Phase I, first-in-human study of futibatinib, a highly selective, irreversible FGFR1-4 inhibitor in patients with advanced solid tumors

BACKGROUND

Futibatinib is an oral, irreversible, highly selective fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)1-4 inhibitor with potent preclinical activity against tumors harboring FGFR aberrations. This first-in-human, phase I dose-escalation trial (NCT02052778) evaluates the safety and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of futibatinib in advanced solid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Following a standard 3+3 dose-escalation design, eligible patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard therapies received 8-200 mg futibatinib three times a week (t.i.w.) or 4-24 mg once daily (q.d.).

RESULTS

A total of 86 patients were enrolled in the nine t.i.w. (n = 42) and five q.d. cohorts (n = 44); 71 patients (83%) had tumors harboring FGF/FGFR aberrations. Three of nine patients in the 24-mg q.d. cohort experienced dose-limiting toxicities, including grade 3 increases in alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and blood bilirubin (n = 1 each). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined to be 20 mg q.d.; no MTD was defined for the t.i.w. schedule. Across cohorts (n = 86), the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were hyperphosphatemia (59%), diarrhea (37%), and constipation (34%); 48% experienced grade 3 TEAEs. TEAEs led to dose interruptions, dose reductions, and treatment discontinuations in 55%, 14%, and 3% of patients, respectively. Pharmacokinetics were dose proportional across all q.d. doses but not all t.i.w. doses evaluated, with saturation observed between 80 and 200 mg t.i.w. Serum phosphorus increased dose dependently with futibatinib on both schedules, but a stronger exposure-response relationship was observed with q.d. dosing, supporting 20 mg q.d. as the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Overall, partial responses were observed in five patients [FGFR2 fusion-positive intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 3) and FGFR1-mutant primary brain tumor (n = 2)], and stable disease in 41 (48%).

CONCLUSIONS

Futibatinib treatment resulted in manageable safety, pharmacodynamic activity, and preliminary responses in patients with advanced solid tumors. The results of this phase I dose-escalation trial support 20 mg q.d. futibatinib as the RP2D.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

FOENIX-101 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02052778).

Crizotinib in c-MET- or ROS1-positive NSCLC: results of the AcSé phase II trial

BACKGROUND

In 2013, the French National Cancer Institute initiated the AcSé program to provide patients with secure access to targeted therapies outside of their marketed approvals. Efficacy and safety was then assessed using a two-stage Simon phase II trial design. When the study design was designed, crizotinib was approved only as monotherapy for adults with anaplastic lymphoma kinase plus non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Advanced NSCLC patients with c-MET ≥6 copies, c-MET-mutated, or ROS-1-translocated tumours were enrolled in one of the three cohorts. Patients were treated with crizotinib 250 mg twice daily. Efficacy was assessed using the objective response rate (ORR) after two cycles of crizotinib as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included disease control rate at four cycles, best ORR, progression-free survival, overall survival, and drug tolerance.

RESULTS

From August 2013 to March 2018, 5606 patients had their tumour tested for crizotinib targeted molecular alterations: 252 patients had c-MET ≥6 copies, 74 c-MET-mutation, and 78 ROS-1-translocated tumour. Finally, 25 patients in the c-MET ≥6 copies cohort, 28 in the c-MET-mutation cohort, and 37 in the ROS-1-translocation cohort were treated in the phase II trial. The ORR was 16% in the c-MET ≥6 copies cohort, 10.7% in the mutated, and 47.2% in the ROS-1 cohort. The best ORR during treatment was 32% in the c-MET-≥6 copies cohort, 36% in the c-MET-mutated, and 69.4% in the ROS-1-translocation cohort. Safety data were consistent with that previously reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Crizotinib activity in patients with ROS1-translocated tumours was confirmed. In the c-MET-mutation and c-MET ≥6 copies cohorts, despite insufficient ORR after two cycles of crizotinib, there are signs of late response not sufficient to justify the development of crizotinib in this indication. The continued targeting of c-MET with innovative therapies appears justified.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT02034981.

OS4.3 Feasibility and benefit of Molecular Profiling to Guide Enrollment of Patients with Recurrent Gliomas in Early Phase Trials

BACKGROUND

Participation of glioma patients in early phase clinical trials has recently shown to be safe, although clinical benefits reported in this population were marginal. We aimed to evaluate whether an enrichment strategy based on molecular profiling associates with improved outcome in gliomas patients participating in early phase trials.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Records of patients enrolled in early phase trials of cytotoxic therapies, small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies from 2008 to 2017 were analyzed for clinicopathological characteristics, toxicity, response, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The primary objective was to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of using molecular profiling to guide enrollment.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients were enrolled, of whom 47/91 (51.6%) were molecularly oriented. Molecular targets included IDH1/2 (n=15) and BRAF (11) mutations, FGFR1-3 fusions (n= 10) and mutations (n = 4), mismatch repair deficiency (8), and MDM2 amplification (1). Grade 3/4 adverse events were reported in 9/91 (9.9%) patients. In patients with IDH1/2-wild-type high-grade glioma (n=45), the overall response rate (24.0% [95% CI 11.5–43.4] vs 0.0% [95% CI 0.0–16.1], P=0.027) was significantly higher in molecularly-oriented vs non-molecularly-oriented patients. Updated outcome results, and clinical and molecular factors associated with response, PFS and OS in multivariate analyses will be presented at the conference.

CONCLUSION

Using molecular profiling to guide enrollment in early phase trials is feasible and offers potential benefit to gliomas patients. Further studies are warranted to identify the population most likely to benefit from this approach.

A phase I, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of GSK2256098, a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors

BACKGROUND

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is important in cancer growth, survival, invasion, and migration. The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of the FAK inhibitor, GSK2256098, in cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The dose of GSK2256098 was escalated, in cohorts of patients with advanced cancer, from 80 to 1500 mg, oral twice daily (BID), until the MTD was determined. Serial blood samples were obtained from all patients, and the PK was determined. Paired tumor biopsies were obtained in select patients, and the level of phospho-FAK (pFAK) was determined.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients (39 males, 23 females; median age 61 y.o., range 21-84) received GSK2256098. Dose-limiting toxicities of grade 2 proteinuria (1000 mg BID), grade 2 fatigue, nausea, vomiting (1250 mg BID), and grade 3 asthenia and grade 2 fatigue (1500 mg BID) were reported with the MTD identified as 1000 mg BID. The most frequent adverse events (AEs) were nausea (76%), diarrhea (65%), vomiting (58%), and decreased appetite (47%) with the majority of AEs being grades 1-2. The PK was generally dose proportional with a geometric mean elimination half-life range of 4-9 h. At the 750, 1000, and 1500 mg BID dose levels evaluated, the pFAK, Y397 autophosphorylation site, was reduced by ∼80% from baseline. Minor responses were observed in a patient with melanoma (-26%) and three patients with mesothelioma (-13%, -15%, and -17%). In the 29 patients with recurrent mesothelioma, the median progression-free survival was 12 weeks with 95% CI 9.1, 23.4 weeks (23.4 weeks merlin negative, n = 14; 11.4 weeks merlin positive, n = 9; 10.9 weeks merlin status unknown, n = 6).

CONCLUSIONS

GSK2256098 has an acceptable safety profile, has evidence of target engagement at doses at or below the MTD, and has clinical activity in patients with mesothelioma, particularly those with merlin loss.

Phase I trial of everolimus in combination with thoracic radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

This phase I study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the oral mTOR inhibitor everolimus in combination with thoracic radiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy in locally advanced or oligometastatic untreated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Everolimus dose was escalated in incremental steps [sequential cohorts of three patients until the occurrence of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT)] and administered orally weekly (weekly group: dose of 10, 20 or 50 mg) or daily (daily group: 2.5, 5 or 10 mg), 1 week before, and during radiotherapy until 3.5 weeks after the end of radiotherapy. Two cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin-navelbine) were administrated 4.5 weeks after the end of radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients were included in two centers, 56% had adenocarcinoma and 84% had stage III disease. In the weekly group (12 assessable patients), everolimus could be administered safely up to the maximum planned weekly dose of 50 mg; however, one patient experienced a DLT of interstitial pneumonitis at the weekly dose level of 20 mg. In the daily group (9 assessable patients): one DLT of interstitial pneumonitis with a fatal outcome was observed at the daily dose level of 2.5 mg; two other DLTs (one grade 3 esophagitis and one bilateral interstitial pneumonitis) were found at the daily dose level of 5 mg. Overall there were five patients with G3-4 interstitial pneumonitis related to treatment. Among 22 assessable patients for response, there were 9 (41%) partial response and 7 (32%) stable disease. At a median follow-up of 29 months, the 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival actuarial rates were 31% and 12%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In previously untreated and unselected NSCLC patients, the recommended phase II dose of everolimus in combination with thoracic radiotherapy is 50 mg/week. Pulmonary toxicity is of concern and should be carefully monitored to establish the potential role of mTOR inhibitor with concomitant radiotherapy.

EUDRACT N

2007-001698-27.

Phase I/IIa study evaluating the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of lucitanib in advanced solid tumors

BACKGROUND

Lucitanib is a potent, oral inhibitor fibroblast growth factor receptor types 1 and 2 (FGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor types 1, 2, and 3 (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor types α and β (PGFRα/β), which are essential kinases for tumor growth, survival, migration, and angiogenesis. Several tumor types, including breast carcinoma, demonstrate amplification of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-related genes. There are no approved drugs for molecularly defined FGF-aberrant (FGFR1- or FGF3/4/19-amplified) tumors.

METHODS

This open-label phase I/IIa study involved a dose-escalation phase to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose (RD), and pharmacokinetics of lucitanib in patients with advanced solid tumors, followed by a dose-expansion phase to obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy in patients who could potentially benefit from treatment (i.e. with tumors harboring FGF-aberrant pathway or considered angiogenesis-sensitive).

RESULTS

Doses from 5 to 30 mg were evaluated with dose-limiting toxic effects dominated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition-related toxic effects at the 30 mg dose level (one case of grade 4 depressed level of consciousness and two cases of grade 3 thrombotic microangiopathy). The most common adverse events (all grades, all cohorts) were hypertension (91%), asthenia (42%), and proteinuria (57%). Exposure increased with dose and t½ was 31-40 h, suitable for once daily administration. Seventy-six patients were included. All but one had stage IV; 42% had >3 lines of previous chemotherapy. Sixty-four patients were assessable for response; 58 had measurable disease. Clinical activity was observed at all doses tested with durable Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) partial responses in a variety of tumor types. In the angiogenesis-sensitive group, objective RECIST response rate (complete response + partial response) was 26% (7 of 27) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 25 weeks. In assessable FGF-aberrant breast cancer patients, 50% (6 of 12) achieved RECIST partial response with a median PFS of 40.4 weeks for all treated patients.

CONCLUSION

Lucitanib has promising efficacy and a manageable side-effect profile. The spectrum of activity observed demonstrates clinical benefit in both FGF-aberrant and angiogenesis-sensitive populations. A comprehensive phase II program is planned.