A multicenter, phase 2 study of vascular endothelial growth factor trap (Aflibercept) in platinum- and erlotinib-resistant adenocarcinoma of the lung.

INTRODUCTION: Aflibercept (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] trap), a recombinant fusion protein, blocks the activity of VEGF-A and placental growth factor and has demonstrated activity in pretreated patients with lung cancer in a phase I trial. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravenous aflibercept in patients with platinum- and erlotinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: An open-label, single arm, multicenter trial was conducted, with the primary end point of response rate (modified RECIST). Additional endpoints included safety, duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Patients with platinum- and erlotinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma were eligible. Aflibercept 4.0 mg/kg intravenous every 2 weeks was administered until progression of disease or intolerable toxicity. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were enrolled; 89 were evaluable for response. Median age was 60 years, 41% were men with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1/2 in 35/55/9% of patients. The overall response rate was 2.0%, (95% confidence interval, 0.2-7.2%). Median progression-free survival was 2.7 months, and overall was survival 6.2 months. Six- and 12-month survival rates were 54 and 29%, respectively. A median of four cycles was administered (range 1-22). Common grade 3/4 toxicities included dyspnea (21%), hypertension (23%), and proteinuria (10%). Two cases of grade 5 hemoptysis were reported, and one case each of tracheoesophageal fistula, decreased cardiac ejection fraction, cerebral ischemia, and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Aflibercept has minor single agent activity in heavily pretreated lung adenocarcinoma, and is well tolerated, with no unexpected toxicities. Further studies evaluating aflibercept in lung cancer, in combination with chemotherapy and other targeted therapies, are ongoing.

A phase I study of larotaxel (XRP9881) administered in combination with carboplatin in chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage IIIB or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This primary objective of this phase I dose-escalation study was to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of larotaxel administered in combination with carboplatin in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Eighteen patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, in cohorts of three to six evaluable patients, were to receive every 3 weeks: larotaxel beginning at 45 mg/m(2) administered as a 1-h infusion, followed after 30 min by carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) = 6 mg/mL × min, later AUC = 5) as a 1-h infusion. Dose escalation of larotaxel up to 90 mg/m(2) was permitted according to DLT occurrence. Patients received ondansetron as prophylactic anti-emetic premedication. RESULTS: In view of the toxicity encountered, the carboplatin dose was decreased for the later part of the study to AUC = 5 mg/mL × min. Eight of 18 treated patients experienced DLTs in the first cycle, including neutropenia and associated complications, diarrhea and fatigue. The MTD of the combination was defined as larotaxel 60 mg/m(2) with a carboplatin AUC of 6 mg/mL × min. Neutropenia, reported at grade 3/4 in 15/18 patients (83%), was the most common severe adverse event, reaching grade 4 in 14 patients (78%). Eleven patients (61%) experienced grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicity, predominantly dehydration, fatigue, infection, nausea and vomiting. One patient (6%) achieved a partial response and 11 (61%) had stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of larotaxel and carboplatin is feasible and shows modest activity in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC. The principal toxicity was grade 3/4 neutropenia.

Randomized phase III study of exatecan and gemcitabine compared with gemcitabine alone in untreated advanced pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: Exatecan mesylate is a hexacyclic, water-soluble, topoisomerase-1 inhibitor. Exatecan has single-agent and combination activity with gemcitabine in advanced pancreatic cancer. A multicenter, randomized, phase III trial comparing exatecan plus gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone in advanced pancreatic cancer was conducted. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligibility criteria included Karnofsky performance status > or = 60%, locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and no prior chemotherapy. Radiation alone for locally advanced disease was permitted. Patients were randomly assigned on a 1:1 basis. For the exatecan plus gemcitabine arm, exatecan 2.0 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 were administered on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks. Gemcitabine alone was dosed at 1,000 mg/m2 up to 7 weeks in the first cycle, then once a week for the first 3 weeks of a 4-week cycle. Tumor assessment was performed every 6 weeks. The primary end point was overall survival. An intent-to-treat analysis was used. RESULTS: From August 2001 to January 2003, 349 patients were randomly assigned, 175 to exatecan plus gemcitabine and 174 to gemcitabine alone. Twenty-four patients (6.9%) were not treated. The median survival time was 6.7 months for exatecan plus gemcitabine and 6.2 months for gemcitabine alone (P = .52). One complete response (CR; < 1%) and 11 partial responses (PRs; 6.3%) were observed in the exatecan plus gemcitabine treatment group, and one CR (< 1%) and eight PRs (4.6%) were observed in the gemcitabine-alone group. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were higher for the exatecan plus gemcitabine arm versus the gemcitabine alone arm; neutropenia (30% v 15%) and thrombocytopenia (15% v 4%). CONCLUSION: Exatecan plus gemcitabine was not superior to gemcitabine alone with respect to overall survival in the first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.