Safety and pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in combination with pegvorhyaluronidase alfa in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

This open-label, phase Ib study (NCT02346370) assessed the effect of pegvorhyaluronidase alfa (PVHA; PEGPH20) on the plasma pharmacokinetics (PKs) and safety of docetaxel in 15 patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The docetaxel PK profile from this study was consistent with simulations from a published docetaxel population PK model, and did not demonstrate an effect of PVHA on docetaxel PK. A maximum a posteriori Bayesian fit of the literature PK model to the docetaxel PK appeared unbiased. Adverse events (AEs) were generally consistent with previous reports for docetaxel monotherapy in NSCLC, except for higher incidence of musculoskeletal events, including myalgias, with PVHA plus docetaxel. The most common AEs were fatigue (87%), muscle spasms (60%), and myalgia (53%). Four patients experienced thromboembolic events (27%), three leading to treatment discontinuation. PVHA appeared to demonstrate an acceptable safety profile when given with docetaxel without significantly changing the plasma PK of docetaxel in patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC.

Avatrombopag Optimizes Response to Niraparib by Managing Thrombocytopenia Associated with Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) Inhibition in Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia is a potentially treatment-limiting adverse event of particular interest with the PARP inhibitor niraparib. This adverse event may necessitate niraparib dose reduction or treatment discontinuation, resulting in suboptimal treatment outcomes. Here, we report on niraparib dose optimization in 2 patients with breast cancer and 4 patients with ovarian cancer through concurrent administration of the thrombopoietin receptor stimulating agent avatrombopag to mitigate thrombocytopenia, enabling niraparib reescalation and improved clinical response. CASE REPORT Three of 6 patients received niraparib 300 mg daily, the highest recommended dose, for a sustained period. Avatrombopag therapy enabled niraparib dose escalation that led to reductions in biomarkers associated with disease progression. Before initiation of avatrombopag, increases in CA-125 levels, a marker for ovarian cancer, were observed in association with niraparib dose interruption, and in 2 patients with ovarian cancer CA-125 levels fell in response to niraparib dose escalation enabled by concurrent avatrombopag therapy. Further, in 2 patients with metastatic breast cancer, intracranial response was observed in association with avatrombopag-enabled niraparib therapy. In 1 patient with metastatic breast cancer, niraparib induced an intracranial response, while previous use of talazoparib had not, confirming preclinical findings of superior blood-brain-barrier penetrance with niraparib. CONCLUSIONS Avatrombopag is currently approved for use in chronic immune thrombocytopenia and thrombocytopenia associated with chronic liver disease in patients undergoing a surgical procedure. A clinical trial of avatrombopag for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia is ongoing. Preliminary results in these 6 patient cases demonstrate the need for a confirmatory trial of avatrombopag for optimizing the dose of niraparib.

Preclinical and clinical efficacy of XPO1/CRM1 inhibition by the karyopherin inhibitor KPT-330 in Ph+ leukemias.

As tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) fail to induce long-term response in blast crisis chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML-BC) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), novel therapies targeting leukemia-dysregulated pathways are necessary. Exportin-1 (XPO1), also known as chromosome maintenance protein 1, regulates cell growth and differentiation by controlling the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of proteins and RNAs, some of which are aberrantly modulated in BCR-ABL1(+) leukemias. Using CD34(+) progenitors from CML, B-ALL, and healthy individuals, we found that XPO1 expression was markedly increased, mostly in a TKI-sensitive manner, in CML-BC and Ph(+) B-ALL. Notably, XPO1 was also elevated in Ph(-) B-ALL. Moreover, the clinically relevant XPO1 inhibitor KPT-330 strongly triggered apoptosis and impaired the clonogenic potential of leukemic, but not normal, CD34(+) progenitors, and increased survival of BCR-ABL1(+) mice, 50% of which remained alive and, mostly, became BCR-ABL1 negative. Moreover, KPT-330 compassionate use in a patient with TKI-resistant CML undergoing disease progression significantly reduced white blood cell count, blast cells, splenomegaly, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and bone pain. Mechanistically, KPT-330 altered the subcellular localization of leukemia-regulated factors including RNA-binding heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 and the oncogene SET, thereby inducing reactivation of protein phosphatase 2A tumor suppressor and inhibition of BCR-ABL1 in CML-BC cells. Because XPO1 is important for leukemic cell survival, KPT-330 may represent an alternative therapy for TKI-refractory Ph(+) leukemias.

Fentanyl pectin nasal spray for breakthrough cancer pain.

Optimal management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) requires analgesics with a rapid onset of action, consistent efficacy, improved patient acceptability and tolerability and ease of use. Fentanyl pectin nasal spray (FPNS) incorporates a proprietary pectin-based gelling agent to enhance absorption and produce a faster onset of action and consistent plasma concentration. FPNS is indicated for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain. FPNS has been evaluated in clinical studies in patients with BTCP and shown to be effective, safe and well tolerated. In addition, FPNS has demonstrated high levels of patient satisfaction, convenience and ease of use. FPNS therefore represents an important addition to the treatment options for BTCP.

Safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of GRN1005, a novel conjugate of angiopep-2, a peptide facilitating brain penetration, and paclitaxel, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

GRN1005 is a novel peptide-drug conjugate composed of paclitaxel covalently linked to a peptide, angiopep-2, that targets the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1. This first-in-human study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of GRN1005 in patients with advanced solid tumors. Patients in sequential cohorts (one patient per cohort until grade 2 toxicity, then 3 + 3 design) received intravenous GRN1005 at escalating doses between 30 and 700 mg/m(2) once in every 21 days. In the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) expansion group, patients were required to have brain metastases. Fifty-six patients received GRN1005, including 41 with brain metastases (median number of prior therapies = 4). MTD was 650 mg/m(2); the main dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Sixteen of 20 patients dosed at the MTD had brain metastases. Pharmacokinetics was dose linear and the mean terminal-phase elimination half-life was 3.6 hours. No evidence of accumulation was observed after repeat dosing. No anti-GRN1005 antibodies were detected. Five of the 20 patients (25%) dosed at 650 mg/m(2) (MTD), three of whom had previous taxane therapy, achieved an overall partial response (breast, n = 2; non-small cell lung cancer, n = 2; and ovarian cancer, n = 1); responses in all five patients were also accompanied by shrinkage of brain lesions (-17% to -50%). In addition, six patients (11%; doses 30-700 mg/m(2)) experienced stable disease that lasted 4 months or more. GRN1005 was well tolerated and showed activity in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors, including those who had brain metastases and/or failed prior taxane therapy.