Safety, efficacy and survival of patients with primary malignant brain tumours (PMBT) in phase I (Ph1) trials: the 12-year Royal Marsden experience

BACKGROUND

Primary malignant brain tumours (PMBT) constitute less than 2% of all malignancies and carry a dismal prognosis. Treatment options at relapse are limited. First-in-human solid tumour studies have historically excluded patients with PMBT due to the poor prognosis, concomitant drug interactions and concerns regarding toxicities.

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected on clinical and tumour characteristics of patients referred for consideration of Ph1 trials in the Royal Marsden Hospital between June 2004 and August 2016. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, Cox proportional hazards model. Chi squared test was used to measure bivariate associations between categorical variables.

RESULTS

100pts with advanced PMBT were referred. At initial consultation, patients had a median ECOG PS 1, median age 48 years (range 18-70); 69% were men, 76% had glioblastoma; 68% were on AEDs, 63% required steroid therapy; median number of prior treatments was two. Median OS for patients treated on a Ph1 trials was 9.3 months (95% CI 5.9-12.9) versus 5.3 months (95% CI 4.1-6.1) for patients that did not proceed with a Ph1 trial, p = 0.0094. Steroid use, poor PS, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and treatment on a Ph1 trial were shown to independently influence OS.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a survival benefit for patients with PMBT treated on Ph1 trials. Toxicity and efficacy outcomes were comparable to the general Ph1 population. In the absence of an internationally recognized standard second line treatment for patients with recurrent PMBT, more Ph1 trials should allow enrolment of patients with refractory PMBT and Ph1 trial participation should be considered at an earlier stage.

Phase I trial outcomes in older patients with advanced solid tumours

Background:

This study had two aims: (a) to test the hypothesis that advanced age is associated with lower levels of tolerability and clinical benefit to experimental Phase I trial agents; (b) to assess the validity of the Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) prognostic score as a patient selection tool in older patients.

Methods:

Clinico-pathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of all patients treated consecutively from 2005 to 2009 in phase I trials at the RMH were recorded. All toxicity and clinical outcome data were compared between patients aged below and above 65 years of age.

Results:

One thousand and four patients were treated in 30 Phase I trials, with 315 (31%) patients aged 65 years and older. Grade 3–5 toxicities (22.8% vs 24.8% (P=0.52)), trial discontinuation (6% vs 4% P=0.33), and dose interruptions (8.0% vs 8.0% (P=0.96)) were observed at similar rates in patients below and above 65 years of age, respectively. The overall response rate 5.2% vs 4.1%, progression-free survival (PFS) 1.9 vs 3.5 months and clinical benefit rate (CBR) at 6 months 15.2% vs 14.3% were comparable in both groups. To avoid bias due to the potential therapeutic benefit of abiraterone, comparisons were repeated excluding prostate cancer patients with similar results (ORR 4.6% vs 4%, PFS 1.8 vs 3.0 months, CBR at 6 months 13.5% vs 9.5%). Multivariate analysis indicated that the previously identified RMH score (including albumin and lactate dehydrogenase levels) was an accurate predictor of outcome.

Conclusions:

Phase I clinical trials should be considered in patients with advanced cancers regardless of age, as older patients who enter these have similar safety and efficacy outcomes as their younger counterparts. The RMH prognostic score can assist in the selection of suitable older patients.

Creatinine clearance is associated with toxicity from molecularly targeted agents in phase I trials

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate any correlations between baseline creatinine clearance and the development of grade 3/4 toxicities during treatment within oncology phase I trials of molecularly targeted agents where entry criteria mandate a serum creatinine of ≤1.5 × the upper limit of normal.

Methods

Documented toxicity and creatinine clearance (calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula) from all patients treated with molecularly targeted agents in the context of phase I trials within our centre over a 5-year period were analyzed.

Results

Data from 722 patients were analyzed; 116 (16%) developed at least one episode of grade 3/4 toxicity. Patients who developed a late-onset (>1 cycle) grade 3/4 toxicity had a lower creatinine clearance than those who did not (82.69 ml/min vs. 98.97 ml/min; p = < 0.001).

Conclusion

Creatinine clearance (even when within normal limits) should be studied as a potential factor influencing late toxicities in the clinical trials of molecularly targeted anti-cancer drugs.

Defining the risk of toxicity in phase I oncology trials of novel molecularly targeted agents: a single centre experience

BACKGROUND

This study defined the risk of serious toxicity in phase I trials of molecularly targeted agents (MTA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of toxicity data from patients treated in phase I trials of MTAs was carried out to define the rate of treatment-related grade 3/4 toxic effects, deaths and risk factors associated with grade 3 or more toxicity.

RESULTS

Data from 687 patients [median age, 59.1 years (range 12.5-85.5)] treated in 36 trials were analysed. Two hundred and eleven patients were of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) zero, 432 of PS one, 38 of PS two and 6 unknown. The rate of grade 3 and 4 events was 14.1% (n=97) and 1.9% (n=13), respectively. Twenty-four percent of events were gastrointestinal, 22% constitutional and 20% metabolic. PS two was associated with a higher risk of toxicity [odds ratio (OR), 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-6.1; P=0.032] as was receiving >100% of maximum tolerated dose or maximum administered dose (OR 2.5; CI 1.6-3.9; P<0.001). Mortality rate was 0.43% (n=3).

CONCLUSIONS

Therapy with novel MTAs in phase I trials is associated with a moderate risk of significant toxicity. This appears less than in phase I studies involving cytotoxic agents, particularly in relation to grade 4 toxicity. The risk of death is low.

Phase II study of eribulin mesylate (E7389) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer stratified by prior taxane therapy

BACKGROUND

Treatment options remain limited for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We evaluated eribulin mesylate (E7389), a nontaxane halichondrin B analog microtubule inhibitor, in patients with metastatic CRPC with or without previous taxane exposure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Men with histologically proven CRPC, with or without prior taxane exposure, were enrolled in an open-label, single-arm phase II trial. Patients received eribulin mesylate 1.4 mg/m(2) as a 2- to 5-min i.v. bolus infusion on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. The primary efficacy end point was prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate.

RESULTS

In total, 108 patients were assessable for safety (50 were taxane-pretreated) and 105 for efficacy in the per-protocol population. The median age of patients was 71 years and median number of cycles was 4. PSA decreases of ≥ 50% were achieved in 22.4% and 8.5% of taxane-naive and taxane-pretreated patients, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 adverse event was neutropenia, seen in 22.4% of chemo-naive and 40% of taxane-pretreated men. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy occurred in none of the taxane-naive patients and 6.0% of taxane-pretreated patients.

CONCLUSION

Eribulin mesylate demonstrated activity and a relatively favorable toxicity profile in metastatic CRPC.

A phase I dose escalation study of AT9283, a small molecule inhibitor of aurora kinases, in patients with advanced solid malignancies

BACKGROUND

AT9283 is an inhibitor of aurora kinases A and B with antitumor activity in preclinical models. This a First in Human phase I study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties and preliminary efficacy of AT9283.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with advanced tumors received AT9283 as a continuous central venous infusion over 3 days in cohorts of three to six patients starting at 1.5 mg/m(2)/day (equivalent to 4.5 mg/m(2)/72 h). The oral bioavailability of AT9283 was assessed in a cohort of seven patients. Pharmacodynamic analysis of biomarkers included phosphorylation of histone H3 on serine 10, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki67, M30 and M65 in skin and plasma.

RESULTS

Forty patients were included in all analyses. AT9283 was generally well tolerated with main toxic effects of reversible dose-related myelosuppression, gastrointestinal disturbance, fatigue and alopecia. The dose-limiting toxicity of AT9283 was grade 3 febrile neutropenia in two patients at 36 mg/m(2)/72 h and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was established at 27 mg/m(2)/72 h. Systemic exposure was dose proportional. The mean oral bioavailability of a 0.9 mg/m(2) dose was 29.4% (range 11.2%-36.7%). Pharmacodynamic analyses indicated antiproliferative and apoptotic activity of AT9283. Four patients with esophageal, non-small-cell lung cancer (n = 2) and colorectal cancer demonstrated RECIST stable disease ≥ 6 months.

CONCLUSION

AT9283 was well tolerated up to the MTD of 27 mg/m(2)/72 h. AT9283 is currently assessed in phase II trials.

A phase I study of the safety and pharmacokinetics of the histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat administered in combination with carboplatin and/or paclitaxel in patients with solid tumours

Background:

This phase I study assessed the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and pharmacokinetics of belinostat with carboplatin and paclitaxel and the anti-tumour activity of the combination in solid tumours.

Methods:

Cohorts of three to six patients were treated with escalating doses of belinostat administered intravenously once daily, days 1–5 q21 days; on day 3, carboplatin (area under the curve (AUC) 5) and/or paclitaxel (175 mg m⁻²) were administered 2–3 h after the end of the belinostat infusion.

Results:

In all 23 patients received 600–1000 mg m⁻² per day of belinostat with carboplatin and/or paclitaxel. No DLT was observed. The maximal administered dose of belinostat was 1000 mg m⁻² per day for days 1–5, with paclitaxel (175 mg m⁻²) and carboplatin AUC 5 administered on day 3. Grade III/IV adverse events were (n; %): leucopenia (5; 22%), neutropenia (7; 30%), thrombocytopenia (3; 13%) anaemia (1; 4%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (2; 9%), fatigue (1; 4%), vomiting (1; 4%) and myalgia (1; 4%). The pharmacokinetics of belinostat, paclitaxel and carboplatin were unaltered by the concurrent administration. There were two partial responses (one rectal cancer and one pancreatic cancer). A third patient (mixed mullerian tumour of ovarian origin) showed a complete CA-125 response. In addition, six patients showed a stable disease lasting ⩾6 months.

Conclusion:

The combination was well tolerated, with no evidence of pharmacokinetic interaction. Further evaluation of anti-tumour activity is warranted.

Phase II, two-stage, single-arm trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) romidepsin in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)

BACKGROUND

Histone deacetylase blockade can promote heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) acetylation, abrogating androgen receptor signaling. A phase II trial of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) romidepsin was conducted in patients with progressing, metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A dose of 13 mg/m(2) was administered i.v. over 4 h on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days. The primary end point was rate of disease control defined as no evidence of radiological progression at 6 months. A sample size of 16 assessable patients in stage 1 and nine assessable patients in stage 2 was selected; progression to stage 2 required one or more patients with disease control in stage 1 (H(o) = 0.10, H(a) = 0.30; alpha and beta = 0.10).

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were enrolled. Two patients achieved a confirmed radiological partial response (RECIST) lasting > or = 6 months, along with a confirmed prostate-specific antigen decline of > or = 50%. Eleven patients experienced toxicity necessitating early discontinuation. The commonest adverse events were nausea (30 patients; 85.7%), fatigue (28 patients; 80.0%), vomiting (23 patients; 65.7%) and anorexia (20 patients; 57.1%). There was no significant cardiac toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

At the dose and schedule selected, romidepsin demonstrated minimal antitumor activity in chemonaive patients with CRPC. Further studies of improved HDACi, alone and in combination with other therapies, should nevertheless be investigated.

A phase Ib study of telatinib (BAY 57–9352), a VEGFR-2 inhibitor, in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumours

14035

Background: Telatinib (BAY 57–9352) inhibits VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 tyrosine kinases, and PDGFR-β and c-Kit. Preclinical data suggests that targeting VEGFR signaling increases antitumor activity. Methods: This trial investigated the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and tumor efficacy of telatinib combined with docetaxel (D). D was administered at a fixed dose of 75mg/m2 on day 1 of 21-day cycles. Telatinib was administered orally, twice daily (bid) from day 3 of Cycle 1 and onwards, thereafter continuously. Dosing of telatinib commenced at 600mg bid (cohort 1, n=6) and increased to 900mg bid (cohort 2, n=7). PK in Cycle 1 were determined on day 1 (D) and day 21 (telatinib). In Cycle 2 comparative PK profiles for both telatinib and D were sampled on days 1–3. Results: Thirteen patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors were enrolled (9M/4F; median age: 56 [range: 34–69]; ECOG PS 0/1: 3/10). A total of 69 cycles have been completed (range,1–10). Treatment-emergent adverse events of CTCAE =3 (NCI-CTC v3.0) were neutropenia (n=11, 79%), fever (n=2, 15%), and fatigue (n=2, 11%). Adverse events of CTC =3 occuring in two pts was febrile neutropenia. Others occurring in only one patient were; hypertension, ALT increase, dehydration, and reversible symptomatic pneumonitis. Study treatment-related adverse events leading to a dose reduction or interruption were neutropenia (n=5, 38%), hypertension (n=1), ALT increase (n=1), and fatigue (n=1). Two pts with prostate ca and 1 with cervical ca had a confirmed partial response. Five pts (1 NSCLC, 1 esophageal ca, 1 renal cell ca and 2 prostate ca) had stable disease for =4 cycles. Mean AUC of D increased by 48% in cohort 1, but only by 16% in cohort 2. Thus, PK data to date do not indicate a clear clinically relevant interaction between telatinib and D. Conclusions: The combination of telatinib and D was tolerated without reaching the toxic dose at telatinib 900mg bid and D 75mg/m2. This combination has demonstrated promising antitumor activity. An extension of the cohort at 900mg bid with 75mg/m2 D is being evaluated to gain further safety and PK data.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Phase I dose escalation study of the anti-IGF-1R monoclonal antibody CP-751,871 in patients with refractory solid tumors

3586

Background: The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR), a tyrosine kinase, and its ligands (IGF-I & -2) are upregulated in many human tumors (e.g., breast, prostate, colon and non-small cell lung cancer) and enhance proliferative and prosurvival signaling. Inhibition of IGF-IR activation in tumor models suppresses tumor growth and increases tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy, supporting the development of agents targeting IGF-IR. CP-751,871 is a potent, highly specific, fully humanized, monoclonal antibody that inhibits IGF-IR autophosphorylation and induces receptor internalization. Methods: A Phase I dose escalation study was initiated to define the safety and tolerability, and to characterize the pharmacokinetic properties of CP-751,871 in patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard therapies. Results: Following informed consent and screening, a total of 24 patients with refractory solid tumors (e.g. colorectal, NSCLC, sarcoma and prostate cancer; 1–6 previous regimens) were enrolled. Patients received 3 to 20 mg/kg of CP-751,871 by IV infusion on Day 1 of 3-week cycles in four dose-escalation cohorts of 3 patients. No dose limiting toxicities were identified and the maximum feasible dose (MFD) cohort of 20 mg/kg was extended with 12 additional patients. No higher than grade 3 CTCAE v3.0 toxicities, attributed to study drug, have been so far reported. Grade 3 toxicities, all reported in patients dosed with 20 mg/kg of CP-751,871, are increased GGT (4%) and fatigue (4%). Grade 2 toxicities include: anorexia (7%), diarrhea (7%), increased GGT (4%), hyperglycemia (4%), fatigue (4%), increased urinary frequency (4%), nausea (4%), increased ALT (4%) and increased AST (4%). Pharmacokinetic analysis is currently ongoing. No objective responses were observed. At the MFD, patients received a median of 4 cycles (1–16). Three patients were stable for > 6 months and one patient, currently at cycle 16, remains on study. An additional cohort of 12 adrenocortical cancer patients is under evaluation. Conclusions: These data indicate that CP-751,871 is safe and well tolerated. Due to its good safety profile, CP-751,871 may constitute a suitable targeted agent to use in combination with approved therapies in multiple tumor types.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.