Palbociclib has no clinically relevant effect on the QTc interval in patients with advanced breast cancer

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The aim of this study was to assess the potential effects of palbociclib in combination with letrozole on QTc. PALOMA-2, a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, compared palbociclib plus letrozole with placebo plus letrozole in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. The study included a QTc evaluation substudy carried out as a definitive QT interval prolongation assessment for palbociclib. Time-matched triplicate ECGs were performed at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h at baseline (Day 0) and on Cycle 1 Day 14. Additional ECGs were collected from all patients for safety monitoring. The QT interval was corrected for heart rate using Fridericia’s correction (QTcF), Bazett’s correction (QTcB), and a study-specific correction factor (QTcS). In total, 666 patients were randomized 2 : 1 to palbociclib plus letrozole or placebo plus letrozole. Of these, 125 patients were enrolled in the QTc evaluation substudy. No patients in the palbociclib plus letrozole arm of the substudy (N=77) had a maximum postbaseline QTcS or QTcF value of ≥ 480 ms, or a maximum increase from clock time-matched baseline for QTcS or QTcF values of ≥ 60 ms. The upper bounds of the one-sided 95% confidence interval for the mean change from time-matched baseline for QTcS, QTcF, and QTcB at all time points and at steady-state C_max following repeated administration of 125 mg palbociclib were less than 10 ms. Palbociclib, when administered with letrozole at the recommended therapeutic dosing regimen, did not prolong the QT interval to a clinically relevant extent.

Integrated nonclinical and clinical risk assessment of the investigational proteasome inhibitor ixazomib on the QTc interval in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Ixazomib is the first oral, proteasome inhibitor to reach phase III trials. Here, we present an integrated nonclinical and clinical assessment of ixazomib's effect on QTc intervals.

METHODS

Nonclinical studies assessed (1) the in vitro binding of ixazomib to the hERG channel and (2) its effect on QT/QTc in dogs (N = 4) via telemetry. Pharmacokinetic-matched triplicate electrocardiograms were collected in four clinical phase I studies of intravenous (0.125-3.11 mg/m(2), N = 125, solid tumors/lymphoma) or oral (0.24-3.95 mg/m(2), N = 120, multiple myeloma) ixazomib. The relationship between ixazomib plasma concentration and heart rate (HR)-corrected QT using Fridericia (QTcF) or population (QTcP) methods was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with fixed effects for day and time.

RESULTS

In vitro binding potency for ixazomib to the hERG channel was weak (K i 24.9 μM; IC50 59.6 μM), and nonclinical telemetry studies showed no QT/QTc prolongation at doses up to 4.2 mg/m(2). In cancer patients, ixazomib, when evaluated at doses yielding various plasma concentrations (with 26 % of data greater than mean C max for the 4 mg phase 3 dose), had no meaningful effect on QTc based on model-predicted mean change in QTcF/QTcP from baseline. There was no relationship between ixazomib concentration and RR, suggesting no effect on HR.

CONCLUSIONS

Ixazomib has no clinically meaningful effects on QTc or HR. Integrating preclinical data and concentration-QTc modeling of phase 1 data may obviate the need for a dedicated QTc study in oncology. A framework for QT assessment in oncology drug development is proposed.

Trastuzumab, in combination with carboplatin and docetaxel, does not prolong the QT interval of patients with HER2-positive metastatic or locally advanced inoperable solid tumors: results from a phase Ib study

Purpose

This study evaluated the potential effect of trastuzumab on the electrocardiogram (ECG) QT interval and assessed the potential pharmacokinetic interaction between trastuzumab and carboplatin. Here, we report the QT and safety results.

Methods

Patients with metastatic or inoperable HER2-positive solid tumors received docetaxel and carboplatin on Day 1 of each 3-week (q3w) cycle. Trastuzumab was administered intravenously, as an accelerated loading dose regimen, on Cycle 1, Day 2 and Cycle 1, Day 8, and then on Day 1 of each subsequent q3w cycle. ECG assessments were performed pre- and posttrastuzumab infusion in the first two cycles. Fridericia’s correction was applied to QT intervals (QTcF). Baseline-adjusted QTcF intervals (the change from baseline) and their 90 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results

The study enrolled 59 patients. At all time points, the 90 % CI upper bound for the mean baseline-adjusted QTcF was <10 ms. At steady-state serum trastuzumab concentrations, the mean baseline-adjusted QTcF interval was −8.4 ms (90 % CI −11.1, −5.7). No patient exhibited an absolute QTcF interval of >480 ms. No relationship was observed between trastuzumab concentration and baseline-adjusted QTcF interval. At data cutoff, 84.5 % of patients had experienced grade ≥3 adverse events, the most common of which were hematologic and as expected. Left ventricular ejection fraction remained ≥45 % in all patients during the study.

Conclusions

The results suggest that trastuzumab had no clinically relevant effect on QTcF interval. The safety profile of trastuzumab in combination with carboplatin and docetaxel was consistent with the known safety profile of this combination.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00280-014-2603-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Phase II, open-label trial to assess QTcF effects, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of afatinib in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors

PURPOSE

Afatinib is an irreversible ErbB family blocker currently under evaluation in late-stage clinical trials. This study primarily assessed the cardiac safety, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of afatinib in cancer patients.

METHODS

In this multicenter, Phase II, open-label, single-arm trial, 60 patients with solid tumors who were expected to express epidermal growth factor receptor-1 and HER2 received oral afatinib 50 mg daily. QTcF intervals (QT interval corrected by the Fridericia formula) were evaluated based on electrocardiogram recordings time-matched with pharmacokinetic blood samples after single (Day 1) and continuous (Day 14; steady state) administration. Adverse events were classified according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), version 3.0; antitumor activity was assessed using RECIST 1.0.

RESULTS

There was a nonsignificant decrease of 0.3 ms (90 % confidence interval -2.8, 2.3; N = 49) in the mean of the average time-matched QTcF interval from baseline to steady state. The maximum plasma concentration for afatinib was seen at median tmax 3 h after both single dose and at steady state. No relationship between afatinib plasma concentrations and time-matched QTcF, QT and heart rate change was found. The overall adverse event profile was consistent with the known safety profile of afatinib. One patient demonstrated a partial response (PR) and two patients unconfirmed PRs.

CONCLUSIONS

Afatinib had no impact on cardiac repolarization, had a manageable safety profile and demonstrated antitumor activity in this uncontrolled study.

Exposure-response analysis of pertuzumab in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: absence of effect on QTc prolongation and other ECG parameters

Purpose

The phase III trial of pertuzumab plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel versus placebo plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel for first-line treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer included a substudy to determine whether pertuzumab affected the corrected QT (QTc) interval or other electrocardiogram parameters.

Methods

Triplicate 12-lead electrocardiogram measurements and serum samples were collected before (–30 and –15 min) and after (0–15 and 60–75 min) pertuzumab/placebo infusions (Cycles 1 and 3), and at 72 h post-infusion (Cycle 1). Fridericia’s correction was applied to QT measurements (QTcF) and change from baseline (ΔQTcF) calculated. Statistical analyses were performed on baseline-adjusted, placebo-corrected QTcF values (ΔΔQTcF). Linear mixed-effects modeling evaluated potential exposure–response relationships between ΔQTcF and observed pertuzumab concentrations.

Results

Thirty-seven female patients participated in the substudy. QTcF values in both groups were within the normal range and below critical thresholds of clinical concern. No pertuzumab-treated patient showed abnormal electrocardiogram morphology. In Cycle 1, mean ΔΔQTcF (90 % CI) values at 0–15 min, 60–75 min, and 72 h post-infusion were −6.96 (−13.69, −0.23), −6.35 (−13.57, 0.88), and −4.08 (−12.64, 4.48), all of which were <5 ms, with upper CI limits <10 ms. One Cycle 3 post-infusion mean ΔΔQTcF value exceeded 5 ms. Other electrocardiogram parameters were within normal ranges. Concentration–QTc modeling showed no apparent relationship between ΔQTcF and pertuzumab concentrations.

Conclusions

Cardiac monitoring and concentration–QTc modeling demonstrated that pertuzumab, combined with trastuzumab and docetaxel, had no clinically relevant effects on QTcF and other electrocardiogram parameters.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00280-013-2279-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of small angiokinase inhibitor nintedanib (BIBF 1120) on QT interval in patients with previously untreated, advanced renal cell cancer in an open-label, phase II study

PURPOSE

Some targeted anticancer agents are associated with serious ventricular tachyarrhythmias, which may be predicted by electrocardiographic evaluation of drug-related QT prolongation. We studied the effects of nintedanib (BIBF 1120; an oral, triple angiokinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor receptors) on the QT interval in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) participating in an open-label phase II trial.

METHODS

Treatment-naïve, adult patients with unresectable/metastatic, clear cell RCC received nintedanib 200 mg twice daily. QT intervals were evaluated at baseline (day -1), on day 1 (after the first dose), and on day 15 (steady state) by 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) performed in triplicate. Pharmacokinetic sampling was also undertaken.

RESULTS

Among 64 evaluable patients, the upper limits of the 2-sided 90 % confidence intervals for the adjusted mean time-matched changes in QTcF interval (corrected for heart rate by Fridericia's method) from baseline to day 1 and 15 (primary ECG endpoint) were well below the regulatory threshold of 10 ms at all times. No relationship between nintedanib exposure and change from baseline in QTcF was seen. Nintedanib was generally well tolerated with no drug-related cardiovascular adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Nintedanib administered at 200 mg twice daily was not associated with clinically relevant QT prolongation.

[Lapatinib treatment-option in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer]

HER2 is overexpressed in 20-25% of breast cancers and is associated with an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis. Lapatinib is a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor selective for inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR1/ErbB1) and HER2/ErbB2. Having more targets, probably its antitumor activity could be more efficient. Preclinical data reveal that lapatinib has activity in trastuzumab-resistant cell lines as well as synergistic activity with trastuzumab. Phase I clinical trials have also shown that lapatinib is well tolerated, with mild diarrhea and skin rush as common toxic effects and low incidence of cardiotoxicity. Lapatinib can cross the blood-brain barrier and might therefore have a role in preventing central-nervous-system progression. In a pivotal phase III trial, a combination of lapatinib and capecitabine almost doubled time to disease progression when compared to capecitabine alone (8.4 vs. 4.1 months) in women with HER2/ErbB2-positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclin, taxanes and trastuzumab. The overall survival was 15.6 vs. 15.4 months. Several clinical trials that explore the efficacy of lapatinib in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, hormone therapy and other target therapies are ongoing in advanced breast cancer or in neo-adjuvant and adjuvant settings.