Phase 1/2 trial of cirmtuzumab and ibrutinib: Planned analysis of phase 1 CLL cohorts

7527

Background: Cirmtuzumab (C) is a humanized mAb that binds ROR1 and blocks Wnt5a from binding and activating ROR1 on CLL and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL); C does not bind normal adult tissues. A phase 1 trial of C showed excellent safety and inhibition of Wnt5a-ROR1 signaling. Ibrutinib (Ibr) does not inhibit the ROR1 pathway, and C+Ibr exert synergistic effects in CLL and MCL. The current clinical trial combines C+Ibr for patients (pts) with CLL and MCL. A planned analysis of the phase 1 CLL portion is presented. Methods: Eligible pts had CLL needing treatment according to iwCLL guidelines. C was given at 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg q 2 wk for 8 wk, then q 28 d to 52 wk. Ibr 420 mg PO daily was started on d 28. Results: 3 pts were treated at each C dose level with age 57-86; 75% were previously treated (median 2); 3 pts had del(11q), 3 had trisomy 12, and 6 pts had unmutated IGVH genes. There were no discontinuations for toxicity and no dose limiting toxicities. Treatment with C alone and combined with Ibr was well-tolerated. One SAE occurred with C monotherapy (hospitalization for tonsillitis). Adverse events on C+Ibr were consistent with the known Ibr safety profile, with one grade 3 hyperkalemia and 1 atrial fibrillation event. All other AEs were grade 1 or 2. The overall response rate after 16-48 weeks of treatment was 67% with 1 confirmed complete response (CR) with no morphologic evidence of CLL in the marrow, 1 clinical CR, 6 partial responses (PR) and 4 stable disease. No patient had progressive disease. The typical redistributive lymphocytosis seen with Ibr was blunted, with only a 50% mean rise in ALC, rapidly returning to baseline. PRs were observed in all C dose levels. Conclusions: The combination of C+Ibr is well-tolerated and effective. CRs were observed in 2 cases, a result that would be highly unusual with Ibr monotherapy in CLL. Based on these findings, Cirm 600 mg was selected as the RP2D for the randomized phase 2 portion of this protocol, which will prospectively compare the complete response rates between C+Ibr and Ibr alone. Clinical trial information: NCT03420183.

A phase I, first-in-human, dose escalation study of intravenous TK216 in patients with relapsed or refractory Ewing sarcoma

TPS11626

Background: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare cancer that affects children and young adults. Patients with recurrent/refractory ES have a poor prognosis (5-year survival 10-15%) with no improvement despite advances in cytotoxic and targeted therapies. Genomic rearrangements resulting in fusion proteins and over-expression of ets family transcription factors occur in 95% of ES. In particular, the EWS-FLI1 oncogenic fusion creates a constitutively active transcription factor that drives the malignant ES phenotype. Strategies to target the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein have been limited by lack of specificity. A promising approach is to target the interaction of the ets transcription factor with its critical protein partner, RNA helicase A (RHA). TK216 is a novel small-molecule that directly binds to EWS-FLI1 and inhibits its function by blocking binding to RHA. TK216 demonstrates potent anti-proliferative effects on ES cell lines and xenografts. Methods: We initiated a Phase 1, first-in-human, open-label, multi-center, dose-escalation/dose-expansion trial of TK216 in patients with recurrent/refractory ES who are ≥12 years of age (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02657005). TK216 is dosed based on body surface area and administered as a continuous intravenous infusion for 7 days followed by 14 days rest every 21 days. Treatment may continue in the absence of disease progression. One intrapatient dose escalation is allowed. Enrollment of 6 to 8 cohorts using a 3+3 dose-escalation design is anticipated. During dose expansion, a total of 18 patients with ES will be accrued at the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). The primary objective of the study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and RP2D of TK216. Secondary objectives are to assess the safety profile, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of TK216. Molecular assays will be performed to characterize EWS-FLI or EWS-ets abnormalities in archival tumor tissue. The overall response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival will be determined in the expansion cohort. Nine patients have been enrolled since June 2016. Accrual to cohorts 1, 2, and 3 completed and cohort 4 opened in January 2017. Clinical trial information: NCT02657005.

Biomarker-based phase I dose-escalation, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic study of oral apricoxib in combination with erlotinib in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Apricoxib, a novel once-daily selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, was investigated in combination with erlotinib for recurrent stage IIIB/IV nonsmall cell lung cancer to determine the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicity, and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) based on changes in urinary prostaglandin E₂ metabolite (PGE-M).

METHODS

Patients received escalating doses of apricoxib (100, 200, and 400 mg/day) in combination with erlotinib 150 mg/day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Urinary PGE-M was used to assess biologic activity and inform the optimal biologic dose.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were treated (3 at 100 mg; 3 at 200 mg; 14 at 400 mg apricoxib) with a median of 4 cycles (range, 2-14 cycles); 8 patients (40%) received prior EGFR-directed therapies. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed. Study drug-related adverse events (AEs) included diarrhea, rash, dry skin, anemia, fatigue, and increased serum creatinine; 4 patients had grade ≥ 3 drug-related AEs (diarrhea, perforated duodenal ulcer, hypophosphatemia, and deep vein thrombosis). The RP2D was 400 mg/day based on safety, biologic activity based on decreases in urinary PGE-M, and pharmacokinetics. One patient had a partial response, and 11 had stable disease. Stable disease was observed in patients who had received prior EGFR inhibitor therapy but was greater in patients not previously treated with an EGFR inhibitor. Seventeen patients had elevated urinary PGE-M at baseline, and 14 (70%) had a decrease from baseline, which was associated with disease control.

CONCLUSIONS

Apricoxib plus erlotinib was well tolerated and yielded a 60% disease control rate. A phase II trial is currently investigating 400 mg/day apricoxib plus 150 mg/day erlotinib in patients selected based on change in urinary PGE-M.

Incidence and Outcome of Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis: Single Center Experience

Since the incidence of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) in renal allografts varies from 1% to 23%, we sought to examine its incidence, to analyze treatment options, and to ascertain its outcomes. Retrospective analysis of 793 kidney allograft recipients transplanted between 1996 and 2004 revealed an incidence of 0.9% (n = 7). Time from kidney transplantation to the first symptoms varied from 1 week to 3 years (median, 4 months). Three patients experiences refractory hypertension and six patients developed allograft dysfunction. Screening color Doppler ultrasonography showed hemodynamic changes in six patients with the definitive diagnosis confirmed by angiography in all patients. One patient with an anastomotic stenosis was treated with a surgical operation and six patients, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), with stenting in three cases. Both surgical as well as PTA treatment were successful in all but one patient, who underwent PTA alone, developed chronic renal insufficiency necessitating hemodialysis and finally lost his allograft. In the other patients all symptoms resolved after treatment and the patients are doing well with functioning allografts. Although TRAS was an uncommon complication, if recognized promptly it could be treated by surgery or PTA with a high success rate.

Immunocytological Urinalysis and Monocyte Chemotactic Peptide-1 in Renal Transplant Recipients With Polyomavirus Replication

In some patients polyomavirus replication induces chronic tubulointerstitial inflammation in the transplanted kidney. The aim of this study was to investigate whether immunocytological urinalysis and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) assays could be used for an early diagnosis of nephropathy for patients with polyomavirus replication. We analyzed 1189 urine sediments from 174 renal allograft recipients who were transplanted between 2000 and 2005. Decoy cells were identified by an immunofluorescence method using specific antibodies (JC/BK monoclonal antibody). A similar method was used to detect CD3(+), CD14(+), and HLA-DR(+) cells with appropriate antibodies. The urinary excretion of MCP-1 was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of urine sediment analysis and MCP-1 concentrations were compared with those of patients with stable graft function (control group n = 65). In 17 patients (10%) decoy cells were identified in urine. In 12 patients polyomavirus DNA was detected in plasma or urine by a polymerase chain reaction method. Polyomavirus nephropathy was diagnosed in eight patients by the presence of intranuclear viral inclusions or immunohistochemical staining with SV40 large T-antigen specimens from a renal biopsy, as well as by clinical and histopathological evidence (group I). Polyomavirus replication was diagnosed in four patients by urinary excretion of decoy cells and polyomavirus DNA detection (group III). In five patients only decoy cells were found. The patients of groups I and II showed an increased number of CD3, CD14, HLA-DR surface antigen-positive cells and greater excretion of MCP-1 compared with the control group (P < .02). The number of excreted cells was higher among patients with more severe infiltration. The results of patients from group III were similar to the control group. In conclusion, increased excretion of cells with CD3, CD14, and HLA-DR surface antigens and of MCP-1 were associated with intragraft tubulointerstitial inflammation in patients with polyomavirus nephropathy. Asymptomatic polyomavirus replication was associated with hidden tubulointerstitial inflammation. Monitoring cell excretion and chemokine content may be utilized for early detection of polyomavirus-induced nephropathy.

Biopsy eosinophilia as a predictor of renal graft dysfunction

AIM

The aim of this research was to assess the impact of eosinophilia in renal biopsy specimens obtained during an acute rejection (AR) episode on the severity and reversibility of rejection and on long-term graft function.

MATERIAL

Among 165 renal graft recipients who underwent transplantation (Tx) in 2001 and 2002 whose biopsy specimens revealed AR, 49 with tissue eosinophilia were compared with control group of 48 without this feature. The average biopsy time was 60.6 and 95.8 days, respectively. Biopsies during delayed graft function were performed in 46.9% of patients with eosinophilia and 29% in the control group. The immunosuppressive regimen was based on tacrolimus or cyclosporine.

RESULTS

Tissue eosinophilia was observed in 49 of 165 patients (29.6%): 5 patients had eosinophilia <10/mm(2), 31 patients 10-100/mm(2), 13 patients >100mm(2) (3 patients >300/mm(2)). Severity of AR according to Banff score was statistically lower in the control group (P <.002). Patients with tissue eosinophilia who initially received steroid-free treatment presented with significantly higher (P =.02) biopsy/patients index (2.3 vs 1.81) than the total eosinophilic group. Serum creatinine values at 6 and 12 months after transplantation (Tx) were higher among eosinophilic when compared with the control group (2.41 vs 1.82 mg/dL, P <.002; 2.10 vs 1.98 mg/dL, P =.006, respectively). Chronic rejection within the first year occurred in 25% of patients with tissue eosinophilia, and 8.3% of patients in the control group. One-year graft survival rate among patients with tissue eosinophilia was lower compared with the control group (89.8% and 93.7%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Biopsy eosinophilia is a negative predictor that indicates a more severe course of AR and a worse response to treatment with the threat of chronic graft dysfunction.