First-in-Human Study of the Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-Related (ATR) Inhibitor Tuvusertib (M1774) as Monotherapy in Patients with Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: Tuvusertib (M1774) is a potent, selective, orally administered ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein kinase inhibitor. This first-in-human study (NCT04170153) evaluated safety, tolerability, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose for expansion (RDE), pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary efficacy of tuvusertib monotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ascending tuvusertib doses were evaluated in 55 patients with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable solid tumors. A safety monitoring committee determined dose escalation based on PK, PD, and safety data guided by a Bayesian 2-parameter logistic regression model. Molecular responses (MR) were assessed in circulating tumor DNA samples. RESULTS: Most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events were anemia (36%), neutropenia, and lymphopenia (both 7%). Eleven patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities, most commonly grade 2 (n = 2) or 3 (n = 8) anemia. No persistent effects on blood immune cell populations were observed. The RDE was 180 mg tuvusertib QD (once daily), 2 weeks on/1 week off treatment, which was better tolerated than the MTD (180 mg QD continuously). Tuvusertib median time to peak plasma concentration ranged from 0.5 to 3.5 hours and mean elimination half-life from 1.2 to 5.6 hours. Exposure-related PD analysis suggested maximum target engagement at ≥130 mg tuvusertib QD. Tuvusertib induced frequent MRs in the predicted efficacious dose range; MRs were enriched in patients with radiological disease stabilization, and complete MRs were detected for mutations in ARID1A, ATRX, and DAXX. One patient with platinum- and PARP inhibitor-resistant BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer achieved an unconfirmed RECIST v1.1 partial response. CONCLUSIONS: Tuvusertib demonstrated manageable safety and exposure-related target engagement. Further clinical evaluation of tuvusertib is ongoing.

Identification of HMGA2 as a predictive biomarker of response to bintrafusp alfa in a phase 1 trial in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: We report the clinical activity, safety, and identification of a predictive biomarker for bintrafusp alfa, a first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of TGFßRII (a TGF-ß "trap") fused to a human IgG1 mAb blocking PD-L1, in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: In this expansion cohort of a global phase 1 study, patients with pretreated, advanced TNBC received bintrafusp alfa 1200 mg every 2 weeks intravenously until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. The primary objective was confirmed best overall response by RECIST 1.1 assessed per independent review committee (IRC). Results: As of May 15, 2020, a total of 33 patients had received bintrafusp alfa, for a median of 6.0 (range, 2.0-48.1) weeks. The objective response rate was 9.1% (95% CI, 1.9%-24.3%) by IRC and investigator assessment. The median progression-free survival per IRC was 1.3 (95% CI, 1.2-1.4) months, and median overall survival was 7.7 (95% CI, 2.1-10.9) months. Twenty-five patients (75.8%) experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Grade 3 TRAEs occurred in 5 patients (15.2%); no patients had a grade 4 TRAE. There was 1 treatment-related death (dyspnea, hemolysis, and thrombocytopenia in a patient with extensive disease at trial entry). Responses occurred independently of PD-L1 expression, and tumor RNAseq data identified HMGA2 as a potential biomarker of response. Conclusions: Bintrafusp alfa showed clinical activity and manageable safety in patients with heavily pretreated advanced TNBC. HMGA2 was identified as a potential predictive biomarker of response. ClinicalTrialsgov identifier: NCT02517398.

Safety of cladribine tablets in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: An integrated analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treating patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) with cladribine tablets (two times 4 or 5 days of treatment each year for 2 years) results in long-lasting efficacy, with continued stability in many patients for 4 or more years. Safety and tolerability outcomes from individual clinical studies with cladribine tablets have been reported previously. OBJECTIVE: Report safety data from an integrated analysis of clinical trials and follow-up in patients with MS to further characterize the safety profile of cladribine tablets. METHODS: Data for patients treated with cladribine tablets 10 mg (MAVENCLAD®; 3.5 mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years, referred to as cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg) as monotherapy (n = 923) or placebo (n = 641) in Phase III clinical trials (CLARITY, CLARITY Extension and ORACLE-MS) and followed up in the PREMIERE registry were aggregated (Monotherapy Oral cohort). To better characterize rare events, additional data from earlier studies which involved the use of parenteral cladribine in patients with MS, and the ONWARD study, in which patients were given cladribine tablets in addition to interferon (IFN)-ß or placebo plus IFN-ß were included in an All Exposed cohort (cladribine, n = 1926; placebo, n = 802). Adjusted adverse events incidences per 100 patient-years (Adj-AE per 100 PY) were calculated for the integrated analyses. RESULTS: The incidence rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the Monotherapy Oral cohort was 103.29 vs. 94.26 Adj-AEs per 100 PY for placebo. TEAEs that occurred more frequently with cladribine tablets were mainly driven by the TEAEs of lymphopenia (Adj-AE per 100 PY 7.94 vs. 1.06 for placebo) and lymphocyte count decreased (Adj-AE per 100 PY 0.78 vs. 0.10 for placebo) as anticipated due to the mode of action of cladribine. An increase in TEAE incidence rate was also observed in the cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg group vs. placebo for herpes zoster (Adj-AE per 100 PY 0.83 vs. 0.20, respectively). There were no cases of systemic, serious disseminated herpes zoster attributed to treatment with cladribine tablets. In general there was no increase in the risk of infections including opportunistic infections with cladribine tablets versus placebo, except for herpes zoster. Periods of severe lymphopenia (< 0.5 × 109 cells/L) were associated with an increased frequency of infections, but the nature of these was not different to that observed in the overall patient group treated with cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg. Within the constraints of a limited sample size, malignancy rates in the overall clinical program for cladribine in MS did not show evidence of an increase compared to placebo-treated patients and there was no increase in the incidence of malignancies over time in cladribine-treated patients. CONCLUSION: The AE profile for cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg as a monotherapy has been well-characterized in a pooled population of patients from early to more advanced relapsing MS. There was no increased risk for infections in general except for a higher incidence of herpes zoster. Lymphopenia was amongst the most frequently observed TEAEs that occurred at a higher incidence with cladribine relative to placebo. There was also no increase in malignancy rates for cladribine relative to placebo.

Effect of cladribine tablets on lymphocyte reduction and repopulation dynamics in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Immune reconstitution therapies (IRT) for patients with multiple sclerosis are used for short, intermittent treatment periods to induce immune resetting and allow subsequent treatment-free periods. Cladribine tablets are postulated to be an IRT that causes selective and transient reductions in CD19+ B cells and T cells, followed by reconstitution of adaptive immune function. OBJECTIVE: To characterize long-term lymphocyte count changes in pooled data from the 2-year CLARITY and subsequent 2-year CLARITY Extension studies, and the PREMIERE registry (Long-term CLARITY cohort). METHODS: Data from patients randomized to placebo (n = 435) or cladribine tablets 10 mg (MAVENCLAD®; 3.5 mg/kg cumulative dose over 2 years, referred to as cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg; n = 685) in CLARITY or CLARITY Extension, including time spent in the PREMIERE registry were pooled to provide long-term follow-up data. The study investigated absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) up to 312 weeks and B and T cell subsets up to 240 weeks after the first dose, in patients receiving placebo or cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg administered as two short (4 or 5 days) weekly treatments at the start of months 1 and 2 in each treatment year, followed by no further active treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg resulted in selective reductions in B and T lymphocytes. Lymphocyte recovery began soon after treatment in each of years 1 and 2. Median ALC recovered to the normal range and CD19+ B cells recovered to threshold values by week 84, approximately 30 weeks after the last dose of cladribine tablets in year 2. Median CD4+ T cell counts recovered to threshold values by week 96 (approximately 43 weeks after the last dose of cladribine tablets in year 2). Median CD8+ cell counts never dropped below the threshold value. CONCLUSION: These results show the dynamics of lymphocyte count changes following treatment with cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg. The immune cell repopulation results provide further evidence that cladribine tablets may represent a form of IRT.

Efficacy of Cladribine Tablets in high disease activity subgroups of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: A post hoc analysis of the CLARITY study.

BACKGROUND: In the CLARITY (CLAdRIbine Tablets treating multiple sclerosis orallY) study, Cladribine Tablets significantly improved clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes (vs placebo) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. OBJECTIVE: Describe two clinically relevant definitions for patients with high disease activity (HDA) at baseline of the CLARITY study (utility verified in patients receiving placebo) and assess the treatment effects of Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg compared with the overall study population. METHODS: Outcomes of patients randomised to Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg or placebo were analysed for subgroups using HDA definitions based on high relapse activity (HRA; patients with ⩾2 relapses during the year prior to study entry, whether on DMD treatment or not) or HRA plus disease activity on treatment (HRA + DAT; patients with ⩾2 relapses during the year prior to study entry, whether on DMD treatment or not, PLUS patients with ⩾1 relapse during the year prior to study entry while on therapy with other DMDs and ⩾1 T1 Gd+ or ⩾9 T2 lesions). RESULTS: In the overall population, Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg reduced the risk of 6-month-confirmed Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) worsening by 47% vs placebo. A risk reduction of 82% vs placebo was seen in both the HRA and HRA + DAT subgroups (vs 19% for non-HRA and 18% for non-HRA + DAT), indicating greater responsiveness to Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg in patients with HDA. There were consistent results for other efficacy endpoints. The safety profile in HDA patients was consistent with the overall CLARITY population. CONCLUSION: Patients with HDA showed clinical and MRI responses to Cladribine Tablets 3.5 mg/kg that were generally better than, or at least comparable with, the outcomes seen in the overall CLARITY population.

Effects of Postponing Treatment in the Second Year of Cladribine Administration: Clinical Trial Simulation Analysis of Absolute Lymphocyte Counts and Relapse Rate in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Cladribine Tablets (MAVENCLAD®) selectively reduce absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) in patients with multiple sclerosis. The recommended cumulative dose of Cladribine Tablets is 3.5 mg/kg over 4-5 days in months 1 and 2 of treatment years 1 and 2, followed by prolonged efficacy with no additional treatment. After the cladribine-induced reduction, ALCs recover to normal within each treatment year in most patients. Those patients with slow ALC recovery can develop Grade 3-4 lymphopenia, especially those patients with Grade ≥  2 lymphopenia at the start of year 2. Guidelines allowing treatment postponements during year 2 have been proposed for patients with a low ALC, subsequent to CLARITY, the pivotal clinical trial. METHODS: A virtual population was generated using characteristics from CLARITY patients. A clinical trial simulation was performed to determine the impact of alternative treatment scenarios on ALC and relapse rate, by postponing treatment in year 2 to allow for longer ALC recovery time in patients who required it. Should a patient not recover to normal ALC (Grade 0) or Grade 1 lymphopenia within the period defined in the treatment algorithm, treatment in year 2 was suspended. RESULTS: Results were similar across considered scenarios, which implemented different postponement durations. Specifically, ~  92% of virtual subjects did not require treatment postponement and <  1% discontinued due to Grade 2-4 lymphopenia at the end of the maximally permitted postponement. Less severe lymphopenia was observed during year 2 when a treatment algorithm was applied. The effect on relapse rate over 2 years was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Results support treatment guidelines to decrease the risk of severe lymphopenia following treatment with Cladribine Tablets, while preserving efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CLARITY; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00213135.

Cladribine tablets added to IFN-ß in active relapsing MS: The ONWARD study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cladribine tablets in patients still experiencing active relapsing MS despite interferon (IFN)-ß treatment. METHODS: A 96-week phase II study, randomizing patients treated with IFN-ß to cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg/IFN-ß or placebo/IFN-ß. Patients were to receive cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg/IFN-ß or placebo/IFN-ß in a 2:1 ratio (n = 172) with safety and exploratory efficacy outcomes being assessed. RESULTS: Adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs were similar across treatment groups, except lymphopenia. Fifty of 124 (40.3%) cladribine/IFN-ß recipients vs 0% of placebo/IFN-ß recipients reported lymphopenia as an AE, with grade 3/4 lymphopenia (laboratory lymphocyte count < 500 cells/mm3) experienced by 79/124 (63.7%) vs 1 (2.1%), respectively. Patients treated with cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg/IFN-ß were 63% less likely to have a qualifying relapse than placebo/IFN-ß recipients, and cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg/IFN-ß reduced most MRI measures of disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with active relapsing MS despite IFN-ß treatment, cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg/IFN-ß reduced relapses and MRI lesion activity over 96 weeks compared with placebo/IFN-ß but led to an increased incidence of lymphopenia. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class I evidence that for patients with active relapsing MS despite IFN-ß treatment, cladribine tablets added to IFN-ß reduced relapses and MRI lesion activity over 96 weeks and increased the incidence of lymphopenia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00436826.

Do statins, ACE inhibitors or sartans improve outcome in primary glioblastoma?

Glioblastomas are malignant brain tumors with poor prognosis. Lately, data from clinical studies assessing the role of co-medications in different cancer types suggested reduced mortality and potential anti-tumor activity for statins, angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (sartans). Here, we analysed the association of co-treatment with statins, ACEI or sartans with outcome in a cohort of 810 patients enrolled in the phase III CENTRIC and phase II CORE trials on the role of the integrin antagonist, cilengitide, in newly diagnosed glioblastoma with or without O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed for each medication in the pooled patient group. No association was found for co-medication with either drug for PFS or OS. Median OS was 22.1 (statins) versus 22.2 (control) months (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.81-1.39, p = 0.69), 20.4 (ACEI) versus 22.6 (control) months (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.96-1.62, p = 0.10), and 21.7 (sartans) versus 22.3 (control) months (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.61-1.21, p = 0.38). None of the comparisons showed a signal for different PFS or OS when analyses were controlled for MGMT promoter methylation or treatment group (TMZ/RT â†’ TMZ vs. RT + CIL + TMZ â†’ TMZ + CIL). This secondary analysis of two large glioblastoma trials thus was unable to detect evidence for an association of the use of statins, ACEI or sartans with outcome in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. These data challenge the rationale for prospective studies on the possible role of these non-tumor-specific drugs within the concept of drug repurposing.

Reduced brain atrophy rates are associated with lower risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with cladribine tablets.

BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging studies have used magnetic resonance imaging-derived methods to assess brain volume loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) as a reliable measure of diffuse tissue damage. METHODS: In the CLARITY study ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00213135), the effect of 2 years' treatment with cladribine tablets on annualized percentage brain volume change (PBVC/y) was evaluated in patients with relapsing MS (RMS). RESULTS: Compared with placebo (-0.70% ± 0.79), PBVC/y was reduced in patients treated with cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg (-0.56% ± 0.68, p = 0.010) and 5.25 mg/kg (-0.57% ± 0.72, p = 0.019). After adjusting for treatment group, PBVC/y showed a significant correlation with the cumulative probability of disability progression (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.571, 0.787; p < 0.001), with patients with lower PBVC/y showing the highest probability of remaining free from disability progression at 2 years and vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: Cladribine tablets given annually for 2 years in short-duration courses in patients with RMS in the CLARITY study significantly reduced brain atrophy in comparison with placebo treatment, with residual rates in treated patients being close to the physiological rates.

Cilengitide in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: biomarker expression and outcome.

Integrins αvß3 and αvß5 regulate angiogenesis and invasiveness in cancer, potentially by modulating activation of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß pathway. The randomized phase III CENTRIC and phase II CORE trials explored the integrin inhibitor cilengitide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with versus without O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation. These trials failed to meet their primary endpoints.Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the levels of the target integrins of cilengitide, αvß3 and αvß5 integrins, of αvß8 and of their putative target, phosphorylation of SMAD2, in tumor tissues from CENTRIC (n=274) and CORE (n=224).αvß3 and αvß5 expression correlated well in tumor and endothelial cells, but showed little association with αvß8 or pSMAD2 levels. In CENTRIC, there was no interaction between the biomarkers and treatment for prediction of outcome. In CORE, higher αvß3 levels in tumor cells were associated with improved progression-free survival by central review and with improved overall survival in patients treated with cilengitide.Integrins αvß3, αvß5 and αvß8 are differentially expressed in glioblastoma. Integrin levels do not correlate with the activation level of the canonical TGF-ß pathway. αvß3 integrin expression may predict benefit from integrin inhibition in patients with glioblastoma lacking MGMT promoter methylation.

Two cilengitide regimens in combination with standard treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and unmethylated MGMT gene promoter: results of the open-label, controlled, randomized phase II CORE study.

BACKGROUND: Survival outcomes for patients with glioblastoma remain poor, particularly for patients with unmethylated O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter. This phase II, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial investigated the efficacy and safety of 2 dose regimens of the selective integrin inhibitor cilengitide combined with standard chemoradiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and an unmethylated MGMT promoter. METHODS: Overall, 265 patients were randomized (1:1:1) to standard cilengitide (2000 mg 2×/wk; n = 88), intensive cilengitide (2000 mg 5×/wk during wk 1-6, thereafter 2×/wk; n = 88), or a control arm (chemoradiotherapy alone; n = 89). Cilengitide was administered intravenously in combination with daily temozolomide (TMZ) and concomitant radiotherapy (RT; wk 1-6), followed by TMZ maintenance therapy (TMZ/RT→TMZ). The primary endpoint was overall survival; secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, pharmacokinetics, and safety and tolerability. RESULTS: Median overall survival was 16.3 months in the standard cilengitide arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.686; 95% CI: 0.484, 0.972; P = .032) and 14.5 months in the intensive cilengitide arm (HR, 0.858; 95% CI: 0.612, 1.204; P = .3771) versus 13.4 months in the control arm. Median progression-free survival assessed per independent review committee was 5.6 months (HR, 0.822; 95% CI: 0.595, 1.134) and 5.9 months (HR, 0.794; 95% CI: 0.575, 1.096) in the standard and intensive cilengitide arms, respectively, versus 4.1 months in the control arm. Cilengitide was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Standard and intensive cilengitide dose regimens were well tolerated in combination with TMZ/RT→TMZ. Inconsistent overall survival and progression-free survival outcomes and a limited sample size did not allow firm conclusions regarding clinical efficacy in this exploratory phase II study.

Cilengitide combined with standard treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter (CENTRIC EORTC 26071-22072 study): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Cilengitide is a selective αvß3 and αvß5 integrin inhibitor. Data from phase 2 trials suggest that it has antitumour activity as a single agent in recurrent glioblastoma and in combination with standard temozolomide chemoradiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (particularly in tumours with methylated MGMT promoter). We aimed to assess cilengitide combined with temozolomide chemoradiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma with methylated MGMT promoter. METHODS: In this multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study, we investigated the efficacy of cilengitide in patients from 146 study sites in 25 countries. Eligible patients (newly diagnosed, histologically proven supratentorial glioblastoma, methylated MGMT promoter, and age ≥18 years) were stratified for prognostic Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis class and geographic region and centrally randomised in a 1:1 ratio with interactive voice response system to receive temozolomide chemoradiotherapy with cilengitide 2000 mg intravenously twice weekly (cilengitide group) or temozolomide chemoradiotherapy alone (control group). Patients and investigators were unmasked to treatment allocation. Maintenance temozolomide was given for up to six cycles, and cilengitide was given for up to 18 months or until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. The primary endpoint was overall survival. We analysed survival outcomes by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00689221. FINDINGS: Overall, 3471 patients were screened. Of these patients, 3060 had tumour MGMT status tested; 926 patients had a methylated MGMT promoter, and 545 were randomly assigned to the cilengitide (n=272) or control groups (n=273) between Oct 31, 2008, and May 12, 2011. Median overall survival was 26·3 months (95% CI 23·8-28·8) in the cilengitide group and 26·3 months (23·9-34·7) in the control group (hazard ratio 1·02, 95% CI 0·81-1·29, p=0·86). None of the predefined clinical subgroups showed a benefit from cilengitide. We noted no overall additional toxic effects with cilengitide treatment. The most commonly reported adverse events of grade 3 or worse in the safety population were lymphopenia (31 [12%] in the cilengitide group vs 26 [10%] in the control group), thrombocytopenia (28 [11%] vs 46 [18%]), neutropenia (19 [7%] vs 24 [9%]), leucopenia (18 [7%] vs 20 [8%]), and convulsion (14 [5%] vs 15 [6%]). INTERPRETATION: The addition of cilengitide to temozolomide chemoradiotherapy did not improve outcomes; cilengitide will not be further developed as an anticancer drug. Nevertheless, integrins remain a potential treatment target for glioblastoma. FUNDING: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Phase I/IIa study of cilengitide and temozolomide with concomitant radiotherapy followed by cilengitide and temozolomide maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

PURPOSE: Invasion and migration are key processes of glioblastoma and are tightly linked to tumor recurrence. Integrin inhibition using cilengitide has shown synergy with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in vitro and promising activity in recurrent glioblastoma. This multicenter, phase I/IIa study investigated the efficacy and safety of cilengitide in combination with standard chemoradiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (age > or = 18 to < or = 70 years) were treated with cilengitide (500 mg) administered twice weekly intravenously in addition to standard radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide. Treatment was continued until disease progression or for up to 35 weeks. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (median age, 57 years; 62% male) were included. Six- and 12-month PFS rates were 69% (95% CI, 54% to 80%) and 33% (95% CI, 21% to 46%). Median PFS was 8 months (95% CI, 6.0 to 10.7 months). Twelve- and 24-month overall survival (OS) rates were 68% (95% CI, 53% to 79%) and 35% (95% CI, 22% to 48%). Median OS was 16.1 months (95% CI, 13.1 to 23.2 months). PFS and OS were longer in patients with tumors with O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation (13.4 and 23.2 months) versus those without MGMT promoter methylation (3.4 and 13.1 months). The combination of cilengitide with temozolomide and radiotherapy was well tolerated, with no additional toxicity. No pharmacokinetic interactions between temozolomide and cilengitide were identified. CONCLUSION: Compared with historical controls, the addition of concomitant and adjuvant cilengitide to standard chemoradiotherapy demonstrated promising activity in patients with glioblastoma with MGMT promoter methylation.

Placebo influences on dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease.

Clinical features that are prognostic indicators of placebo response among dyskinetic Parkinson's disease patients were determined. Placebo-associated improvements occur in Parkinsonism, but responses in dyskinesia have not been studied. Placebo data from two multicenter studies with identical design comparing sarizotan to placebo for treating dyskinesia were accessed. Sarizotan (2 mg/day) failed to improve dyskinesia compared with placebo, but both treatments improved dyskinesia compared with baseline. Stepwise regression identified baseline characteristics that influenced dyskinesia response to placebo, and these factors were entered into a logistic regression model to quantify their influence on placebo-related dyskinesia improvements and worsening. Because placebo-associated improvements in Parkinsonism have been attributed to heightened dopaminergic activity, we also examined the association between changes in Parkinsonism and dyskinesia. Four hundred eighty-four subjects received placebo treatment; 178 met criteria for placebo-associated dyskinesia improvement and 37 for dyskinesia worsening. Older age, lower baseline Parkinsonism score, and lower total daily levodopa doses were associated with placebo-associated improvement, whereas lower baseline dyskinesia score was associated with placebo-associated worsening. Placebo-associated dyskinesia changes were not correlated with Parkinsonism changes, and all effects in the sarizotan group were statistically explained by the placebo-effect regression model. Dyskinesias are affected by placebo treatment. The absence of correlation between placebo-induced changes in dyskinesia and Parkinsonism argues against a dopaminergic activation mechanism to explain placebo-associated improvements in dyskinesia. The magnitude and variance of placebo-related changes and the factors that influence them can be helpful in the design of future clinical trials of antidyskinetic agents.

Sarizotan as a treatment for dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

The objective of this study is to conduct a dose-finding study of sarizotan in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with dyskinesia to identify a safe dose and to identify a sensitive dyskinesia rating measure. Sarizotan is a novel compound with full 5-HT(1A) agonist properties and additional high affinity for D(3) and D(4) receptors. An open label study documented improvements in PD patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia. There is no precedent for study designs or outcome measures in pivotal trials of antidyskinesia therapies. The approach used here was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study. Included were PD patients optimized to levodopa and dopaminergic drugs with moderately disabling dyskinesias present greater than or equal to 25% of the waking day. Interventions included sarizotan 2, 4, or 10 mg/day or matching placebo, given in two doses. There were two outcome measures: the primary measure was change from baseline in diary-based on time without dyskinesia; the secondary measures were change from baseline in scores on the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), the composite score of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Items 32+33 (dyskinesia duration and disability) and total UPDRS. A total of 398 subjects were randomized, with 381 included in the intention-to-treat population. No significant changes occurred on sarizotan compared to placebo on any diary-based measure of dyskinesia or the AIMS score. The composite score of UPDRS Items 32+33 was significantly improved with 2 mg/day sarizotan, with a trend at 10 mg/day. Adverse events were not significantly different in sarizotan- and placebo-treated patients, but off time significantly increased with sarizotan 10 mg/day. Sarizotan 2 mg/day is a safe agent in PD patients with dyskinesia. To test its role in abating dyskinesia, future studies should focus on this dose and will use the composite score of UPDRS Items 32+33 as the primary outcome.