First-In-Human Phase I Study of Tinengotinib (TT-00420), a Multiple Kinase Inhibitor, as a Single Agent in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

PURPOSE

This first-in-human phase I dose-escalation study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of tinengotinib (TT-00420), a multi-kinase inhibitor targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-3 (FGFRs 1-3), Janus kinase 1/2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, and Aurora A/B, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received tinengotinib orally daily in 28-day cycles. Dose escalation was guided by Bayesian modeling using escalation with overdose control. The primary objective was to assess dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and dose recommended for dose expansion (DRDE). Secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics and efficacy.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients were enrolled (dose escalation, n = 40; dose expansion, n = 8). MTD was not reached; DRDE was 12 mg daily. DLTs were palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (8 mg, n = 1) and hypertension (15 mg, n = 2). The most common treatment-related adverse event was hypertension (50.0%). In 43 response-evaluable patients, 13 (30.2%) achieved partial response (PR; n = 7) or stable disease (SD) ≥ 24 weeks (n = 6), including 4/11 (36.4%) with FGFR2 mutations/fusions and cholangiocarcinoma (PR n = 3; SD ≥ 24 weeks n = 1), 3/3 (100.0%) with hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer (PR n = 2; SD ≥ 24 weeks n = 1), 2/5 (40.0%) with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; PR n = 1; SD ≥ 24 weeks n = 1), and 1/1 (100.0%) with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC; PR). Four of 12 patients (33.3%; HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, TNBC, prostate cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma) treated at DRDE had PRs. Tinengotinib's half-life was 28-34 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Tinengotinib was well tolerated with favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics. Preliminary findings indicated potential clinical benefit in FGFR inhibitor-refractory cholangiocarcinoma, HER2-negative breast cancer (including TNBC), and CRPC. Continued evaluation of tinengotinib is warranted in phase II trials.

First-in-human, phase I study of TT-00420, a multiple kinase inhibitor, as a single agent in advanced solid tumors

3013

Background: TT-00420 is a spectrum-selective multi-kinase inhibitor that targets cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune-oncology pathways by inhibiting Aurora kinases A/B and Janus kinases (JAK) involved in cytokine signaling and receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs and VEGFRs) involved in the tumor microenvironment. TT-00420 has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo preclinical models of solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Methods: This phase I, first-in-human, dose escalation and expansion study of TT-00420 ( NCT03654547 ) enrolled adult patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Capsules in 1 mg or 5 mg formulation were administered orally once daily in 28-day cycles. Dose escalation was guided by Bayesian modeling with overdose control. The primary safety endpoints were to determine dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) and a dose recommended for dose expansion (DRDE). Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics (PK) and preliminary efficacy evaluated per RECIST v1.1 criterion. Results: As of February 7, 2022, 48 advanced solid tumor patients were enrolled in the study, and received at least one dose of TT-00420 in 7 dose levels: 1 mg q.d. (N = 1), 3 mg q.d. (N = 1), 5 mg q.d. (N = 4), 8 mg q.d. (N = 10), 10 mg q.d. (N = 6), 12 mg q.d. (N = 20), and 15 mg q.d. (N = 6). DLTs were observed in 3 out of 40 DLT-evaluable patients, including 1 patient at 8 mg q.d. who had Grade (Gr) 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome and 2 patients at 15 mg q.d. who both had Gr 3 hypertension. Among the twenty (20) safety evaluable patients treated at 12 mg, the DRDE, drug-related TEAEs included hypertension (n = 11, 55.0%; Gr 3: n = 6, 30%); diarrhea (n = 7, 35%, Gr 3: n = 1, 5%); mucosal inflammation (n = 7, 35%; Gr 3: n = 1, 5%); palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (n = 6, 30%; Gr 3: n = 0, 0%); and vomiting (n = 4, 20%; Gr 3: n = 0, 0%). No grade 4 suspected adverse events were reported. Out of 42 patients who had at least one post-baseline scan, 7 (16.7%) had a best response of partial response (PR) and 22 (52.4%) had stable disease (SD). Among 7 PRs, 3 were CCA patients (one for each treated at 8 mg, 10 mg, or 12 mg), 2 were TNBC patients (one for each at 10 mg, or 12 mg), 1 was HER2-negative BC patient at 12 mg, and 1 was CRPC patient at 12 mg. Sustainable stable disease for six months or longer was observed in patients with colon cancer (n = 1), head and neck cancer (n = 1), and peritoneal mesothelioma (n = 1). Conclusions: TT-00420 monotherapy was well tolerated and had favorable PK characteristics. The TEAEs observed in dose escalation and dose expansion cohorts were manageable with concomitant treatment and/or dose interruptions of TT-00420 and reversible upon the discontinuation of TT-00420 treatment. Taking safety, efficacy and clinical PK into consideration, 10 mg p.o. q.d. was recommended for phase II study of TT-00420 in patients with advanced CCA. Clinical trial information: NCT03654547.

Phase I study of TT-00420, a multiple kinase inhibitor, as a single agent in advanced solid tumors

3090

Background: TT-00420 is a spectrum-selective multi-kinase inhibitor that targets cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune-oncology pathways by inhibiting Aurora kinases A/B and Janus kinases (JAK) involved in cytokine signaling and receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs and VEGFRs) involved in the tumor microenvironment. TT-00420 has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo preclinical models of solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Methods: The phase I, first-in-human dose escalation and expansion study of TT-00420 is enrolling adult patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. TT-00420 capsules in 1 mg or 5 mg formulation are administered orally once daily in 28-day cycles. Dose escalation is guided by Bayesian modeling with overdose control. The primary safety endpoints are to determine dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) and a dose recommended for dose expansion (DRDE). Secondary endpoints include pharmacokinetics (PK) and preliminary efficacy evaluated per RECIST v1.1 criteria. Results: As of February 17, 2021, 40 advanced solid tumor patients were enrolled in dose escalation cohorts and received at least one dose of TT-00420 in 7 dose levels: 1 mg q.d. (N=1), 3 mg q.d. (N=1), 5 mg q.d. (N=4), 8 mg q.d. (N=10), 10 mg q.d. (N=6), 12 mg q.d. (N=12), and 15 mg q.d. (N=6). DLTs were observed in 3 out of 32 DLT-evaluable patients, including 1 patient at 8 mg q.d. who had grade (Gr) 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome and 2 patients at 15 mg q.d. who both had Gr 3 hypertension. Suspected adverse events (AEs) reported in ≥ 20% of patients across all tested dose levels include hypertension (any grade: n=17, 42.5%; Gr 3: n=8, 20.0%), diarrhea (n=10, 25.0%; Gr 3: n=1, 2.5%), vomiting (n=9, 22.5%; Gr 3: n=0), palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (n=9, 22.5%; Gr 3: n=1, 2.5%), and nausea (n=8, 20.0%; Gr 3: n=1, 2.5%). No Gr 4 AEs, regardless of causality, were reported. Out of 26 patients who had at least one post-baseline scan, 4 (15.4%) had a best overall objective response of partial response (PR) and 13 (50.0%) had stable disease (SD). Of the patients who achieved PRs are 2 CCA patients (8 mg q.d., n=1; 10 mg q.d., n=1), 1 HER2-negative breast cancer patient (12 mg q.d.), and 1 TNBC (10 mg q.d.). Both CCA patients with PRs had disease control for ≥ 8 months. Of the patients who achieved SD, 1 salivary gland patient (5 mg q.d.) and 1 CCA patient (10 mg q.d.) had disease control for 8 months, and 2 TNBC patients (5 mg q.d., n=1; 8 mg q.d., n=1) had disease control for 6 months prior to disease progression. Conclusions: Toxicities observed in dose escalation cohorts were manageable with concomitant treatment and/or dose interruptions of TT-00420. 12 mg p.o. q.d. was recommended as the dose for dose expansion cohort for further safety and efficacy evaluation of TT-00420 capsules with focus on enrollment of TNBC and CCA patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03654547.

Perspectives from man's best friend: National Academy of Medicine's Workshop on Comparative Oncology

Scientists gather to survey comparative oncology research and pinpoint potential contributions to human therapeutics.

Evaluation of the effect of food and ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetics of the smoothened inhibitor PF-04449913 in healthy volunteers

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of a potent cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor, ketoconazole, and separately the effect of food on PF-04449913 pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers.

METHODS

This was an open-label, two-sequence, three-period, three-treatment, single-dose, crossover study. Subjects were randomized to receive single doses of 200 mg PF-04449913 after an overnight fast or after consuming a high-fat meal during Period 1 or 2, with a washout period of at least 8 days. In Period 3, all subjects received ketoconazole (400 mg/day) (days 1-7) and a co-administered single 200-mg PF-04449913 dose (day 4).

RESULTS

Geometric mean ratio of PF-04449913 in the presence of ketoconazole versus PF-04449913 alone was 2.40 [90% confidence interval (CI) 2.15, 2.68] for area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0-inf)) and 1.40 (90% CI 1.24, 1.58) for peak plasma concentration (C max). The geometric mean ratio for fed state compared with fasted state for AUC(0-inf) was 0.87 (90% CI 0.78, 0.97) and for C max was 0.66 (90% CI 0.56, 0.78). PF-04449913 was well tolerated, and all adverse events were mild to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

PF-04449913 plasma exposures and peak concentrations were increased following concurrent administration of ketoconazole in healthy volunteers. These findings provide the upper limit for expected PF-04449913 exposures after co-administration of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor in patients with cancer who routinely receive antifungal azoles. While a high-fat meal decreased PF-04449913 exposure, the differences in plasma exposure under the two conditions were not considered clinically meaningful.

Assessment of HER2 gene amplification in adenocarcinomas of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction in the INT-0116/SWOG9008 clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Trastuzumab has been approved for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic gastric carcinoma; however, relatively little is known about the role of HER2 in the natural history of this disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients enrolled in the INT-0116/SWOG9008 phase III gastric cancer clinical trial with available tissue specimens were retrospectively evaluated for HER2 gene amplification by FISH and overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The original trial was designed to evaluate the benefit of postoperative chemoradiation compared with surgery alone.

RESULTS

HER2 gene amplification rate by FISH was 10.9% among 258 patients evaluated. HER2 overexpression rate by IHC was 12.2% among 148 patients evaluated, with 90% agreement between FISH and IHC. There was a significant interaction between HER2 amplification and treatment with respect to both disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.020) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.034). Among patients with HER2-non-amplified cancers, treated patients had a median OS of 44 months compared with 24 months in the surgery-only arm (P = 0.003). Among patients with HER2-amplified cancers, there was no significant difference in survival based on treatment arm. HER2 status was not a prognostic marker among patients who received no postoperative chemoradiation.

CONCLUSION

Patients lacking HER2 amplification benefited from treatment as indicated by both DFS and OS.

CLINICAL TRIAL

INT-0116/SWOG9008 phase III.

Assessment of HER2 gene amplification in adenocarcinomas of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction in the INT-0116/SWOG9008 clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Trastuzumab has been approved for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic gastric carcinoma; however, relatively little is known about the role of HER2 in the natural history of this disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients enrolled in the INT-0116/SWOG9008 phase III gastric cancer clinical trial with available tissue specimens were retrospectively evaluated for HER2 gene amplification by FISH and overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The original trial was designed to evaluate the benefit of postoperative chemoradiation compared with surgery alone.

RESULTS

HER2 gene amplification rate by FISH was 10.9% among 258 patients evaluated. HER2 overexpression rate by IHC was 12.2% among 148 patients evaluated, with 90% agreement between FISH and IHC. There was a significant interaction between HER2 amplification and treatment with respect to both disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.020) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.034). Among patients with HER2-non-amplified cancers, treated patients had a median OS of 44 months compared with 24 months in the surgery-only arm (P = 0.003). Among patients with HER2-amplified cancers, there was no significant difference in survival based on treatment arm. HER2 status was not a prognostic marker among patients who received no postoperative chemoradiation.

CONCLUSION

Patients lacking HER2 amplification benefited from treatment as indicated by both DFS and OS.

CLINICAL TRIAL

INT-0116/SWOG9008 phase III.

Assessment of HER2 gene amplification in adenocarcinomas of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction in the INT-0116/SWOG9008 clinical trial

4010

Background: Trastuzumab has been approved for treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric carcinoma; however, relatively little is known about the role of HER2 in the natural history of this disease. Methods: Patients enrolled in the INT-0116/SWOG9008 phase III gastric cancer clinical trial (n=559) were retrospectively evaluated for HER2 gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)(n=258), overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC)(n=148) and HER2 amplification by silver-enhanced in situ hybridization (n=77) based on availability of tissue specimens. The purpose of the original clinical trial was to evaluate the benefit of post-operative 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin plus radiation therapy compared to surgery alone. Results: HER2 gene amplification rate by FISH was 10.9% in tumor tissue from 258 patients evaluated. HER2 status determined by FISH was 92% concordant with SISH. HER2 overexpression rate by IHC was 12.2% among 148 patients evaluated, with 90% agreement between FISH and IHC. There was a significant interaction between HER2 status by FISH and treatment with respect to both OS (p=0.034) and DFS (p=0.020). Among patients with HER2 non-amplified cancers, treated patients had a median OS of 44 months compared to 24 months for patients in the surgery only arm (34 and 17 months respectively for DFS, p=0.003). Among 28 patients with HER2 amplified cancers, the medians for OS were 16 months in the treated arm, and 22 months in the surgery arm (p=0.55) (13 and 11 months respectively for DFS, p=0.87). We were unable to detect a statistically significant treatment benefit in this small subset of patients with HER2 amplification. HER2 amplification status was not an independent prognostic marker of OS among patients who received no postoperative chemotherapy or radiation therapy (p=0.76). Conclusions: Patients lacking HER2 amplification responded significantly to treatment as indicated by both OS and DFS.

Targeting activin receptor-like kinase 1 inhibits angiogenesis and tumorigenesis through a mechanism of action complementary to anti-VEGF therapies

Genetic and molecular studies suggest that activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) plays an important role in vascular development, remodeling, and pathologic angiogenesis. Here we investigated the role of ALK1 in angiogenesis in the context of common proangiogenic factors [PAF; VEGF-A and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)]. We observed that PAFs stimulated ALK1-mediated signaling, including Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation and Id-1 expression, cell spreading, and tubulogenesis of endothelial cells (EC). An antibody specifically targeting ALK1 (anti-ALK1) markedly inhibited these events. In mice, anti-ALK1 suppressed Matrigel angiogenesis stimulated by PAFs and inhibited xenograft tumor growth by attenuating both blood and lymphatic vessel angiogenesis. In a human melanoma model with acquired resistance to a VEGF receptor kinase inhibitor, anti-ALK1 also delayed tumor growth and disturbed vascular normalization associated with VEGF receptor inhibition. In a human/mouse chimera tumor model, targeting human ALK1 decreased human vessel density and improved antitumor efficacy when combined with bevacizumab (anti-VEGF). Antiangiogenesis and antitumor efficacy were associated with disrupted co-localization of ECs with desmin(+) perivascular cells, and reduction of blood flow primarily in large/mature vessels as assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Thus, ALK1 may play a role in stabilizing angiogenic vessels and contribute to resistance to anti-VEGF therapies. Given our observation of its expression in the vasculature of many human tumor types and in circulating ECs from patients with advanced cancers, ALK1 blockade may represent an effective therapeutic opportunity complementary to the current antiangiogenic modalities in the clinic.

Expression patterns of immediate early transcription factors in human non-small cell lung cancer. The Lung Cancer Study Group

In 1995, there will be 172,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed and 153,000 deaths from this disease in the United States. While the pathogenesis of the disease process is poorly understood, a growing body of evidence suggests that abnormalities in cellular regulatory genes may play an important role in the induction, maintenance and/or progression of some tumor types. These genes include both growth promoting oncogenes as well as growth inhibitory or suppressor genes. Included among these genetic sequences are several cellular transcription factors. A group of these factors including c-jun, c-fos and EGR1 are members of a class of genes known as immediate early genes whose expression are inducible by a variety of stimuli including mitogenic and differentiation inducing growth factors, indicating a potential important role for these genes in normal growth processes. Since these genes are involved in early regulation of cellular growth properties and at least two (c-jun and c-fos) can act as oncogenes, we wished to determine whether their expression levels were altered in human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) compared to normal lung tissue. To address this, Northern blot analyses were performed using c-fos, c-jun and EGR1 probes on RNA extracted from 101 NSCLC tumor specimens and adjacent uninvolved lung tissue. Analysis of this cohort revealed that 72% of the normal tissues demonstrate significantly greater expression of these transcription factors as compared to adjacent malignant tissue. Moreover, this expression pattern appeared to be coordinate for all three genes in the majority of cases. This differential expression pattern was confirmed at the protein level using an immunohistochemical approach with antibodies directed against the c-jun, c-fos and EGR1 gene products. Southern blot analyses demonstrated no gross alterations of these sequences at the DNA level, indicating that the observed differential expression pattern was not due to gross structural changes in the genes. These data suggest that down-regulation of these genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.

Tumor suppressor and immediate early transcription factor genes in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) is a disease that exhibits multiple genetic lesions. Lung Cancer Study Group (LCSG) 871 was designed to analyze this group of malignancies for alterations in growth factors and/or their receptors, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and immediate early transcription factor genes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that 32% of evaluable cases studied contained absent or abnormal Rb expression. Sequence analysis of the p53 gene revealed that 58% of these cancers contained structural alterations of this gene, whereas only 45% of these cases overexpressed p53 by immunohistochemical analysis. Finally, both Northern blot and immunohistochemical analysis showed that these tumors exhibited changes in the mRNA and protein expression levels respectively of the immediate early transcription factor genes c-fos, c-jun, and EGR, in that less expression of these genes was evident in the tumors compared with adjacent normal tissue. Understanding both the biologic and molecular significance of these findings may allow us to explore novel modalities for treatment of this disease.

Studies of the HER-2/neu proto-oncogene in human breast and ovarian cancer

Carcinoma of the breast and ovary account for one-third of all cancers occurring in women and together are responsible for approximately one-quarter of cancer-related deaths in females. The HER-2/neu proto-oncogene is amplified in 25 to 30 percent of human primary breast cancers and this alteration is associated with disease behavior. In this report, several similarities were found in the biology of HER-2/neu in breast and ovarian cancer, including a similar incidence of amplification, a direct correlation between amplification and over-expression, evidence of tumors in which overexpression occurs without amplification, and the association between gene alteration and clinical outcome. A comprehensive study of the gene and its products (RNA and protein) was simultaneously performed on a large number of both tumor types. This analysis identified several potential shortcomings of the various methods used to evaluate HER-2/neu in these diseases (Southern, Northern, and Western blots, and immunohistochemistry) and provided information regarding considerations that should be addressed when studying a gene or gene product in human tissue. The data presented further support the concept that the HER-2/neu gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of some human cancers.

Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene

The HER-2/neu oncogene is a member of the erbB-like oncogene family, and is related to, but distinct from, the epidermal growth factor receptor. This gene has been shown to be amplified in human breast cancer cell lines. In the current study, alterations of the gene in 189 primary human breast cancers were investigated. HER-2/neu was found to be amplified from 2- to greater than 20-fold in 30% of the tumors. Correlation of gene amplification with several disease parameters was evaluated. Amplification of the HER-2/neu gene was a significant predictor of both overall survival and time to relapse in patients with breast cancer. It retained its significance even when adjustments were made for other known prognostic factors. Moreover, HER-2/neu amplification had greater prognostic value than most currently used prognostic factors, including hormonal-receptor status, in lymph node-positive disease. These data indicate that this gene may play a role in the biologic behavior and/or pathogenesis of human breast cancer.

Bone scanning in severe external otitis

Technetium99 Methylene Diphosphate bone scanning has been considered an early valuable tool to diagnose necrotizing progressive "malignant" external otitis. However, to our knowledge, no formal studies have actually compared bone scans of otherwise young, healthy patients with severe external otitis to scans of patients with clinical presentation of malignant external otitis. Twelve patients with only severe external otitis were studied with Technetium99 Diphosphate and were compared to known cases of malignant otitis. All scans were evaluated by two neuroradiologists with no prior knowledge of the clinical status of the patients. Nine of the 12 patients had positive bone scans with many scans resembling those reported with "malignant" external otitis. Interestingly, there was no consistent correlation between the severity of clinical presentation and the amount of Technetium uptake. These findings suggest that a positive bone scan alone should not be interpreted as indicative of "malignant" external otitis.

Acute bacterial sinusitis. Minocycline vs amoxicillin

The efficacy and safety of minocycline were compared with that of amoxicillin in the treatment of 58 patients with acute bacterial sinusitis. The most frequently isolated pathogens were streptococci, staphylococci, and Haemophilus influenzae. After therapy for a mean time of 11 days, clinical cure or improvement and bacterial eradication were evident in 100% of the patients treated with minocycline and in 95% of the patients treated with amoxicillin. Roentgenographic results indicated clearing or improvement in 91% of the minocycline recipients and in 70% of those who received amoxicillin. These differences between treatments were not statistically significant. A low incidence of generally mild adverse clinical experiences occurred in both treatment groups. Thus, minocycline and amoxicillin were equally safe and effective in the treatment of these patients with acute bacterial sinusitis.