole and posaconazole) when orally administered to rats.

METHODS

A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups and administered 20 mg/kg of ketoconazole, voriconazole, isavuconazole and 30 mg/kg of posaconazole and 0.5% CMC-Na, through gavage for a duration of 7 days prior to the commencement of the experiment. On the final day, the rats were given 10 mg/kg of lenvatinib. The blood concentration of lenvatinib was determined using UPLC-MS-MS. In vitro lenvatinib were incubated with azoles and rat liver microsomes (RLMs) or human liver microsomes (HLMs). Molecular docking was lastly used to examine the binding strength of the enzymes and ligands with Autodock Vina.

RESULTS

AUC and Cmax of lenvatinib significantly increased with each of the azoles (p < 0.05), whereas CLz/F decreased 0.83-flod, 0.41-fold (p < 0.05) and 0.72-fold (p < 0.01) in voriconazole, isavuconazole and ketoconazole in rats. The IC50 of lenvatinib with the azoles were 0.237, 1.300, 0.355 and 2.403 μM in RLMs and 0.160, 1.933, 3.622 and 1.831 μM in HLMs. Molecular docking analysis suggested that azoles exhibited a strong binding ability towards the target enzymes.

CONCLUSION

It is imperative to acknowledge the potential drug-drug interactions mediated by CYP3A4 between azoles and lenvatinib, as these interactions hold significant implications for their clinical utilization.

Pharmacokinetic considerations for angiogenesis inhibitors used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma: an overview

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth malignancy in terms of frequency and the fourth malignancy in terms of cancer-related death worldwide. Systemic therapy of advanced HCC has probably gone through the greatest wave of change in the last decade, with the introduction of several anti-angiogenic drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors, able to significantly improve patients' prognosis.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we summarize the pharmacokinetic characteristic of the antiangiogenic drugs currently approved for the treatment of HCC, from oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib and cabozantinib) to monoclonal antibodies (bevacizumab and ramucirumab), focusing on the main aspects that differ among compounds from the same class, on factors that can exert an influence on pharmacokinetic parameters and the main issues that could limit their clinical use.

EXPERT OPINION

Anti-angiogenic drugs have different profiles in terms of bioavailability, metabolism, elimination and interindividual variability in their pharmacokinetics and effectiveness. More studies should be developed to address the intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing pharmacokinetics parameters to improve the individual therapeutic response and, furthermore, to evaluate the benefit and the harm of systemic therapy for advanced HCC in selected patients with liver impairment.

Cross-species comparison in nonclinical pharmacokinetics of lenvatinib by a simple HPLC with ultraviolet detection

Lenvatinib (Lenvima) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor on the market and has been used for the treatment of various types of cancer. It is important to understand differences in pharmacokinetics (PK) between nonclinical animals and humans, and thus, we evaluated PK of lenvatinib in mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys. A simple assay for lenvatinib was developed by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and validated in accordance with the bioanalytical guidelines. Lenvatinib was quantifiable at 5-100,000 ng/mL using 50 μL of plasma. Accuracy and precision in the intra- and inter-batch reproducibility were within the acceptance criteria, indicating a robust assay. Lenvatinib was intravenously or orally administered to mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys to fully characterize the cross-species PK. Total clearance and volume of distribution were relatively low and bioavailability of lenvatinib was approximately 64-78% in all the species tested. PK of lenvatinib in mice and rats after oral dose was almost linear at the doses ranging from 3 to 30 mg/kg. An empirical allometric scaling successfully predicted oral systemic exposure of lenvatinib in humans. Collectively, PK profiles of lenvatinib in nonclinical animals were well characterized and were useful for PK prediction in humans.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Recurrent and Unresectable Bone Sarcomas

Bone sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors with a predominance in the young population. Few options of systemic treatment are available once they become unresectable and resistant to conventional chemotherapy. A better knowledge of the key role that tyrosine kinase receptors (VEGFR, RET, MET, AXL, PDGFR, KIT, FGFR, IGF-1R) may play in the pathogenesis of these tumors has led to the development of multi-target inhibitors (TKIs) that are progressively being incorporated into our therapeutic arsenal. Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent primary bone tumor and several TKIs have demonstrated clinical benefit in phase II clinical trials (cabozantinib, regorafenib, apatinib, sorafenib, and lenvatinib). Although the development of TKIs for other primary bone tumors is less advanced, preclinical data and early trials have begun to show their potential benefit in advanced Ewing sarcoma (ES) and rarer bone tumors (chondrosarcoma, chordoma, giant cell tumor of bone, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma). Previous reviews have mainly provided information on TKIs for OS and ES. We aim to summarize the existing knowledge regarding the use of TKIs in all bone sarcomas including the most recent studies as well as the potential synergistic effects of their combination with other systemic therapies.

An overview of agents and treatments for PDGFRA-mutated gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor A (PDGFRA) mutations occur in approximately 10-15% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). These tumors with PDGFRA mutations have a different pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, and treatment response compared to tumors with receptor tyrosine kinase protein (KIT) mutations (60-70%). Many clinical studies have investigated the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors mainly in patients with KIT mutations; however, there is a lack of attention to the PDGFRA-mutated molecular subtype. The main effective inhibitors of PDGFRA are ripretinib, avapritinib, and crenolanib, and their mechanisms and efficacy in GIST (as confirmed in clinical trials) are described in this review. Some multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors with inhibitory effects on this molecular subtype are also introduced and summarized in this paper. This review focuses on PDGFRA-mutated GISTs, introduces their clinical characteristics, downstream molecular signaling pathways, and existing resistance mechanisms. We focus on the most recent literature that describes the development of PDGFRA inhibitors and their use in clinical trials, as well as the potential benefits from different combination therapy strategies.

Investigational drugs for the treatment of thymic cancer: a focus on phase 1 and 2 clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare tumors of thymic epithelial cells. Treatment options for advanced disease patients who failed standard platinum-based chemotherapy are limited.

AREAS COVERED

Phase I and II trials published in the last five years testing new systemic treatments for advanced TET patients are discussed, as well as ongoing trials. A PubMed database literature review was conducted for articles published between January 2016 and December 2021, and ongoing clinical trials were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov database.

EXPERT OPINION

The most promising classes of new drugs in TET patients are angiogenesis inhibitors and immune checkpoint antibodies (ICIs). Sunitinib and Lenvatinib showed response rates of 26% and 38%, respectively, and ICIs showed durable responses in 20-25% in thymic carcinoma patients (TCs). Both approaches are mainly active in TCs, therefore new treatment options for thymomas is an unmet medical need.Two major new therapeutic strategies are ICIs combinations with other drugs and drugs that target pathways that are dysregulated in TETs.Future challenges include the development of preclinical models to help identify novel targets and test new treatment strategies, and randomized clinical trials to provide reliable evidence based on survival endpoints.

A phase I pharmacokinetic study of lenvatinib in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: This phase I study assessed the pharmacokinetic profile, safety and antitumor activity of lenvatinib in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials & methods: Bodyweight-based lenvatinib dosing was administered (patients <60 kg: 8 mg/day, n = 13; patients ≥60 kg: 12 mg/day, n = 12). Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed during the first cycle. Efficacy and safety were assessed. Results: There was considerable overlap between individual exposure values at steady-state in the 8 and 12 mg groups. The most common adverse events were increased blood bilirubin and decreased platelet count (48.0%). Two patients had partial responses, and 16 patients attained stable disease. Conclusion: No significant pharmacokinetic differences between dose groups were detected. Lenvatinib was tolerable, showing promising antitumor activities in Chinese patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Phase Ib/II dose expansion study of lenvatinib combined with letrozole in post-menopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

RET is an estrogen response gene with preclinical studies demonstrating cross talk between RET and estrogen receptor (ER) pathways. We investigate the role of lenvatinib, a multi-kinase inhibitor with potent activity against RET, in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with advanced ER+/HER2- breast cancer were treated with lenvatinib plus letrozole in a phase Ib/II trial. Primary objectives included safety and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) determination in phase Ib, and objective response rates (ORR) in phase II dose expansion.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients were recruited in dose finding, where de-escalating doses of lenvatinib from 20mg to 14mg were investigated. Lenvatinib 14mg plus letrozole 2.5mg daily was determined as RP2D. Thirty-one patients with 5 median lines of prior therapy in the metastatic setting (range 0-11) were recruited in dose expansion. In this cohort, ORR was 23.3% (95% CI 9.9 to 42.3%), with median duration of response (DoR) of 6.9 months (Interquartile range(IQR) 5.9 to 13.1). Clinical benefit rate {greater than or equal to}6 months (CBR) was 50.0% (95% CI 31.3 to 68.7%). Similar efficacy was observed in the subgroup of 25 patients who progressed on prior CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy (ORR 20.0% (95% CI 6.8 to 40.7%), median DoR 6.9 months (IQR 5.9 to 13.1) and CBR 52.0% (95% CI 31.3 to 72.2%). Pharmacodynamic studies showed target modulation, with paired tumor biopsies indicating downregulation of RET/pERK and improved vascular normalisation index.

CONCLUSION

Lenvatinib plus letrozole had manageable toxicity, with target engagement and preliminary antitumor activity observed, supporting further assessment in randomized studies.

Advanced epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver: could lenvatinib offer a bridge treatment to liver transplantation?

In this article, we describe the case of a 34-year-old woman presenting a multifocal and metastatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) of the liver. Under classical chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide, there was a fast tumor progression in liver and extra-hepatic metastatic sites (lungs and mediastinal lymph node). Taking into account the patient’s age and the natural history of the HEHE, our goal was to try to bring her to liver transplantation (LT) and lenvatinib was an acceptable candidate for this reason. Shortly after the initiation of lenvatinib before LT and surgery, we observed the enlargement of large devascularized necrotic areas in most of the liver HEHE masses, suggesting a good response. The patient was finally transplanted 6 months after initiation of lenvatinib treatment. Eight months after LT, progression occurred (ascites, peritoneal recurrence, and mediastinal lymph node). After restarting lenvatinib, ascites disappeared and the lymph node decreased in size, suggesting a good response, more than 1 year after her transplantation. This is the first case report to our knowledge that illustrates the benefit of lenvatinib as a neoadjuvant bridge until LT for a multifocal and metastatic HEHE. In addition, this drug has also shown a benefit in term of disease control after a late recurrence of the tumor. We suggest that lenvatinib should be proposed as a bridge to the LT for nonresectable HEHE. Moreover, this drug was also beneficial in the treatment of late recurrence after LT. The absence of pharmacologic interactions between classical immunosuppressive drugs and lenvatinib may allow its use as an early adjuvant approach when the risk of recurrence is high. The strength of our case consists in the long follow-up and the innovative message allowing changing palliative strategies into curative ones in case of advanced HEHE.

Association between pharmacokinetics of lenvatinib in healthy subjects and genetic polymorphisms of ABCB1 3435C>T and ABCB1 2677G>T/A

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of genetic polymorphisms in the pharmacokinetics of metabolism and transportation of lenvatinib in the Chinese population.Sixty-three healthy Chinese individuals were recruited and administered with a single dose of 4 mg lenvatinib. Allelic discriminations for 10 SNPs of CYP3A4 (20230 G>A(*1G)), CYP3A5 (6986 A>G(*3)), ABCB1 (1236 C>T, 2677 G>T/A, 3435 C>T), ABCG2 (421 C>A, 34 G>A), ABCC2 (-24 C>T, 1249 G>A, 3972 C>T) were performed. The concentrations of lenvatinib in the plasma were determined by UPLC-MS/MS.Under the fasting condition, individuals carrying of ABCB1 3435 C>T genotype presented lower C_max (p < 0.01) and λz (p < 0.05), but higher t_1/2 (p < 0.05) than those carrying C/C and T/T genotypes. For ABCB1 2677 G>T/A variant, individuals with the G/T and A/G genotype showed higher AUC (p < 0.05) and t_1/2 (p < 0.01), but lower λz (p < 0.05) than those carrying G/G genotypes. Individuals with the A/T, A/A and T/T genotype had higher AUC, but no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed. They also had higher t_1/2 (p < 0.01) and lower λz (p < 0.01) than those carrying G/G genotypes.Under the fed condition, no difference in any pharmacokinetic parameters were observed with any polymorphisms in the 10 fragments.Data in this paper had demonstrated that polymorphisms ABCB1 3435 C>T and ABCB1 2677 G>T/A were associated with the pharmacokinetic variability of lenvatinib.

The impact of individual human cytochrome P450 enzymes on oxidative metabolism of anticancer drug lenvatinib

Lenvatinib, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), exhibits good inhibitory effect in several types of carcinomas. Specifically, it is the most effective TKI used for treatment of thyroid cancer. To extend pharmacokinetics data on this anticancer agent, we aimed to identify the metabolites of lenvatinib formed during in vitro incubation of lenvatinib with human hepatic microsomes or recombinant cytochromes P450 (CYPs) by using high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The role of CYPs in the oxidation of lenvatinib was initially investigated in hepatic microsomes using specific CYP inhibitors. CYP-catalytic activities in each microsomal sample were correlated with the amounts of lenvatinib metabolites formed by these samples. Further, human recombinant CYPs were employed in the metabolic studies. Based on our data, lenvatinib is metabolized to O-desmethyl lenvatinib, N-descyclopropyl lenvatinib and lenvatinib N-oxide. In the presence of cytochrome b₅, recombinant CYP3A4 was the most efficient to form these metabolites. In addition, CYP1A1 significantly contributes to the lenvatinib metabolism. It was even more efficient in forming of O-desmethyl lenvatinib than CYP3A4 in the absence of cytochrome b₅. The present study indicates that further research focused on drug-drug interactions, in particular on CYP3A4 and CYP1A1 modulators, is needed. This will pave new avenues towards TKIs-mediated personalized therapy.

Gene Fusions Create Partner and Collateral Dependencies Essential to Cancer Cell Survival

Gene fusions frequently result from rearrangements in cancer genomes. In many instances, gene fusions play an important role in oncogenesis; in other instances, they are thought to be passenger events. Although regulatory element rearrangements and copy number alterations resulting from these structural variants are known to lead to transcriptional dysregulation across cancers, the extent to which these events result in functional dependencies with an impact on cancer cell survival is variable. Here we used CRISPR-Cas9 dependency screens to evaluate the fitness impact of 3,277 fusions across 645 cell lines from the Cancer Dependency Map. We found that 35% of cell lines harbored either a fusion partner dependency or a collateral dependency on a gene within the same topologically associating domain as a fusion partner. Fusion-associated dependencies revealed numerous novel oncogenic drivers and clinically translatable alterations. Broadly, fusions can result in partner and collateral dependencies that have biological and clinical relevance across cancer types. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides insights into how fusions contribute to fitness in different cancer contexts beyond partner-gene activation events, identifying partner and collateral dependencies that may have direct implications for clinical care.

Pursuing Precision: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Pediatric Solid Tumors

Receptor tyrosine kinases are critical for the growth and proliferation of many different cancers and therefore represent a potential vulnerability that can be therapeutically exploited with small molecule inhibitors. Over forty small molecule inhibitors are currently approved for the treatment of adult solid tumors. Their use has been more limited in pediatric solid tumors, although an increasing number of single-agent and combination studies are now being performed. These agents have been quite successful in certain clinical contexts, such as the treatment of pediatric tumors driven by kinase fusions or activating mutations. By contrast, only modest activity has been observed when inhibitors are used as single agents for solid tumors that do not have genetically defined alterations in the target genes. The absence of predictive biomarkers has limited the wider applicability of these drugs and much work remains to define the appropriate patient population and clinical situation in which receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors are most beneficial. In this manuscript, we discuss these issues by highlighting past trials and identifying future strategies that may help add precision to the use of these agents for pediatric extracranial solid tumors.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment: Is There Still Hope?

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) carries poor survival outcomes despite recent progress in cancer treatment in general. Angiogenesis is crucial for tumour survival and progression. Therefore, several agents targeting the pathways that mediate angiogenesis have been developed. We conducted a systematic review to summarise the current clinical trial data examining angiogenesis inhibitors in HNSCC.

Methods

We carried out a literature search on three angiogenesis inhibitor categories—bevacizumab, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and endostatin—from Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus and ClinicalTrials.gov database.

Results

Here, we analysed 38 clinical trials, total of 1670 patients, investigating 12 angiogenesis inhibitors. All trials were in phase I or II, except one study in phase III on bevacizumab. Angiogenesis inhibitors were used as mono- and combination therapies together with radio-, chemo-, targeted- or immunotherapy. Among 12 angiogenesis inhibitors, bevacizumab was the most studied drug, included in 13 trials. Although bevacizumab appeared effective in various combinations, it associated with high toxicity levels. Endostatin and lenvatinib were well-tolerated and their anticancer effects appeared promising.

Conclusions

Most studies did not show benefit of angiogenesis inhibitors in HNSCC treatment. Additionally, angiogenesis inhibitors were associated with considerable toxicity. However, some results appear encouraging, suggesting that further investigations of angiogenesis inhibitors, particularly in combination therapies, for HNSCC patients are warranted.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/), identifier CRD42020157144.

Clinical pharmacology and drug-drug interactions of lenvatinib in thyroid cancer

Lenvatinib is a non-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with high in vitro potency against vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. Although this drug is used to treat several cancer types, it is the most effective TKI used in patients with thyroid cancer. Lenvatinib is well tolerated and the most common adverse drug reactions can be adequately managed by dose adjustment. Particularly, blood pressure and cardiac function monitoring, as well as antihypertensive treatment optimization, may be required in patients treated with lenvatinib. Dose reduction should be taken into account in patients with body weight <60 kg or severe hepatic failure. No significant change in lenvatinib pharmacokinetics has been observed with other patient-related factors and very few data are available on lenvatinib pharmacogenetics. Lenvatinib can be administered orally regardless of food and no clinically relevant drug-drug interactions have been reported.

Mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to the molecular cardiotoxic effects of lenvatinib

Lenvatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of resistant differentiated thyroid cancer, advanced renal cell carcinoma, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, and endometrial carcinoma. Although it is successful in cancer treatment, it can cause life-threatening side effects such as cardiotoxicity. The molecular mechanism of cardiotoxicity caused by lenvatinib is not fully known. In this study, the molecular mechanism of lenvatinib's cardiotoxicity was investigated focusing on mitochondrial toxicity in the H9c2 cardiomyoblastic cell line. Lenvatinib inhibited cell viability at 48 and 72 h exposure with three selected concentrations (1.25 μM, 5 μM and 10 μM); and inhibited intracellular ATP after 72 h exposure compared to the control group. Mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased after 48 h and did not show significant changes after 72 h exposure. Evaluated with real-time PCR, mitochondrial dynamics (Mfn1, Mfn2, OPA1, DRP1, Fis1) expression levels after lenvatinib treatment significantly changed. Lenvatinib triggered the tendency from fusion to fission in mitochondria after 48 h exposure, and increased both fusion and fission after 72 h. The mtDNA ratio increased after 48 h and decreased after 72 h. ASK1, JNK and AMPKα2 increased. UCP2 showed downregulation, SOD2 level showed upregulation and Cat levels decreased after drug treatment. Nrf1 and Nrf2 also changed concentration-dependently. Protein carbonyl levels increased significantly after lenvatinib treatments indicating oxidative stress. The protein levels of the electron transport chain complexes, LONP1, UCP2, and P21 showed significant differences after lenvatinib treatment. The outcome of our study is expected to be a contribution to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of TKI-induced cardiotoxicity.

Targeted Cancer Therapy: What's New in the Field of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms?

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous family of neoplasms of increasing incidence and high prevalence due to their relatively indolent nature. Their wide anatomic distribution and their characteristic ability to secrete hormonally active substances pose unique challenges for clinical management. They are also characterized by the common expression of somatostatin receptors, a target that has been extremely useful for diagnosis and treatment (i.e., somatostatin analogues (SSAs) and peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT)). Chemotherapy is of limited use for NETs of non-pancreatic origin, and the only approved targeted agents for advanced progressive NETs are sunitinib for those of pancreatic origin, and everolimus for lung, gastrointestinal and pancreatic primaries. Despite recent therapeutic achievements, thus, systemic treatment options remain limited. In this review we will discuss the state-of-the-art targeted therapies in the field of NETs, and also future perspectives of novel therapeutic drugs or strategies in clinical development, including recently presented results from randomized trials of yet unapproved antiangiogenic agents (i.e., pazopanib, surufatinib and axitinib), PRRT including both approved radiopharmaceuticals (177Lu-Oxodotreotide) and others in development (177Lu-Edotreotide, 177Lu-Satoreotide Tetraxetan), immunotherapy and other innovative targeted strategies (antibody-drug conjugates, bites,…) that shall soon improve the landscape of personalized treatment options in NET patients.

How to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Elderly Patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary tumour of the liver with the greatest incidence, particularly in the elderly. Additionally, improvements in the treatments for chronic liver diseases have increased the number of elderly patients who might be affected by HCC. Little evidence exists regarding HCC in old patients, and the elderly are still underrepresented and undertreated in clinical trials. In fact, this population represents a complex subgroup of patients who are hard to manage, especially due to the presence of multiple comorbidities. Therefore, the choice of treatment is mainly decided by the physician in the clinical practice, who often tend not to treat elderly patients in order to avoid the possibility of adverse events, which may alter their unstable equilibrium. In this context, the clarification of the optimal treatment strategy for elderly patients affected by HCC has become an urgent necessity. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the available data regarding the treatment of HCC in elderly patients, starting from the definition of "elderly" and the geriatric assessment and scales. We explain the possible treatment choices according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) scale and their feasibility in the elderly population.

Synergistic Effects of Lenvatinib (E7080) and MEK Inhibitors against Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in Preclinical Models

E7080, known as lenvatinib, is an oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been shown to improve the survival rate of patients with radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer. However, a majority of patients do not continue lenvatinib intake due to disease progression or significant toxicity. To improve treatment success rates, we propose the combination of lenvatinib with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors. To test this hypothesis, we tested the effects of lenvatinib with the MEK inhibitor U0126 in vitro using two human anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cell lines, 8505C and TCO1, and with another MEK inhibitor, selumetinib (AZD6244), in an ATC mouse model. We found that the combination of lenvatinib with MEK inhibitors enhanced the antitumor effects of monotherapy with either agent in vitro and in vivo, and these effects may be through the AKT (Protein Kinase B) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways. Furthermore, the combination does not have significant adverse effects in the ATC mouse models in terms of body weight, blood biochemical parameters, and histopathology. In conclusion, the combination of lenvatinib with an MEK inhibitor is a potentially viable therapeutic approach for ATC treatment.

Pharmacokinetic study of lenvatinib in Chinese patients with solid tumors

Aim: To assess the pharmacokinetics of once-daily oral lenvatinib 24 mg in Chinese patients. Material & methods: Patients had any solid tumor (except hepatocellular carcinoma) that was resistant to standard antitumor therapies or for which no appropriate treatment was available. Results: Twelve patients were enrolled. Maximum plasma concentrations of lenvatinib were observed at 2 and 4 h (median) after single and multiple doses (day 15), respectively. Steady state was achieved within 8 days. The geometric mean maximum observed concentration at steady state was 258 ng/ml (coefficient of variance: 49.2%); and the geometric mean area under the concentration-time curve from zero to 24 h at steady state was 3090 ng•h/ml (coefficient of variance: 44.7%). No accumulation was seen after 15 days. Conclusion: Lenvatinib pharmacokinetic data in Chinese patients are consistent with data in multinational trials, supporting usage of the 24-mg dose. Clinical trial registration: NCT03009292 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Safety and efficacy of lenvatinib by starting dose based on body weight in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in REFLECT

BACKGROUND

REFLECT was an open-label, phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib versus sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). Based on phase 2 study (Study 202) results, body weight-based dosing for lenvatinib was used in REFLECT to minimize dose disruptions and modifications needed to address dose-related adverse events. This post hoc analysis of REFLECT data assessed lenvatinib efficacy and safety by body weight group.

METHODS

The study randomly administered lenvatinib (n = 476) or sorafenib (n = 475) to patients with untreated (no prior systemic therapy) uHCC. Lenvatinib starting-dose data were stratified by body weight: patients weighing < 60 kg received 8 mg/day; patients weighing ≥ 60 kg received 12 mg/day. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, and safety were assessed.

RESULTS

Survival outcomes and safety profiles appeared similar between the two body-weight-based lenvatinib starting-dose groups. Median OS for patients in the < 60 kg body weight group (n = 153) was 13.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.5-15.7] compared to 13.7 months (95% CI 12.0-15.6) in the ≥ 60 kg body weight group (n = 325). In both lenvatinib groups, PFS was 7.4 months (< 60 kg group: 95% CI 5.4-9.2; ≥ 60 kg group: 95% CI 6.9-9.0). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) required dose modifications in 43.0% in the < 60 kg body weight group and 57.5% in the ≥ 60 kg body weight group.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory analysis of data from REFLECT indicated that body weight-based lenvatinib dosing in patients with uHCC was successful in maintaining efficacy, with comparable rates of TEAEs and dose modifications in the two body weight groups.

CLININCAL TRIAL

Trial registration ID: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT01761266.

Low-intermediate dose of lenvatinib in anaplastic thyroid cancer is highly effective and safe

We report two cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) which had a very good response to a treatment with lenvatinib at 14 mg. A 73-year-old man with ATC stage IVB was operated on, undergoing a near-total thyroidectomy, and the pathological remnant tissue showed a quick and partial response to treatment with the drug. The patient had a single metastasis in the brain after 9 months, but then died due to bronchopneumonia after undergoing a neurosurgical intervention for the complete removal of the lesion. A 74-year-old woman with ATC stage IV was operated on, undergoing a near-total thyroidectomy after a neoadjuvant treatment with the drug, that was continued after surgical treatment. She had a partial remission of the local disease and of distant metastasis, which lasted for 14 months. She then died 4 months later due to cancer progression. Lenvatinib at 14 mg appears to be effective, fast and well tolerated.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Osteosarcoma Treatment: Which Is the Key Target?

Recent clinical trials have shown several multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to be effective in the treatment of osteosarcoma. However, these TKIs have a number of targets, and it is yet unclear which of these targets has a key role in osteosarcoma treatment. In this review, we first summarize the TKIs that were studied in clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Further, we compare and discuss the targets of these TKIs. We found that TKIs with promising therapeutic effect for osteosarcoma include apatinib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, and sorafenib. The key targets for osteosarcoma treatment may include VEGFRs and RET. The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) MET, IGF-1R, AXL, PDGFRs, KIT, and FGFRs might be relevant but unimportant targets for osteosarcoma treatment. Inhibition of one type of RTK for the treatment of osteosarcoma is not effective. It is necessary to inhibit several relevant RTKs simultaneously to achieve a breakthrough in osteosarcoma treatment. This review provides comprehensive information on TKI targets relevant in osteosarcoma treatment, and it will be useful for further research in this field.

Influences of ABC transporter and CYP3A4/5 genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of lenvatinib in Chinese healthy subjects

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the CYP3A4/5 and ABC transporter genetic polymorphisms could affect the pharmacokinetics of lenvatinib in Chinese healthy subjects.

METHODS

Thirty-two healthy Chinese volunteers were enrolled and took oral administration of 8 mg lenvatinib. Plasma concentration of lenvatinib was determined by UPLC-MS/MS, the CYP3A4*1G, CYP3A5*3, ABCB1 (3435 C>T, 1236 C>T, 2677 G>T/A), ABCG2 (421 C>A, 34 G>A), and ABCC2-24 C>T genotypes were determined by SnapShot Technique.

RESULTS

In ABCB1 3435T carriers (n = 19), AUC_0-120h (815.7 (701.9-923.9) ng·h/mL) and AUC_0-∞ (843.3 (722.2-977.7) ng·h/mL) were significantly higher than ABCB1 3435CC homozygous subjects (n = 13, 575.3 (513.7-756.9) ng·h/mL and 590.0 (540.5-782.0) ng·h/mL, respectively); on the contrary, the clearance (CL/F) of ABCB1 3435T carriers was significantly lower (9.5 (8.2-11.1) L/h vs. 13.6 (10.4-14.8) L/h). And the C_max in CYP3A4*1G/*1G allele carrier subjects was higher than *1 carrier (73.4 ng/mL vs. 53.5 (46.1-60.6) ng/mL), but did not reach the level of significantly statistical difference. Genetic polymorphisms of ABCC2, ABCG2, and CYP3A5 could not influence pharmacokinetic parameters of lenvatinib.

CONCLUSIONS

This work presented an evidence that the ABCB1 3435 C>T polymorphism could significantly affect the exposure and clearance of lenvatinib. These findings may explain the reasons for the huge inter-individual differences in lenvatinib, and should contribute to clinical individualized treatment.

Weekends-Off Lenvatinib for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Improves Therapeutic Response and Tolerability toward Adverse Events

Background: Although lenvatinib has become the standard therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the high incidence rate of adverse events (AEs) is an issue. This study aimed to clarify the AEs of lenvatinib and the therapeutic impact of five days-on/two days-off administration (i.e., weekends-off strategy) for lenvatinib. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the therapeutic effects and AEs of 135 patients treated with lenvatinib, and the improvement of tolerability and therapeutic efficacy of 30 patients treated with the weekends-off strategy. We also evaluated lenvatinib-induced vascular changes in tumors and healthy organs using a mouse hepatoma model. Results: The incidence rates of any grade and grade ≥ 3 AEs were 82.1% and 49.6%. Fatigue was the most important AE since it resulted in dose reduction and discontinuation. Of the 30 patients who received weekends-off lenvatinib, 66.7% tolerated the AEs. Although 80.8% of the patients showed progression after dose reduction, the therapeutic response improved in 61.5% of the patients by weekends-off lenvatinib. Notably, weekends-off administration significantly prolonged the administration period and survival (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). The mouse hepatoma model showed that weekends-off administration contributed to recovery of vascularity in the organs. Conclusion: Weekends-off administration of lenvatinib was useful to recover the therapeutic response and tolerability toward AEs.

Thymic epithelial tumors: From biology to treatment

In the last few years, meaningful advances have been made in the knowledge of the biology of Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs). Data available suggest that in most cases, the different histological subtypes could be distinct biological entities, characterized by specific molecular aberrations, rather than representing a histological continuum of diseases. Recurrent gene mutations in Thymomas and Thymic Carcinoma have been identified, but we still do not know the exact role played by these mutations in TETs pathogenesis. Relevant new data are now available on the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the association between TETs and autoimmune diseases that warrant further investigations for the potential therapeutic implications. The progress in knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in TETs pathogenesis, allowed to identify and to test target therapies potentially active in such diseases. Platinum-based chemotherapy remains the standard first line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic TETs. However, some promising data have been reported on the activity of new target therapies, including anti-angiogenic drugs, Cycline Dependent Kinases and PI3K/mTOR inhibitors, as well as of Immune-checkpoint inhibitors. A number of new drugs and combinations are currently under evaluation. The efficacy of new drugs should be balanced with their toxicity profiles, in such complex patients that seem to be more susceptible to develop drug-related toxicities, in particular with immunotherapies.

Novel Abs targeting the N-terminus of fibroblast growth factor 19 inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth without bile-acid-related side-effects

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and particularly fatal form of cancer for which very few drugs are effective. The fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has been viewed as a driver of HCC development and a potential Ab target for developing novel HCC therapy. However, a previously developed anti‐FGF19 Ab disrupted FGF19’s normal regulatory function and caused severe bile‐acid‐related side‐effects despite of having potent antitumor effects in preclinical models. Here, we developed novel human Abs (G1A8 and HS29) that specifically target the N‐terminus of FGF19. Both Abs inhibited FGF19‐induced HCC cell proliferation in vitro and significantly suppressed HCC tumor growth in mouse models. Importantly, no bile‐acid‐related side effects were observed in preclinical cynomolgus monkeys. Fundamentally, our study demonstrates that it is possible to target FGF19 for anti‐HCC therapies without adversely affecting its normal bile acid regulatory function, and highlights the exciting promise of G1A8 or HS29 as potential therapy for HCC.

An Open-Label Phase 1 Study to Determine the Effect of Lenvatinib on the Pharmacokinetics of Midazolam, a CYP3A4 Substrate, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Lenvatinib is a multikinase inhibitor that inhibits enzyme activity but induces gene expression of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), an important enzyme for drug metabolism. We evaluated the impact of lenvatinib on CYP3A4 using midazolam as a probe substrate in patients with advanced solid tumors. The primary objective was to determine the pharmacokinetic effects of lenvatinib on midazolam, and the secondary objective was to assess the safety of lenvatinib.

METHODS

This multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized, phase 1 study involved patients with advanced cancer that progressed after treatment with approved therapies or for which no standard therapies were available.

RESULTS

Compared with baseline, coadministration of lenvatinib decreased the geometric mean ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve for midazolam on day 1 to 0.914 (90% confidence interval [CI] 0.850-0.983) but increased it on day 14 to 1.148 (90% CI 0.938-1.404). Coadministration of lenvatinib also decreased the geometric mean ratio of the maximum observed concentration for midazolam on day 1 to 0.862 (90% CI 0.753-0.988) but increased it on day 14 to 1.027 (90% CI 0.852-1.238). There was little change in the terminal elimination phase half-life of midazolam when administered with lenvatinib. The most common treatment-related adverse events were hypertension (20.0%), fatigue (16.7%), and diarrhea (10.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Coadministration of lenvatinib had no clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam, a CYP3A4 substrate. The adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of lenvatinib, and no new safety concerns were identified. CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT02686164.

Optimizing treatment of renal cell carcinoma with VEGFR-TKIs: a comparison of clinical pharmacology and drug-drug interactions of anti-angiogenic drugs

Anti-angiogenic treatment is an important option that has changed the therapeutic landscape in various tumors, particularly in patients affected by renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Agents that block signaling pathways governing tumor angiogenesis have raised high expectations among clinicians. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) comprise a heterogeneous class of drugs with distinct pharmacological profiles, including potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics and drug-drug interactions. Among them, tivozanib is one of the last TKIs introduced in the clinical practice; this drug selectively targets VEGFRs, it is characterized by a favorable pharmacokinetics and safety profile and has been approved as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC). In this article, we describe the clinical pharmacology of selected VEGFR-TKIs used for the treatment of mRCC, highlighting the relevant differences; moreover we aim to define the main pharmacologic characteristics of these drug.

Current Treatment Options for HCC: From Pharmacokinetics to Efficacy and Adverse Events in Liver Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the world's most common cancers. For over ten years, the only medical treatment for it has been the multikinase inhibitor Sorafenib. Currently, however, other first or second-line therapeutic options have also shown efficacy against HCC, such as multikinase inhibitors (Regorafenib, Lenvatinib, and Cabozantinib), a monoclonal antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (Ramucirumab), and immune-checkpoint inhibitors (Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Ipilimumab).

AIM

The aim of this paper is to review the metabolic pathways of drugs that have been tested for the treatment of HCC and the potential influence of liver failure over those pathways.

METHODS

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s and European Medicines Agency (EMA)'s datasheets, results from clinical trials and observational studies have been reviewed.

RESULTS

This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding targets, metabolic pathways, drug interactions, and adverse events of medical treatments for HCC in cirrhotic patients.

CONCLUSION

The new scenario of systemic HCC therapy includes more active drugs with different metabolic pathways and different liver adverse events. Clinical and pharmacological studies providing more data on the safety of these molecules are urgently needed.

REFLECT-a phase 3 trial comparing efficacy and safety of lenvatinib to sorafenib for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of Japanese subset

BACKGROUND

A phase 3, multinational, randomized, non-inferiority trial (REFLECT) compared the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) and sorafenib (SOR) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). LEN had an effect on overall survival (OS) compared to SOR, statistically confirmed by non-inferiority [OS: median = 13.6 months vs. 12.3 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-1.06], and demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and the objective response rate (ORR) in the overall population. The results of a subset analysis that evaluated the efficacy and safety of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population are reported.

METHODS

The intent-to-treat population enrolled in Japan was analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 954 patients in the overall population, 168 Japanese patients were assigned to the LEN arm (N = 81) or the SOR arm (N = 87). Median OS was 17.6 months for LEN vs. 17.8 months for SOR (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.62-1.29). LEN showed statistically significant improvements over SOR in PFS (7.2 months vs. 4.6 months) and ORR (29.6% vs. 6.9%). The relative dose intensity of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population was lower than in the overall population. Frequently observed, related adverse events included palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (PPES), hypertension, decreased appetite, and proteinuria in the LEN arm, and PPES, hypertension, diarrhea, and alopecia in the SOR arm.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy and safety of LEN in the Japanese population were similar to those in the overall population of REFLECT. With manageable adverse events, LEN is a new treatment option for Japanese patients with uHCC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION ID

ClinicalTrials.gov. No. NCT01761266.

Pharmacodynamics, clinical findings and approval status of current and emerging tyrosine-kinase inhibitors for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Introduction: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs) represent a rare group of malignancies. For decades, chemotherapy, somatostatin analogs and interferon represented the only systemic therapies; however, over the latest years, new options were registered, including Everolimus, Sunitinib (SUN), and Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy.Areas covered: This review discusses the role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in advanced panNETs.Expert opinion: TKIs showed an antiangiogenic and antiproliferative impact on advanced panNETs. Sunitinib is the only TKI currently available in clinical practice, having been approved on the basis of relevant results of a specific panNET phase III trial. New TKIs, such as Cabozantinib, Lenvatinib, Pazopanib, Surufatinib are still on investigation in panNETs. Although some phase II studies with the new TKIs yielded better PFS and RR compared with SUN, different study designs and tumor populations may have induced selection biases. However, it was reported that panNETs resistant to SUN could respond to a new TKI, indicating a possible further therapeutic line in this context. The global investigation plan of TKIs in panNETs is not homogeneous and it is difficult to understand what kind of development this can have in the near future for clinical practice.

Urea Derivatives in Modern Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry

The urea functionality is inherent to numerous bioactive compounds, including a variety of clinically approved therapies. Urea containing compounds are increasingly used in medicinal chemistry and drug design in order to establish key drug-target interactions and fine-tune crucial drug-like properties. In this perspective, we highlight physicochemical and conformational properties of urea derivatives. We provide outlines of traditional reagents and chemical procedures for the preparation of ureas. Also, we discuss newly developed methodologies mainly aimed at overcoming safety issues associated with traditional synthesis. Finally, we provide a broad overview of urea-based medicinally relevant compounds, ranging from approved drugs to recent medicinal chemistry developments.

Bi-monthly hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy as a novel strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in decompensated cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

We previously reported the comparable efficacy of bi-monthly hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (B-HAIC) to that of sorafenib chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC) in patients with compensated cirrhosis. In this study, we demonstrate the efficacy of B-HAIC in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

Forty-five patients with aHCC refractory to transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) were treated with B-HAIC and were divided into two groups according to hepatic functional reserve (Child-Pugh grade). Overall survival period, treatment response, and adverse events in each group were analyzed.

RESULTS

Efficacy and disease control rates in the Child-Pugh B group (n=24; 21% and 71%, respectively) were not significantly impaired compared the Child-Pugh A group (n=21; 38% and 67%, respectively). Median survival time and survival rate at 12 months in the Child-Pugh B group were 422 days and 58.3%, respectively, whereas those in the ChildPugh A group were 567 days and 70.8%, respectively. Importantly, the hepatic functional reserve of patients did not worsen in either group during the treatment period. Furthermore, the occurrence rate of adverse events leading to discontinuation of anti-tumor treatment was not significantly increased in the Child-Pugh B group.

CONCLUSION

Given the preservation of hepatic functional reserve afforded by B-HAIC chemotherapy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, B-HAIC might be an acceptable alternative strategy for aHCC patients who do not respond to TACE.

Lenvatinib in Management of Solid Tumors

Lenvatinib is a type I tyrosine kinase inhibitor exhibiting powerful antiangiogenic activity in cancer therapy. Displaying activity in multiple solid tumors, it has been approved in differentiated thyroid cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma as single agent or in combination. In addition, lenvatinib has shown promise in several other tumor types including medullary, anaplastic thyroid, adenoid cystic, and endometrial cancer. Exploring synergy between angiogenic and immune checkpoint inhibitors, the lenvatinib/pembrolizumab combination is poised to become the next pair of active drugs in endometrial, lung, and gastrointestinal malignancies. Despite robust activity, the drug can be difficult to tolerate. Optimization of dose and biomarkers for prediction of efficacy and toxicities will be of great help. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Readers will be presented with an update on U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of lenvatinib and suggestions for off-label use in thyroid cancer and adenoid cystic carcinomas. They will become familiarized with the common side effects, frequency, and predicators of response. In addition, they will learn that different strengths of lenvatinib are prescribed and why. Finally, readers are pointed to the latest efforts to combine lenvatinib and pembrolizumab, as well as to unresolved issues such as long-term side effects/toxicities of this drug.

Pharmacogenetics of the systemic treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancers. To date, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced tumor stage, excluding them from potentially curative therapies (i.e., resection, liver transplantation, percutaneous ablation). Treatments with palliative intent include chemoembolization and systemic therapy. Among systemic treatments, the small-molecule multikinase inhibitor sorafenib has been the only systemic treatment available for advanced HCC over 10 years. More recently, other small-molecule multikinase inhibitors (e.g., regorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib) have been approved for HCC treatment. The promising immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., nivolumab, pembrolizumab) are still under investigation in Europe while in the US nivolumab has already been approved by FDA in sorafenib refractory or resistant patients. Other molecules, such as the selective CDK4/6inhibitors (e.g., palbociclib, ribociclib), are in earlier stages of clinical development, and the c-MET inhibitor tivantinib did not show positive results in a phase III study. However, even if the introduction of targeted agents has led to great advances in patient response and survival with an acceptable toxicity profile, a remarkable inter-individual heterogeneity in therapy outcome persists and constitutes a significant problem in disease management. Thus, the identification of biomarkers that predict which patients will benefit from a specific intervention could significantly affect decision-making and therapy planning. Germ-line variants have been suggested to play an important role in determining outcomes of HCC systemic therapy in terms of both toxicity and treatment efficacy. Particularly, a number of studies have focused on the role of genetic polymorphisms impacting the drug metabolic pathway and membrane translocation as well as the drug mechanism of action as predictive/prognostic markers of HCC treatment. The aim of this review is to summarize and critically discuss the pharmacogenetic literature evidences, with particular attention to sorafenib and regorafenib, which have been used longer than the others in HCC treatment.

Pharmacogenetic-Based Interactions between Nutraceuticals and Angiogenesis Inhibitors

Background: Angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) have become established as an effective cancer treatment. Whereas their interactions with antineoplastic drugs have extensively been investigated, little is known of the effect of their co-administration with nutraceuticals/dietary supplements (N/DSs), which are often self-prescribed. N/DSs comprise a wide range of products such as herbs, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. Assessment of their interactions with cancer drugs, particularly AIs, is hampered by the difficulty of gauging the amount of active substances patients actually take. Moreover, there is no agreement on which approach should be used to determine which N/DSs are most likely to influence AI treatment efficacy. We present a comprehensive review of the metabolic routes of the major AIs and their possible interactions with N/DSs. Methods: The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for papers describing the metabolic routes of the main AIs and N/DSs. Results: Data from the 133 studies thus identified were used to compile a diagnostic table reporting known and expected AI-N/DS interactions based on their metabolization pathways. AIs and N/DSs sharing the cytochrome P450 pathway are at risk of negative interactions. Conclusions: Recent advances in pharmacogenetics offer exceptional opportunities to identify prognostic and predictive markers to enhance the efficacy of individualized AI treatments. The table provides a guide to genotyping patients who are due to receive AIs and is a promising tool to prevent occult AI-N/DS interactions in poor metabolizers. N/DS use by cancer patients receiving AIs is a topical problem requiring urgent attention from the scientific community.

Skin adverse events in recently approved targeted therapies in solid malignancies

Targeted anticancer therapies are an important weapon in the fight against cancer. Targeted therapies interfere with specific molecules necessary for tumor growth and cancer progression. They are divided mainly to either monoclonal antibodies or small molecules inhibitors. Their primary objective is to target directly and precisely the cancer cells leading to a minimal side-effects profile. The dermatologic adverse reactions of these targeted therapies is different from those seen with classical cytotoxic chemotherapy. Rashes, xerosis, hand-foot-skin reaction and mucositis are the most frequent side effects. In this paper, we aim to present a comprehensive review of the dermatologic side effects of targeted therapies including, specific side effects related to recently, approved targeted therapies.