A First-in-Human Phase I Study of OPB-111077, a Small-Molecule STAT3 and Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Cancers.

LESSONS LEARNED: OPB-111077 is a novel inhibitor of STAT3 and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation that exhibited promising anticancer activity in preclinical models.In this first-in-human phase I study of OPB-111077 in unselected advanced cancers, treatment-emergent adverse events, most frequently nausea, fatigue, and vomiting, were generally mild to moderate in intensity and could be medically managed.Overall, only modest clinical activity was observed after OPB-111077 given as monotherapy. Notable antitumor activity was seen in a subject with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. BACKGROUND: OPB-111077 is a novel inhibitor of STAT3 and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation with promising anticancer activity in preclinical models. METHODS: Open-label, phase I trial of OPB-111077 in advanced cancers with no available therapy of documented benefit. Initial dose escalation in unselected subjects was followed by dose expansion. Patients received oral OPB-111077 daily in 28-day cycles until loss of clinical benefit. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects enrolled in dose escalation, and 127 in dose expansion. Dose-limiting toxicities were observed at 300 mg and 400 mg QD; maximum tolerated dose was defined as 250 mg QD. Frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) included nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. TEAEs were generally mild to moderate and could be medically managed. OPB-111077 reached micromolar drug concentrations, had an elimination half-life of approximately 1 day, and reached steady-state by day 8. A durable partial response was observed in one subject with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Seven subjects with diverse tumor types had stable disease or minor responses for at least eight treatment cycles (224 days). CONCLUSION: OPB-111077 is generally well tolerated, and its pharmacokinetic profile is sufficient for further clinical development. Notable clinical activity was observed in a subject with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Overall, modest efficacy was observed against unselected tumors.

Pharmacogenomic diversity of tamoxifen metabolites and estrogen receptor genes in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites with breast cancer.

Ethnic differences in patient genetics and breast cancer (BC) biology contribute to ethnic disparities in cancer presentation and patient outcome. We prospectively evaluated SNPs within phase I and phase II tamoxifen (TAM) metabolizing enzymes, and the estrogen receptor gene (ESR1), aiming to identify potential pharmacogenomic ethnicity patterns in an ER-positive BC cohort constituted of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) women in South Texas. Plasma concentrations of TAM/metabolites were measured using HPLC. CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and SULT1A1 genotypes were determined by DNA sequencing/Pyrosequencing technology. ESR1 PvuII and XbaI SNPs were genotyped using Applied Biosystems Taqman Allelic Discrimination Assay. Hispanics had higher levels of TAM, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and endoxifen than NHWs. There was a higher prevalence of CYP2D6 EM within Hispanics than NHWs, which corresponded to higher endoxifen levels, but no differences were verified with regard to CYP2C9 and SULT1A1. We found a higher incidence of the wild type forms of the ESR1 in Hispanics than NHWs. The performance status, the disease stage at diagnosis, and the use of aromatase inhibitors might have overcome the overall favorable pharmacogenomics profile of Hispanics when compared to NHWs in relation to TAM therapy responsiveness. Our data strongly point to ethnical peculiarities related to pharmacogenomics and demographic features of TAM treated Hispanics and NHWs. In the era of pharmacogenomics and its ultimate goal of individualized, efficacious and safe therapy, cancer studies focused on the Hispanic population are warranted because this is the fastest growing major demographic group, and an understudied segment in the U.S.

A Phase I Dose-Escalation and Dose-Expansion Study of FCN-437c, a Novel CDK4/6 Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

A phase I study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and maximum-tolerated dose (MTD)/recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of FCN-437c, a novel, orally available cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDK4/6i), in participants with advanced/metastatic solid tumors (aSTs). FCN-437c was escalated from 50 mg (once daily [QD] on days 1-21 of 28-day cycles) to the MTD/RP2D. In the dose-expansion phase, patients with CDK4/6i-treated breast cancer, or KRAS-mutant (KRASmut) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received the MTD. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. The most common tumors in the dose-escalation phase (n = 15) were breast, colorectal, and lung (each n = 4 [27.3%]). The dose-expansion phase included five (71.4%) patients with breast cancer and two (28.6%) with KRASmut NSCLC. Twenty (90.9%) participants experienced FCN-437c-related adverse events. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in two (33.3%) participants (200-mg dose, dose-escalation phase): grade 3 neutropenia and grade 4 neutrophil count decreased. Due to toxicities reported at 150 mg QD, the MTD was de-escalated to 100 mg QD. One (4.5%) participant (KRASmut NSCLC, 100-mg dose) achieved a partial response lasting 724+ days, and five (22.7%) had stable disease lasting 56+ days. In conclusion, FCN-437c was well tolerated with encouraging signs of antitumor activity and disease control. Further exploration of FCN-437c in aSTs is warranted.

Cantuzumab mertansine in a three-times a week schedule: a phase I and pharmacokinetic study.

PURPOSE: Cantuzumab mertansine (SB-408075; huC242-DM1) is a conjugate of the maytansinoid drug DM1 to the antibody huC242, which targets CanAg antigen. In previous studies, cantuzumab mertansine was considered safe and tolerable, but transaminitis precluded tolerance of higher doses. Based on those studies, it was suggested that treatment at intervals of the half-life of the intact immunoconjugate may allow a higher dose density. This provided the rationale for the three-times weekly treatment explored in this protocol. METHODS: Patients with advanced solid tumors and documented CanAg expression were treated with escalating doses of cantuzumab mertansine IV administered three-times a week in a 3 out of 4 weeks schedule. Plasma samples were assayed to determine pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS: Twenty patients (pts) with colon (11/20), rectal carcinomas (2/20), or other malignancies (7/20) were treated with doses ranging from 30 to 60 mg/m2 per day of cantuzumab mertansine IV three-times a week. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 45 mg/m2, and the dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 transaminitis. Hepatic, hematologic, and neurosensory effects occurred, but were rarely severe with repetitive treatment at doses of 45 mg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with cantuzumab mertansine at 45 mg/m2 per day three-times weekly x 3-every-4-week schedule proved that a dose-intense treatment with an immunoconjugate can be safely administered. The pharmacokinetic profile of the intact immunoconjugate indicates that the linker is cleaved with a half-life of about 2 days, resulting in faster clearance of the maytansinoid relative to the antibody. Therefore, with the development of second-generation immunoconjugates, there is a need for improvement of the immunoconjugate linker to take full advantage of the slow clearance of full-length antibody molecules.

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibition and chemotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases.

PURPOSE: To further assess preclinical and early clinical evidence that imatinib mesylate, a platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) inhibitor, modulates taxane activity in prostate cancer and bone metastases, a randomized study was conducted. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Men with progressive castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases (n = 144) were planned for equal randomization to i.v. 30 mg/m(2) docetaxel on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 every 42 days with 600 mg imatinib daily or placebo, for an improvement in median progression-free survival from 4.5 to 7.5 months (two-sided alpha = 0.05 and beta = 0.20). Secondary end points included differential toxicity and bone turnover markers, tumor phosphorylated PDGFR (p-PDGFR) expression, and modulation of p-PDGFR in peripheral blood leukocytes. RESULTS: Accrual was halted early because of adverse gastrointestinal events. Among 116 evaluable men (57 docetaxel + imatinib; 59 docetaxel + placebo), respective median times to progression were 4.2 months (95% confidence interval, 3.1-7.5) and 4.2 months (95% confidence interval, 3.0-6.8; P = 0.58, log-rank test). Excess grade 3 toxicities (n = 23) in the docetaxel + imatinib group were principally fatigue and gastrointestinal. Tumor p-PDGFR expression was observed in 12 of 14 (86%) evaluable bone specimens. In peripheral blood leukocytes, p-PDGFR reduction was more likely in docetaxel + imatinib-treated patients compared with docetaxel + placebo (P < 0.0001), as were reductions in urine N-telopeptides (P = 0.004) but not serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.099). CONCLUSIONS: These clinical and translational results question the value of PDGFR inhibition with taxane chemotherapy in prostate cancer bone metastases and are at variance with the preclinical studies. This discordance requires explanation.

Cantuzumab mertansine, a maytansinoid immunoconjugate directed to the CanAg antigen: a phase I, pharmacokinetic, and biologic correlative study.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum tolerated dose and pharmacokinetics of cantuzumab mertansine, an immunoconjugate of the potent maytansine derivative (DM1) and the humanized monoclonal antibody (huC242) directed to CanAg, intravenously (i.v.) once every 3 weeks and to seek evidence of antitumor activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with CanAg-expressing solid malignancies were treated with escalating doses of cantuzumab mertansine administered i.v. every 3 weeks. The pharmacokinetic parameters of cantuzumab mertansine, the presence of plasma-shed CanAg, and the development of both human antihuman and human anti-DM1 conjugate antibodies also were characterized. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients received 110 courses of cantuzumab mertansine at doses ranging from 22 to 295 mg/m2. Acute, transient, and reversible elevations of hepatic transaminases were the principal toxic effects. Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea were common but rarely severe at the highest dose levels. Dose, peak concentration, and area under the concentration-time curve correlated with the severity of transaminase elevation. The mean (+/- SD) clearance and terminal elimination half-life values for cantuzumab mertansine averaged 39.5 (+/-13.1) mL/h/m2 and 41.1 (+/-16.1) hours, respectively. Strong expression (3+) of CanAg was documented in 68% of patients. Two patients with chemotherapy-refractory colorectal carcinoma had minor regressions, and four patients had persistently stable disease for more than six courses. CONCLUSION: The recommended dose for cantuzumab mertansine is 235 mg/m2 i.v. every 3 weeks. The absence of severe hematologic toxic effects, preliminary evidence of cantuzumab mertansine tumor localization, and encouraging biologic activity in chemotherapy-refractory patients warrant further broad clinical development of this immunoconjugate in CanAg-expressing tumors.

A randomized phase I and pharmacological trial of sequences of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and temozolomide in patients with advanced solid neoplasms.

PURPOSE: O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGAT) is modulated by methylating agents, which, in turn, abrogates nitrosourea resistance in preclinical studies. The feasibility of administering various sequences of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and temozolomide (TEM) in patients with advanced solid neoplasms was evaluated in this Phase I and pharmacological study to assess this premise in the clinical setting. The study also sought to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of BCNU and TEM as a function of Seq, to characterize the pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of TEM administered both before and after BCNU, assess AGAT fluctuations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and seek preliminary evidence of anticancer activity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Sixty-three patients were randomized to receive treatment with oral TEM daily on days 1-5 and BCNU administered i.v., either on day 1 before TEM [Sequence (Seq) B-->T] or day 5 after TEM (Seq T-->B). Treatment was repeated every 6 weeks. Blood sampling for PK studies was performed on both days 1 and 5 of course one. PBMCs were sampled to evaluate major sequence-dependent effects on AGAT levels. RESULTS: Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the principal dose-limiting toxicities of the BCNU/TEM regimen. These effects were more prominent in patients receiving Seq T-->B, resulting in a much lower MTD of 80/100 mg/m(2)/day compared with 150/110 mg/m(2)/day for Seq B-->T. Notable antitumor activity was observed in patients with glioblastoma multiforme, sarcoma, and ovarian carcinoma. No sequence-dependent PK effects were noted to account for sequence-dependent toxicological effects. At the MTD level, AGAT activity in PBMCs decreased 3-fold, on average, and AGAT fluctuations did not appear to be sequence-dependent. CONCLUSIONS: The principal toxicities of the BCNU/TEM regimen were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, which were consistent and predictable, albeit sequence-dependent. Seq T-->B was substantially more myelosuppressive, resulting in disparate MTDs and dose levels recommended for subsequent disease-directed evaluations (150/110 and 80/100 mg/m(2)/day for Seq B-->T and T-->B, respectively). Sequence-dependent differences in TEM PK do not account for this clinically relevant magnitude of sequence-dependent toxicity. The characteristics of the myelosuppressive effects of BCNU/TEM, the paucity of severe nonhematological toxicities, and antitumor activity at tolerable doses warrant disease-directed evaluations on this schedule.

Phase I Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475; Anti-PD-1 Monoclonal Antibody) in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: This phase I study evaluated the safety, maximum tolerated dose, antitumor activity, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In a 3 + 3 dose escalation study, 10 patients received pembrolizumab 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks until progression or intolerable toxicity. Seven additional patients received 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Thirteen patients participated in a 3-week intrapatient dose escalation (dose range, 0.005-10 mg/kg) followed by 2 or 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Tumor response was assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. RESULTS: No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Maximum administered dose was 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. One patient with melanoma and one with Merkel cell carcinoma experienced complete responses of 57 and 56+ weeks' duration, respectively. Three patients with melanoma experienced partial responses. Fifteen patients with various malignancies experienced stable disease. One patient died of cryptococcal infection 92 days after pembrolizumab discontinuation, following prolonged corticosteroid use for grade 2 gastritis considered drug related. Pembrolizumab exhibited pharmacokinetic characteristics typical of humanized monoclonal antibodies. Maximum serum target engagement was reached with trough levels of doses greater than or equal to 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Mechanism-based translational models with a focus on intratumor exposure prediction suggested robust clinical activity would be observed at doses ≥2 mg/kg every 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Pembrolizumab was well tolerated and associated with durable antitumor activity in multiple solid tumors. The lowest dose with full potential for antitumor activity was 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks.

Phase I first-in-human study of CUDC-101, a multitargeted inhibitor of HDACs, EGFR, and HER2 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

PURPOSE: This first-in-human phase I study evaluated dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and defined a phase II recommended dose (RD) for CUDC-101, a multitargeted inhibitor of HDACs, EGFR, and HER2 as a 1-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion for 5 consecutive days every 2 weeks. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Twenty-five patients with advanced solid tumors received escalating doses of CUDC-101 (range, 75-300 mg/m(2)/day) following a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design. RESULTS: The MTD was determined to be 275 mg/m(2). Common grade 1/2 adverse events included nausea, fatigue, vomiting, dyspnea, pyrexia, and dry skin. DLTs occurred in 1 patient in the 275-mg/m(2) dose cohort (grade 2 serum creatinine elevation, n = 1) and 3 patients in the 300-mg/m(2) dose cohort (grade 2 serum creatinine elevation, n = 2; pericarditis, n = 1), all of which were transient and reversible. CUDC-101 exposure increased linearly with the mean maximum concentration (Cmax), clearance (CL), volume of distribution at steady-state (Vdss), area under curve (AUC), and terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) at the MTD dose of 9.3 mg/L, 51.2 L/h, 39.6 L, 9.95 h·ng/mL and 4.4 hours, respectively. Acetylated histone H3 induction was observed in posttreatment skin samples from 3 patients in the 275-mg/m(2) dose cohort, suggesting adequate systemic exposure and target inhibition. One patient with gastric cancer had a partial response and 6 patients had stable disease. CONCLUSION: CUDC-101 administered by 1-hour i.v. infusion for 5 consecutive days every 2 weeks was generally well tolerated with preliminary evidence of antitumor activity. A dose of 275 mg/m(2) is recommended for further clinical testing.

A phase 1b study of trametinib, an oral Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, in combination with gemcitabine in advanced solid tumours.

PURPOSE: This phase 1b study determined the safety, tolerability, and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and schedule of trametinib in combination with gemcitabine. Secondary objectives included assessment of clinical activity and steady-state pharmacokinetics. METHODS: Adults with advanced solid tumours, adequate organ function and Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ⩽ 1 were eligible. Once-daily oral trametinib (1mg, 2mg, 2.5mg) was escalated in a 3+3 design with standard gemcitabine dosing (1000 mg/m(2) IV Days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles). During expansion, trametinib 2mg was combined with gemcitabine. Pharmacokinetics samples were collected on Day 15 pre-dose and 1, 2, 4 and 6h post-dose; tumour assessments were repeated every two cycles. RESULTS: Between 8/2009 and 11/2010, 31 patients (pancreas = 11, breast = 6, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) = 4, other = 10) were treated. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred in each cohort, and included febrile neutropenia, transaminase elevation and uveitis. The RP2D was declared as trametinib 2mg daily with standard gemcitabine dosing. Common grade 3/4 toxicities at the RP2D included: neutropenia (38%), thrombocytopenia (19%) and transaminase elevation (14%). Of 10 patients with measurable pancreatic cancer, three partial responses (30%) were documented; two additional patients achieved objective responses (breast, complete response (CR); salivary glands, partial response (PR)). Pharmacokinetics suggested no change in exposures of either drug in combination. CONCLUSION: Administration of trametinib at its full monotherapy dose of 2mg daily in combination with standard gemcitabine dosing (1000 mg/m(2) IV Days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days) was feasible. Though most toxicities were manageable, the addition of trametinib may increase gemcitabine-associated myelosuppression. Future studies of this combination will require monitoring to maintain dose and schedule.

The clinical effect of the dual-targeting strategy involving PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/MEK/ERK pathways in patients with advanced cancer.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the clinical relevance of the dual-targeting strategy involving PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK pathways. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated safety, efficacy, and correlations between tumor genetic alterations and clinical benefit in 236 patients with advanced cancers treated with phase I study drugs targeting phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in our Phase I Clinical Trials Program. RESULTS: Seventy-six (32.2%) patients received a PI3K pathway inhibitor in combination with a MAPK pathway inhibitor (D), whereas 124 (52.5%) and 36 (15.3%), respectively, received an inhibitor of either the PI3K or MAPK pathways (S). The rates of drug-related grade >III adverse events were 18.1% for (S) and 53.9% for (D; P < 0.001); the rates of dose-limiting toxicities were 9.4% for (S) and 18.4% for (D; P = 0.06). The most frequent grade >III adverse events were transaminase elevations, skin rash, and mucositis. In our comprehensive tumor genomic analysis, of 9 patients who harbored coactivation of both pathways (colorectal cancer, n = 7; melanoma, n = 2), all 5 patients treated with (D) had tumor regression ranging from 2% to 64%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dual inhibition of both pathways may potentially exhibit favorable efficacy compared with inhibition of either pathway, at the expense of greater toxicity. Furthermore, this parallel pathway targeting strategy may be especially important in patients with coexisting PI3K pathway genetic alterations and KRAS or BRAF mutations and suggests that molecular profiling and matching patients with combinations of these targeted drugs will need to be investigated in depth.

Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel is an active regimen in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase I/II trial.

PURPOSE: The trial objectives were to identify the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of first-line gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and to provide efficacy and safety data. Additional objectives were to evaluate positron emission tomography (PET) scan response, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and CA19-9 levels in relation to efficacy. Subsequent preclinical studies investigated the changes involving the pancreatic stroma and drug uptake. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with previously untreated advanced pancreatic cancer were treated with 100, 125, or 150 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel followed by gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. In the preclinical study, mice were implanted with human pancreatic cancers and treated with study agents. RESULTS: A total of 20, 44, and three patients received nab-paclitaxel at 100, 125, and 150 mg/m(2), respectively. The MTD was 1,000 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine plus 125 mg/m(2) of nab-paclitaxel once a week for 3 weeks, every 28 days. Dose-limiting toxicities were sepsis and neutropenia. At the MTD, the response rate was 48%, with 12.2 median months of overall survival (OS) and 48% 1-year survival. Improved OS was observed in patients who had a complete metabolic response on [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Decreases in CA19-9 levels were correlated with increased response rate, progression-free survival, and OS. SPARC in the stroma, but not in the tumor, was correlated with improved survival. In mice with human pancreatic cancer xenografts, nab-paclitaxel alone and in combination with gemcitabine depleted the desmoplastic stroma. The intratumoral concentration of gemcitabine was increased by 2.8-fold in mice receiving nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine versus those receiving gemcitabine alone. CONCLUSION: The regimen of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine has tolerable adverse effects with substantial antitumor activity, warranting phase III evaluation.