Phase Ib/II Clinical Trial of Pembrolizumab With Bevacizumab for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: BTCRC-GU14-003.

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that bevacizumab will potentiate activity of pembrolizumab. We conducted a phase Ib/II, single-arm, multisite clinical trial of the combination in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with metastatic clear cell RCC who experienced progression after at least one systemic therapy (phase Ib) or were treatment naïve (phase II) were enrolled. In phase Ib, pembrolizumab (200 mg) and bevacizumab (10 or 15 mg/kg) were given intravenously every 3 weeks. The primary end point for phase II was overall response rate (ORR). With an 80% statistical power and a type I error probability of 0.1, 48 patients were to be accrued to detect an ORR of 42%. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (ages 33-68 years; median, 55 years) were enrolled in the phase Ib study. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported. Pembrolizumab 200 mg and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg were chosen for phase II. Forty-eight patients (ages 42-84 years; median age, 61 years; 33 males) were accrued for the phase II study. The primary end point was met, with the ORR reaching 60.9% (95% CI, 45.4% to 74.9%), consisting of 1 complete response (CR), 2 CRs in target lesions, 25 partial responses, 18 responses of stable disease, 2 unevaluable responses. Median progression-free survival was 20.7 months (95% CI, 11.3 to 27.4 months). Median overall survival was not reached at the median follow-up of 28.3 months. The most common treatment-related grade 3 toxicities were hypertension and proteinuria. There were two grade 4 toxicities: duodenal ulcer and hyponatremia. Presence of tumor-infiltrating T cells, but not programmed death-ligand 1 expression, in tumor tissue correlated with response. CONCLUSION: The combination of 200 mg of pembrolizumab and a 15 mg/kg dose of bevacizumab given every 3 weeks is safe and active in metastatic RCC.

Phase I/II Trial of Neoadjuvant Oregovomab-based Chemoimmunotherapy Followed by Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy and Nelfinavir For Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer antigen (CA)-125 influences progression, metastasis, and outcomes in pancreatic cancer. This phase I/II trial (NCT01959672) evaluated the safety, efficacy, and immunologic correlates of chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) with oregovomab (anti-CA-125), followed by stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with the radiosensitizer nelfinavir. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following imaging, pathologic confirmation, and staging laparoscopy, subjects received three 3-week cycles of CIT (gemcitabine/leucovorin/fluorouracil/oregovomab). Thereafter, nelfinavir was delivered (1250 mg bid) for 5 weeks, with SBRT (40 Gy/5 fractions) occurring during the third week of nelfinavir. Following another cycle of CIT, pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed if resectable. Three more cycles of CIT were then delivered (total 7 cycles). In subjects with high (≥10 U/mL) CA-125, oregovomab (2 mg) was administered for 7 total doses (3 pre-SBRT, 1 between SBRT and resection, and 3 postoperatively). The enzyme-linked immunospot assay evaluated the development of CA-125-specific CD8 T-lymphocytes. RESULTS: The trial was prematurely closed because gemcitabine/leucovorin/fluorouracil was replaced by FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel as the standard of care. Median follow-up was 13 months. Of 11 enrolled patients, 10 had high CA-125; 1 patient suffered an unexpected cardiac-related death, so 9 subjects received oregovomab. Ten received SBRT and 4 underwent resection. Overall, 6/11 patients experienced any grade ≥3 event. The median survival and time to progression were 13 and 8.6 months, respectively. Five patients had samples available for immunospot testing, of whom 2 (40%) developed CA-125-specific CD8 T-lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: A combined pancreatic cancer multimodality approach using CIT and radiosensitized radiotherapy is feasible and safe; delivery of immunotherapy can lead to T-cell immunity. Re-evaluation with modern systemic paradigms is recommended.

Phase I trial of concurrent stereotactic body radiotherapy and nelfinavir for locally advanced borderline or unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir (NFV) displays notable radiosensitizing effects. There have been no studies evaluating combined stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and NFV for borderline/unresectable pancreatic cancer. The primary objective of this phase I trial (NCT01068327) was to determine the maximum tolerated SBRT/NFV dose, and secondarily evaluate outcomes. METHODS: Following initial imaging, pathologic confirmation, and staging laparoscopy, subjects initially received three 3-week cycles of gemcitabine/leucovorin/fluorouracil; patients without radiologic progression received 5-fraction SBRT/NFV. Dose escalation was as follows: (1) 25 Gy/625 mg BID ×3wks; (2) 25 Gy/1250 mg BID ×3wks; (3) 30 Gy/1250 mg BID ×3wks; (4) 35 Gy/1250 mg BID ×3wks; (5) 35 Gy/1250 mg BID ×5wks; and (6) 40 Gy/1250 mg BID ×5wks. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed thereafter if resectable; if not, gemcitabine/leucovorin/fluorouracil was administered. RESULTS: Forty-six patients enrolled (10/2008-5/2013); 39 received protocol-directed therapy. Sixteen (41%) experienced any grade ≥2 event during and 1 month after SBRT. Four grade 3 and both grade 4 events occurred in a single patient at the initial dose level. 40 Gy/1250 mg BID ×5wks was the maximum tolerated dose. Five patients had late gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 2 superior mesenteric artery pseudo-aneurysm, n = 1 disease progression, n = 1 lower GI tract, n = 1 unknown location). The median overall survival was 14.4 months. Six (15%) patients recurred locally; median local failure-free survival was not reached. The median distant failure-free survival was 11 months, and median all failure-free survival was 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent SBRT (40 Gy)/NFV (1250 mg BID) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer is feasible and safe, although careful attention to treatment planning parameters is recommended to reduce the incidence of late gastrointestinal bleeding.

Cabozantinib Versus Mitoxantrone-prednisone in Symptomatic Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Phase 3 Trial with a Primary Pain Endpoint.

BACKGROUND: Bone metastases in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) are associated with debilitating pain and functional compromise. OBJECTIVE: To compare pain palliation as the primary endpoint for cabozantinib versus mitoxantrone-prednisone in men with mCRPC and symptomatic bone metastases using patient-reported outcome measures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomized, double-blind phase 3 trial (COMET-2; NCT01522443) in men with mCRPC and narcotic-dependent pain from bone metastases who had progressed after treatment with docetaxel and either abiraterone or enzalutamide. INTERVENTION: Cabozantinib 60mg once daily orally versus mitoxantrone 12mg/m2 every 3wk plus prednisone 5mg twice daily orally. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint was pain response at week 6 confirmed at week 12 (≥30% decrease from baseline in patient-reported average daily worst pain score via the Brief Pain Inventory without increased narcotic use). The planned sample size was 246 to achieve ≥90% power. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Enrollment was terminated early because cabozantinib did not demonstrate a survival benefit in the companion COMET-1 trial. At study closure, 119 participants were randomized (cabozantinib: N=61; mitoxantrone-prednisone: N=58). Complete pain and narcotic use data were available at baseline, week 6, and week 12 for 73/106 (69%) patients. There was no significant difference in the pain response with cabozantinib versus mitoxantrone-prednisone: the proportions of responders were 15% versus 17%, a -2% difference (95% confidence interval: -16% to 11%, p=0.8). Barriers to accrual included pretreatment requirements for a washout period of prior anticancer therapy and a narcotic optimization period to maximize analgesic dosing. CONCLUSIONS: Cabozantinib treatment did not demonstrate better pain palliation than mitoxantrone-prednisone in heavily pretreated patients with mCRPC and symptomatic bone metastases. Future pain-palliation trials should incorporate briefer timelines from enrollment to treatment initiation. PATIENT SUMMARY: Cabozantinib was not better than mitoxantrone-prednisone for pain relief in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and debilitating pain from bone metastases.

A phase 1 clinical trial of sequential pralatrexate followed by a 48-hour infusion of 5-fluorouracil given every other week in adult patients with solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Pralatrexate (PDX) is an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase that was rationally designed to improve cellular uptake and retention of the drug. Preclinical data have shown synergy with the sequential administration of a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor followed 24 hours later by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled at 1 of 5 PDX dose levels from 75 to 185 mg/m(2) on day 1 followed 24 hours later by 5-FU at a dose of 3000 mg/m(2) /48 hours every 2 weeks with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation. Baseline blood was collected for pharmacogenetic analysis of polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase. RESULTS: Mucositis was the most common dose-limiting toxicity. When the worst toxicities across all cycles were considered, grade 3 to 4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were found to have occurred in 14.8%, 14.8%, and 0% of patients, respectively. Grade 2 to 3 toxicities included mucositis (66.6%), dehydration (33.3%), fatigue (25.9%), and diarrhea (22.2%). Version 3.0 of the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria was used to grade toxicities The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 112 days (range, 28-588 days). Seven patients (26%) had a PFS of >180 days (5 patients with colorectal cancer, 1 patient with pancreatic cancer, and 1 patient with non-small cell lung cancer). Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase did not correlate with toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended dose of PDX was 148 mg/m(2) . A subset of heavily pretreated patients had PFS durations of ≥6 months with this regimen.

Sorafenib in Relapsed AML With FMS-Like Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-3 Internal Tandem Duplication Mutation.

Old age (≤65 years), relapsed or refractory disease, and the presence of FMS-like receptor tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation are poor prognostic factors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). FLT3 inhibitors such as sorafenib have been shown to have a potential role in treating relapsed or refractory AML with FLT3 mutations. In the present report, the use of sorafenib in combination with cytarabine and idarubicin resulted in disease control for 7 months in an older patient with relapsed FLT3-positive AML. This case report and the existing literature indicate that sorafenib has disease activity against relapsed AML with the FLT3-ITD mutation in older patients. Larger multicenter studies should be conducted to confirm these findings, which have the potential to improve outcomes in this high-risk AML subgroup.

Scheduled administration of low dose irinotecan before gemcitabine in the second line therapy of non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study.

We had previously demonstrated that low dose irinotecan (CPT-11) leads to increased accumulation of cells in S-phase and shows a therapeutic synergy with S-phase specific chemotherapy such as gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. In this phase II study, our objectives were to evaluate the tolerability and activity of low dose CPT-11 followed 24 h later by gemcitabine as second line therapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CPT-11 (60 mg/m) was administered 24 h before gemcitabine (1000 mg/m) on days 1, 2, 8, and 9 every 3 weeks. Twenty-nine patients were evaluable for response. The median follow-up was 7.4 months. Partial response (PR) was seen in two (6.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.009-0.228). PR and stable disease were seen in 22 patients (75.9, 95% CI: 0.564-0.897). The median survival time was 13.8 months (95% CI: 8.1-19.3). The median time to progression was 4.6 months (95% CI: 2.6-6.2). Thirty-eight patients were evaluable for toxicity. Neutropenia (grade 3 or 4) was observed in 27 patients (71%). Eight patients did not receive cycle 2 of therapy owing to prolonged neutropenia. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Scheduled administration of low dose CPT-11, 24 h before gemcitabine in the second line therapy of NSCLC yielded comparable disease control rates (PR and stable disease) when compared with other studies using the two chemotherapy drugs in the traditional sequence. However, this approach was associated with higher grade 3/4 neutropenia and is not recommended for further study in metastatic NSCLC.

Phase II study of ispinesib in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Ispinesib (SB-715992) inhibits the mitotic kinesin spindle protein (KSP), a novel target for anticancer therapy. A phase II study was conducted to examine the efficacy of ispinesib in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RMHNSC). Patients with up to one prior line of chemotherapy for RMHNSC were treated with ispinesib 18 mg/m2 IV over 1 hour every 21 days. Twenty-one patients were enrolled onto this study with a target stage I sample size of 19. Of 20 evaluable patients, no objective responses were seen and stable disease > 2 cycles was observed in five patients (25%). The median time to progression was 1.4 (95% CI 1.3-2.3) months, median survival was 3.5 (95% CI 2.8-7.8) months, and 1 year overall survival was 20% (95% CI 8.3-48.1%). The most frequent attributable grades III-V adverse events were neutropenia (60% of patients) and leukopenia (55%). The pharmacokinetic profile was consistent with results from phase I studies. Archival tissues (n = 14) demonstrated low to moderate KSP expression by immunohistochemistry. In addition, no pharmacodynamic changes were observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We detected no antitumor activity of ispinesib in RMHNSC on this dosing schedule.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of weekly docetaxel, cisplatin, and daily capecitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors.

PURPOSE: Docetaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine are three active chemotherapeutic agents with different mechanisms of action. This phase I study investigated the feasibility and pharmacokinetics of this combination given on a weekly schedule. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Docetaxel and cisplatin were given i.v. over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8 and capecitabine was given orally bid on days 1 to 14 (every 21 days). Escalation occurred in cohorts of three patients until the maximum tolerated dose was defined. Pharmacokinetics studies of docetaxel and total and ultrafiltrate platinum after cisplatin administration were done on cycle 1 (with capecitabine) and cycle 2 (without capecitabine). RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled. Two of six patients at dose level 5 had a dose-limiting infection and diarrhea. One of six evaluable patients at dose level 4 (27 mg/m2 docetaxel, 27 mg/m2 cisplatin, 825 mg/m2 capecitabine) had a dose-limiting hypomagnesemia. Pharmacokinetics of docetaxel were similar on cycles 1 and 2. Area under the plasma concentrations versus time curves of total platinum was significantly greater in cycle 2 compared with cycle 1 (P = 0.001). There was no difference in the disposition of docetaxel on cycles 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended docetaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine dose for phase II studies is 27/27/825 mg/m2. The alteration in total and ultrafiltrate platinum disposition on cycle 2 compared with cycle 1 may be inherent to sequential cisplatin administration; however, prior treatment with capecitabine cannot be ruled out as a factor.

Pleural mesothelioma with cutaneous extension to chest wall scars.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous mesothelioma is rare but may occur following local surgical procedures for visceral mesothelioma or as a metastasis. METHODS: A patient with pleural mesothelioma, who developed papules within chest wall scars, 14 and 15 months after pleural biopsy and thoracentesis, respectively, is reported. RESULTS: Histopathology showed an epithelioid tumor forming tubulopapillary and glandular structures. The diagnosis of mesothelioma was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Tumor cells stained characteristically for low-molecular-weight cytokeratins 5/6, calretinin, and vimentin and were negative for mucicarmine, carcinoembryonic antigen, thyroid transcription factor 1, prostate-specific antigen, gross cystic disease fluid protein, S-100, factor VIII, and CD31. CONCLUSIONS: Histologically, mesothelioma may resemble a primary adnexal neoplasm, metastatic adenocarcinoma, or angiosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry can clarify the diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware of the varied presentations of mesothelioma, as cutaneous presentations are becoming increasingly common.

Organ preservation in patients with squamous cancers of the head and neck.

Treatment strategies that have the potential to improve functional organ preservation in patients who have head and neck cancer are emerging. Clinical research in this field, however, has been limited by the lack of standardized, objective criteria of organ function post treatment and by lack of prospective assessment of organ function in treatment trials [56]. Advances in surgical techniques, radiation techniques, radiation protectants, and combined-modality therapies are promising, but well-planned and executed clinical trials are necessary to determine how best to apply these techniques to patient care.