Results of an open-label phase 1b study of the ERK inhibitor MK-8353 plus the MEK inhibitor selumetinib in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

AIM: We evaluated MK-8353 (small molecule inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2) plus selumetinib (mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 inhibitor) in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: This phase 1b, open-label, dose-escalation study (NCT03745989) enrolled adults with histologically/cytologically documented, locally advanced/metastatic solid tumors. MK-8353/selumetinib dose combinations were intended to be investigated in sequence: 50/25, 100/50, 150/75, 200/75, 200/100, and 250/100. Each agent was administered orally BID 4 days on/3 days off in repeating cycles every 21 days. Primary objectives were safety and tolerability and to establish preliminary recommended phase 2 doses for combination therapy. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled. Median (range) age was 61.5 (26-78) years and 93% had received previous cancer therapy. Among 28 patients in the dose-limiting toxicities [DLT]-evaluable population, 8 experienced DLTs: 1/11 (9%) in the MK-8353/selumetinib 100/50-mg dose level experienced a grade 3 DLT (urticaria), and 7/14 (50%) in the 150/75-mg dose level experienced grade 2/3 DLTs (n = 2 each of blurred vision, retinal detachment, vomiting; n = 1 each of diarrhea, macular edema, nausea, retinopathy). The DLT rate in the latter dose level exceeded the prespecified target DLT rate (~30%). Twenty-six patients (87%) experienced treatment-related adverse events (grade 3, 30%; no grade 4/5), most commonly diarrhea (67%), nausea (37%), and acneiform dermatitis (33%). Three patients (10%) experienced treatment-related adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Best response was stable disease in 14 patients (n = 10 with MK-8353/selumetinib 150/75 mg). CONCLUSION: MK-8353/selumetinib 50/25 mg and 100/50 mg had acceptable safety and tolerability, whereas 150/75 mg was not tolerable. No responses were observed.

First-in-human trial exploring safety, antitumor activity, and pharmacokinetics of Sym013, a recombinant pan-HER antibody mixture, in advanced epithelial malignancies.

PURPOSE: Sym013 contains six humanized monoclonal antibodies that bind to non-overlapping epitopes on three human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER1-3). Preclinical studies suggested Sym013 strongly suppresses growth of multiple epithelial tumors. This is a first-in-human study exploring safety and efficacy of Sym013 in patients with advanced epithelial malignancies. METHODS: Dose escalation used single-patient cohorts until the stopping rule was met, followed by 3 + 3 design. Dose levels planned were: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 mg/kg. Treatment cycles were 28 days with imaging every eight weeks. Serum samples were collected at multiple time points for assessment of pharmacokinetics and development of anti-drug antibodies. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled with multiple solid tumors, most common being colorectal cancer (CRC; 10/32, 31%). Due to mucositis, rash, and diarrhea at 4 mg/kg once-weekly, dosing was changed to biweekly (Q2W). Mandatory prophylaxis was added due to Grade 3 infusion-related reaction and oral mucositis at 9 mg/kg Q2W. The 15 mg/kg Q2W cohort was enrolling when the study was terminated for business reasons. Most common adverse events were skin (81%) and gastrointestinal (75%) disorders, including dermatitis/rash, stomatitis, and diarrhea. One patient with CRC achieved a partial response; 12 patients with varied malignancies had stable disease. CONCLUSION: During the conduct of the study, management of frequent infusion-related reactions, skin toxicities, and mucosal disorders, which are indicative of HER inhibition, necessitated multiple protocol amendments. The investigators, in concert with the Sponsor, agreed that achieving a tolerated regimen with acceptable target saturation was unlikely. TRIAL REGISTRY: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ; NCT02906670 (September 20, 2016).

A phase I, dose-escalation study of PF-06650808, an anti-Notch3 antibody-drug conjugate, in patients with breast cancer and other advanced solid tumors.

Background PF-06650808 is a novel anti-Notch3 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) able to deliver an auristatin-based cytotoxic payload to target cells. In this first-in-human, dose-finding, phase I study (NCT02129205), we investigated safety, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and preliminary antitumor activity of single-agent PF-06650808 in 40 patients with advanced breast cancer (BC) and other solid tumors unselected for Notch3 expression. Primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). PF-06650808 was administered intravenously every 3 weeks at a starting dose of 0.2 mg/kg, escalated up to 6.4 mg/kg following the modified continual reassessment method. An additional dose level, 2.0 mg/kg, was evaluated in patients with advanced, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) BC. Results The majority of patients had advanced BC (60%) and almost all (90%) had received ≥3 prior lines of anticancer therapy. Treatment with PF-06650808 was generally well tolerated at dose levels ≤2.0 mg/kg with no DLTs. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was estimated to be 2.4 mg/kg. The most common treatment-related AEs in all patients were fatigue (40.0%), decreased appetite (37.5%), nausea (35.0%), alopecia (32.5%), abdominal pain (25.0%), pruritus (25.0%), and vomiting (25.0%). Five patients achieved a partial response (PR), including 2 unconfirmed PRs; 4 of the responders had ER+/PR+/HER2- BC. Sixteen (51.6%) patients achieved stable disease, including 8 (57.1%) of 14 patients with ER+ BC. Tumor samples from all responders tested positive for NOTCH3 expression in a retrospective, exploratory analysis. Conclusions The anti-Notch3 ADC PF-06650808 has demonstrated a manageable safety profile and early signs of antitumor activity in patients with advanced BC.

A phase 1 study evaluating safety and pharmacokinetics of losatuxizumab vedotin (ABBV-221), an anti-EGFR antibody-drug conjugate carrying monomethyl auristatin E, in patients with solid tumors likely to overexpress EGFR.

Losatuxizumab vedotin (formerly ABBV-221) is a second-generation antibody-drug conjugate targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this multicenter phase 1 study, eligible patients with EGFR-dependent solid tumors received losatuxizumab vedotin (3 + 3 design) intravenously at starting dose of 0.3 mg/kg over 3 h per 21-day cycle, with alternate dosing schedules utilized (2 weeks on/1 week off or weekly) to mitigate infusion reactions. Forty-five patients received ≥1 doses of losatuxizumab vedotin (13 colon, 6 non-small cell lung cancer, 5 head and neck [HNC], 5 glioblastoma multiforme, 2 breast, 14 other). Tumor samples were evaluated for EGFR protein expression by immunohistochemistry, EGFR and EGFR ligand mRNA expression by RNAseq, and results compared with outcome. Most common adverse events were infusion-related reaction (22/45; 49%) and fatigue (20/45; 44%). While most infusion reactions were grade ≤ 2, four patients experienced grade ≥3 infusion reactions. Several infusion reaction mitigation strategies were explored. Because of the high incidence of infusion reactions, the trial was stopped and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The last cleared dose: 6 mg/kg/cycle. Nineteen patients (42%) had stable disease; 4 remained on study >6 months. One HNC patient with increased levels of EGFR and EGFR ligands (amphiregulin, epiregulin) achieved a confirmed partial response. Pharmacokinetic analysis of losatuxizumab vedotin showed exposures appeared to be approximately dose-proportional. The high frequency of infusion reactions necessitated early closure of this trial. The detailed mitigation strategies used in this protocol for infusion-related reactions may provide beneficial information for trial design of agents with high infusion reaction rates.

Efficacy and safety results of depatuxizumab mafodotin (ABT-414) in patients with advanced solid tumors likely to overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) alterations are associated with multiple cancers. Current EGFR-directed therapies have led to increased efficacy but are associated with specific side effects. The antibody-drug conjugate depatuxizumab mafodotin (depatux-m) targets EGFR with a monoclonal antibody linked to a cytotoxin, and is highly tumor-specific. METHODS: This phase 1/2 study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of depatux-m in patients who had advanced solid tumors with known wild-type EGFR overexpression, amplification, or mutated EGFR variant III. A 3 + 3 dose escalation was used, and 2 dosing schedules were evaluated. Depatux-m also was manufactured under an alternate process to reduce the drug load and improve the safety profile, and it was tested at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). In another cohort, prolonged infusion time of depatux-m was evaluated; and a cohort with confirmed EGFR amplification also was evaluated at the MTD. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were treated. The MTD and the recommended phase 2 dose for depatux-m was 3.0 mg/kg. Common adverse events (AEs) were blurred vision (48%) and fatigue (41%). A majority of patients (66%) experienced 1 or more ocular AEs. Grade 3 or 4 AEs were observed in 43% of patients. One patient with EGFR-amplified, triple-negative breast cancer had a partial response. Stable disease was observed in 23% of patients. Pharmacokinetics revealed that depatux-m exposures were approximately dose-proportional. CONCLUSIONS: Depatux-m resulted in infrequent nonocular AEs but increased ocular AEs. Patient follow-up confirmed that ocular AEs were reversible. Lowering the drug-antibody ratio did not decrease the number of ocular AEs. A partial response in 1 patient with EGFR-amplified disease provides the opportunity to study depatux-m in diseases with a high incidence of EGFR amplification. Cancer 2018;124:2174-83. © 2018 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.

Phase 1 and pharmacokinetic study of LY3007113, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, in patients with advanced cancer.

Background The signaling protein p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) regulates the tumor cell microenvironment, modulating cell survival, migration, and invasion. This phase 1 study evaluated the safety of p38 MAPK inhibitor LY3007113 in patients with advanced cancer to establish a recommended phase 2 dose. Methods In part A (dose escalation), LY3007113 was administered orally every 12 h (Q12H) at doses ranging from 20 mg to 200 mg daily on a 28-day cycle until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was reached. In part B (dose confirmation), patients received MTD. Safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tumor response data were evaluated. Results MTD was 30 mg Q12H. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events (>10%) were tremor, rash, stomatitis, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, and fatigue. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events included upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and increased hepatic enzyme, both occurring at 40 mg Q12H and considered dose-limiting toxicities. LY3007113 exhibited an approximately dose-proportional increase in exposure and time-independent pharmacokinetics after repeated dosing. Maximal inhibition (80%) of primary biomarker MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was not reached, and sustained minimal inhibition (60%) was not maintained for 6 h after dosing to achieve a biologically effective dose (BED). The best overall response in part B was stable disease in 3 of 27 patients. Conclusions The recommended phase 2 dosage of LY3007113 was 30 mg Q12H. Three patients continued treatment after the first radiographic assessment, and the BED was not achieved. Further clinical development of this compound is not planned as toxicity precluded achieving a biologically effective dose.

Improving combination cancer therapy: the CombiPlex® development platform.

Current combination therapy approaches assume that better outcomes are achieved by combining drugs at their maximally tolerated doses. However, administration of individual agents cannot consistently deliver synergistic drug ratios to tumor cells due to differences in pharmacokinetics of the individual drugs. Further, the toxicity of combination regimens often necessitates administration of suboptimal dosages. Delivery technologies, such as the CombiPlex® platform, can enable efficient and sustained delivery of combination treatments at a synergistic ratio. The CombiPlex platform determines synergistic drug ratios in vitro and identifies an appropriate nanoscale carrier to maintain that ratio in vivo and enhance its delivery to tumor cells. CPX-351, a dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of cytarabine and daunorubicin, is the first clinical proof-of-concept example of the CombiPlex platform.

A phase 1 dose-escalation and expansion study of binimetinib (MEK162), a potent and selective oral MEK1/2 inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Binimetinib (MEK162; ARRY-438162) is a potent and selective oral MEK 1/2 inhibitor. This phase 1 study determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, and preliminary anti-tumour activity of binimetinib in patients with advanced solid tumours, with expansion cohorts of patients with biliary cancer or KRAS- or BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer. METHODS: Binimetinib was administered twice daily. Expansion cohorts were enroled after MTD determination following a 3+3 dose-escalation design. Pharmacokinetic properties were determined from plasma samples. Tumour samples were assessed for mutations in RAS, RAF, and other relevant genes. Pharmacodynamic properties were evaluated in serum and skin punch biopsy samples. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients received binimetinib (dose-escalation phase, 19; expansion, 74). The MTD was 60 mg twice daily, with dose-limiting adverse events (AEs) of dermatitis acneiform and chorioretinopathy. The dose for expansion patients was subsequently decreased to 45 mg twice daily because of the frequency of treatment-related ocular toxicity at the MTD. Common AEs across all dose levels included rash (81%), nausea (56%), vomiting (52%), diarrhoea (51%), peripheral oedema (46%), and fatigue (43%); most were grade 1/2. Dose-proportional increases in binimetinib exposure were observed and target inhibition was demonstrated in serum and skin punch biopsy samples. Three patients with biliary cancer had objective responses (one complete and two partial). CONCLUSIONS: Binimetinib demonstrated a manageable safety profile, target inhibition, and dose-proportional exposure. The 45 mg twice daily dose was identified as the recommended phase 2 dose. The three objective responses in biliary cancer patients are encouraging and support further evaluation in this population.

A first-in-human dose-escalation study of the oral proteasome inhibitor oprozomib in patients with advanced solid tumors.

PURPOSE: To determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the tripeptide epoxyketone proteasome inhibitor oprozomib in patients with advanced refractory or recurrent solid tumors. METHODS: Patients received escalating once daily (QD) or split doses of oprozomib on days 1-5 of 14-day cycles (C). The split-dose arm was implemented and compared in fasted (C1) and fed (C2) states. Pharmacokinetic samples were collected during C1 and C2. Proteasome inhibition was evaluated in red blood cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (QD, n = 25; split dose, n = 19) were enrolled. The most common primary tumor types were non-small cell lung cancer (18%) and colorectal cancer (16%). In the 180-mg QD cohort, two patients experienced DLTs: grade 3 vomiting and dehydration; grade 3 hypophosphatemia (n = 1 each). In the split-dose group, three DLTs were observed (180-mg cohort: grade 3 hypophosphatemia; 210-mg cohort: grade 5 gastrointestinal hemorrhage and grade 3 hallucinations (n = 1 each). In the QD and split-dose groups, the MTD was 150 and 180 mg, respectively. Common adverse events (all grades) included nausea (91%), vomiting (86%), and diarrhea (61%). Peak concentrations and total exposure of oprozomib generally increased with the increasing dose. Oprozomib induced dose-dependent proteasome inhibition. Best response was stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: While generally low-grade, clinically relevant gastrointestinal toxicities occurred frequently with this oprozomib formulation. Despite dose-dependent increases in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, single-agent oprozomib had minimal antitumor activity in this patient population with advanced solid tumors.

Ombrabulin plus cisplatin versus placebo plus cisplatin in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas after failure of anthracycline and ifosfamide chemotherapy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Ombrabulin (AVE8062) disrupts the vasculature of established tumours and has shown preclinical synergistic anti-tumour activity when combined with cisplatin. In this phase 3 trial, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ombrabulin plus cisplatin compared with placebo plus cisplatin in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas. METHODS: We did this multinational, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study at 44 centres in ten countries. Patients aged 18 years and older with metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, and who had previously received treatment with anthracycline and ifosfamide were randomly assigned (1:1) to intravenous infusion of ombrabulin 25 mg/m(2) plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) or intravenous infusion of placebo plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. Patients were allocated to treatment using a permuted blocks randomisation scheme (block size of four) via an interactive voice-response system, and stratified by histological subtype. Patients, medical staff, study investigators, and individuals who handled and analysed the data were masked to treatment assignment. Our primary endpoint was median progression-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. Safety analyses were done on all randomised patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is now closed, and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00699517. FINDINGS: Between June 13, 2008, and April 26, 2012, we randomly assigned 355 patients to ombrabulin plus cisplatin (n=176) or placebo plus cisplatin (n=179). Median duration of follow-up was 27·9 (IQR 20·9-33·2) in the placebo group and 30·5 months (20·7-37·6) in the ombrabulin group. Progression-free survival was slightly, but significantly, improved in the ombrabulin group compared with the placebo group (median 1·54 months [95% CI 1·45-2·69] vs 1·41 [1·38-1·58] months; hazard ratio 0·76 [95% CI 0·59-0·98]; p=0·0302). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred more frequently in individuals in the ombrabulin group than in those in the placebo group and included neutropenia (34 [19%] in the ombrabulin group vs 14 [8%] in the placebo group) and thrombocytopenia (15 [8%] vs six [3%] for placebo). Adverse events leading to death occurred in 18 patients in the ombrabulin group and 10 patients in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION: The combination of ombrabulin and cisplatin significantly improved progression-free survival; however, it did not show a sufficient clinical benefit in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas to support its use as a therapeutic option. Predictive biomarkers are needed for the rational clinical development of tumour vascular-disrupting drugs for soft-tissue sarcomas. FUNDING: Sanofi.

A phase I study of the human monoclonal anti-NRP1 antibody MNRP1685A in patients with advanced solid tumors.

The human monoclonal antibody MNRP1685A targets the VEGF binding domain of neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a multi-domain receptor necessary for neural development and blood vessel maturation. In nonclinical studies, MNRP1685A prevents vascular maturation by keeping blood vessels in an immature, highly VEGF-dependent state. We explored the safety and tolerability of MNRP1685A in patients with advanced solid tumors. Patients were treated with MNRP1685A given intravenously every 3 weeks using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design with 7 dose-escalation cohorts. Twenty-four of 35 patients (69 %) experienced drug-related adverse events (AEs) of infusion-related reaction on the day of MNRP1685A administration. With premedication including dexamethasone, infusions were well-tolerated with main symptoms of pruritus and rash. Outside the day of infusion, most common (≥ 2 patients) related AEs were fatigue (17 %), pruritus (9 %), myalgia and thrombocytopenia (both 6 %) (all were Grade 1-2). MNRP1685A-related Grade ≥ 3 AEs consisted of one dose-limiting toxicity of Grade 3 upper gastrointestinal bleeding and one related Grade 3 thrombocytopenia, coinciding with unrelated Grade 3 fungemia and duodenal obstruction. MNRP1685A showed nonlinear PK with more-than-dose proportional increases in exposure, consistent with broad target expression. Transient platelet count reductions (≥ 30 % from predose) were observed in 56 % of evaluable patients. Nine patients were on study for ≥ 4 cycles, one colorectal cancer patient for one year. MNRP1685A was generally well-tolerated. The primary MNRP1685A-related AE was infusion-related reaction, which were attenuated by premedication including dexamethasone. Transient platelet count reductions were frequent but did not impact MNRP1685A dosing.

Phase I Study of GS-3583, an FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Agonist Fc Fusion Protein, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: GS-3583, an FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) agonist Fc fusion protein, expanded conventional dendritic cells (cDC) in the periphery of healthy volunteers, suggesting potential for GS-3583 to increase cDCs in the tumor microenvironment and promote T cell-mediated antitumor activity in cancer patients. This phase Ib open-label study assessed GS-3583 in adults with advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multiple escalating doses of GS-3583 (standard 3+3 design) were administered intravenously on days 1 and 15 of cycle 1 and day 1 of each subsequent 28-day cycle for up to 52 weeks. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was evaluated during the first 28 days of GS-3583 at each dose level. RESULTS: Thirteen participants enrolled in four dose-escalation cohorts, after which the study was terminated following safety review. Median (range) age was 71 (44-79), and 7 (54%) participants were male. There were no DLTs. Seven participants had grade ≥3 AEs; 2 participants had grade 5 AEs, including a second primary malignancy (acute myeloid leukemia) considered treatment-related. Dose-dependent increase in GS-3583 serum exposure was observed in the dose range of 2-20 mg with GS-3583 accumulation at higher dose levels. Expansions of cDCs occurred at all four doses with a dose-dependent trend in the durability of the cDC expansion. CONCLUSIONS: GS-3583 was relatively well tolerated and induced dose-dependent expansion of cDCs in the periphery of patients with advanced solid tumors. However, development of a second primary malignancy provides a cautionary tale for the FLT3 agonist mechanism. See related commentary by Raeder and Drazer, p. 2857.

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.

Datopotamab Deruxtecan in Advanced or Metastatic HR+/HER2- and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Results From the Phase I TROPION-PanTumor01 Study.

PURPOSE: Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) is an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of a humanized antitrophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) monoclonal antibody linked to a potent, exatecan-derived topoisomerase I inhibitor payload via a plasma-stable, selectively cleavable linker. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TROPION-PanTumor01 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03401385) is a phase I, dose-escalation, and dose-expansion study evaluating Dato-DXd in patients with previously treated solid tumors. The primary study objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of Dato-DXd. Secondary objectives included evaluation of antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics. Results from patients with advanced/metastatic hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC) or triple-negative BC (TNBC) are reported. RESULTS: At data cutoff (July 22, 2022), 85 patients (HR+/HER2- BC = 41, and TNBC = 44) had received Dato-DXd. The objective response rate by blinded independent central review was 26.8% (95% CI, 14.2 to 42.9) and 31.8% (95% CI, 18.6 to 47.6) for patients with HR+/HER2- BC and TNBC, respectively. The median duration of response was not evaluable in the HR+/HER2- BC cohort and 16.8 months in the TNBC cohort. The median progression-free survival in patients with HR+/HER2- BC and TNBC was 8.3 and 4.4 months, respectively. All-cause treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; any grade, grade ≥3) were observed in 100% and 41.5% of patients with HR+/HER2- BC and 100% and 52.3% of patients with TNBC. Stomatitis was the most common TEAE (any grade, grade ≥3) in both HR+/HER2- BC (82.9%, 9.8%) and TNBC (72.7%, 11.4%) cohorts. CONCLUSION: In patients with heavily pretreated advanced HR+/HER2- BC and TNBC, Dato-DXd demonstrated promising clinical activity and a manageable safety profile. Dato-DXd is currently being evaluated in phase III studies.

ORIC-101, a Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist, in Combination with Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

PURPOSE: In preclinical models, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling drives resistance to taxane chemotherapy in multiple solid tumors via upregulation of antiapoptotic pathways. ORIC-101 is a potent and selective GR antagonist that was investigated in combination with taxane chemotherapy as an anticancer regimen preclinically and in a phase 1 clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ability of ORIC-101 to reverse taxane resistance was assessed in cell lines and xenograft models, and a phase 1 study (NCT03928314) was conducted in patients with advanced solid tumors to determine the dose, safety, and antitumor activity of ORIC-101 with nab-paclitaxel. RESULTS: ORIC-101 reversed chemoprotection induced by glucocorticoids in vitro and achieved tumor regressions when combined with paclitaxel in both taxane-naïve and -resistant xenograft models. In the phase 1 study, 21 patients were treated in dose escalation and 62 patients were treated in dose expansion. All patients in dose expansion had previously progressed on a taxane-based regimen. In dose escalation, five objective responses were observed. A preplanned futility analysis in dose expansion showed a 3.2% (95% confidence interval, 0.4-11.2) objective response rate with a median progression-free survival of 2 months (95% confidence interval, 1.8-2.8) across all four cohorts, leading to study termination. Pharmacodynamic analysis of tissue and plasma showed GR pathway downregulation in most patients in cycle 1. CONCLUSIONS: ORIC-101 with nab-paclitaxel showed limited clinical activity in taxane-resistant solid tumors. Despite clear inhibition of GR pathway signaling, the insufficient clinical signal underscores the challenges of targeting a single resistance pathway when multiple mechanisms of resistance may be in play. SIGNIFICANCE: Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) upregulation is a mechanism of resistance to taxane chemotherapy in preclinical cancer models. ORIC-101 is a small molecule GR inhibitor. In this phase 1 study, ORIC-101 plus nab-paclitaxel did not show meaningful clinical benefit in patients who previously progressed on taxanes despite successful GR pathway downregulation.

Learning and confirming with preclinical studies: modeling and simulation in the discovery of GDC-0917, an inhibitor of apoptosis proteins antagonist.

The application of modeling and simulation techniques is increasingly common in the preclinical stages of the drug development process. GDC-0917 [(S)-1-((S)-2-cyclohexyl-2-((S)-2-(methylamino)propanamido)acetyl)-N-(2-(oxazol-2-yl)-4-phenylthiazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide] is a potent second-generation antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins that is being developed for the treatment of various cancers. GDC-0917 has low to moderate clearance in the mouse (12.0 ml/min/kg), rat (27.0 ml/min/kg), and dog (15.3 ml/min/kg), and high clearance in the monkey (67.6 ml/min/kg). Accordingly, oral bioavailability was lowest in monkeys compared with other species. Based on our experience with a prototype molecule with similar structure, in vitro-in vivo extrapolation was used to predict a moderate clearance (11.5 ml/min/kg) in humans. The predicted human volume of distribution was estimated using simple allometry at 6.69 l/kg. Translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) analysis using results from MDA-MB-231-X1.1 breast cancer xenograft studies and predicted human pharmacokinetics suggests that ED50 and ED90 targets can be achieved in humans using acceptable doses (72 mg and 660 mg, respectively) and under an acceptable time frame. The relationship between GDC-0917 concentrations and pharmacodynamic response (cIAP1 degradation) was characterized using an in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cell immunoassay. Simulations of human GDC-0917 plasma concentration-time profile and cIAP1 degradation at the 5-mg starting dose in the phase 1 clinical trial agreed well with observations. This work shows the importance of leveraging information from prototype molecules and illustrates how modeling and simulation can be used to add value to preclinical studies in the early stages of the drug development process.

Phase 1 first-in-human study of dalutrafusp alfa, an anti-CD73-TGF-ß-trap bifunctional antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Cluster of differentiation (CD)73-adenosine and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß pathways are involved in abrogated antitumor immune responses and can lead to protumor conditions. This Phase 1 study (NCT03954704) evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of dalutrafusp alfa (also known as GS-1423 and AGEN1423), a bifunctional, humanized, aglycosylated immunoglobulin G1 kappa antibody that selectively inhibits CD73-adenosine production and neutralizes active TGF-ß signaling in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS: Dose escalation started with an accelerated titration followed by a 3+3 design. Patients received dalutrafusp alfa (0.3, 1, 3, 10, 20, 30, or 45 mg/kg) intravenously every 2 weeks (Q2W) up to 1 year or until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: In total, 21/22 patients received at least one dose of dalutrafusp alfa. The median number of dalutrafusp alfa doses administered was 3 (range 1-14). All patients had at least one adverse event (AE), most commonly fatigue (47.6%), nausea (33.3%), diarrhea (28.6%), and vomiting (28.6%). Nine (42.9%) patients had a Grade 3 or 4 AE; two had Grade 5 AEs of pulmonary embolism and PD, both unrelated to dalutrafusp alfa. Target-mediated drug disposition appears to be saturated at dalutrafusp alfa doses above 20 mg/kg. Complete CD73 target occupancy on B cells and CD8+ T cells was observed, and TGF-ß 1/2/3 levels were undetectable at dalutrafusp alfa doses of 20 mg/kg and higher. Free soluble (s)CD73 levels and sCD73 activity increased with dalutrafusp alfa treatment. Seventeen patients reached the first response assessment, with complete response, partial response, stable disease, and PD in 0, 1 (4.8%), 7 (33.3%), and 9 (42.9%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dalutrafusp alfa doses up to 45 mg/kg Q2W were well tolerated in patients with advanced solid tumors. Additional evaluation of dalutrafusp alfa could further elucidate the clinical utility of targeting CD73-adenosine and TGF-ß pathways in oncology.

First-in-Human, Phase I Dose-Escalation and Dose-Expansion Study of Trophoblast Cell-Surface Antigen 2-Directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate Datopotamab Deruxtecan in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: TROPION-PanTumor01.

PURPOSE: This first-in-human, dose-escalation and dose-expansion study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and antitumor activity of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), a novel trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2)-directed antibody-drug conjugate in solid tumors, including advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adults with locally advanced/metastatic NSCLC received 0.27-10 mg/kg Dato-DXd once every 3 weeks during escalation or 4, 6, or 8 mg/kg Dato-DXd once every 3 weeks during expansion. Primary end points were safety and tolerability. Secondary end points included objective response rate (ORR), survival, and pharmacokinetics. RESULTS: Two hundred ten patients received Dato-DXd, including 180 in the 4-8 mg/kg dose-expansion cohorts. This population had a median of three prior lines of therapy. The maximum tolerated dose was 8 mg/kg once every 3 weeks; the recommended dose for further development was 6 mg/kg once every 3 weeks. In patients receiving 6 mg/kg (n = 50), median duration on study, including follow-up, and median exposure were 13.3 and 3.5 months, respectively. The most frequent any-grade treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were nausea (64%), stomatitis (60%), and alopecia (42%). Grade ≥3 TEAEs and treatment-related AEs occurred in 54% and 26% of patients, respectively. Interstitial lung disease adjudicated as drug-related (two grade 2 and one grade 4) occurred in three of 50 patients (6%). The ORR was 26% (95% CI, 14.6 to 40.3), and median duration of response was 10.5 months; median progression-free survival and overall survival were 6.9 months (95% CI, 2.7 to 8.8 months) and 11.4 months (95% CI, 7.1 to 20.6 months), respectively. Responses occurred regardless of TROP2 expression. CONCLUSION: Promising antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile were seen with Dato-DXd in heavily pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC. Further investigation as first-line combination therapy in advanced NSCLC and as monotherapy in the second-line setting and beyond is ongoing.

Antibody drug conjugates: The dos and don'ts in clinical development.

Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) entered clinical trials in the mid 1990s to selectively deliver cytotoxic chemotherapy to cancer cells with the goal to increase the antitumor activity and decrease normal tissue toxicity. Over nearly 30 years of development the ADC platform has become established with now 11 approved agents and many more in the pipeline. This review is designed to highlight some of the problems and solutions encountered in clinical development as well as provide practical instruction to both clinical investigators on the efficient protocol design for ADCs and the lessons learned.

The evolution of phase I trials in cancer medicine: a critical review of the last decade.

The advent of targeted therapies, combined with an unsustainable rate of failure in oncology drug development, has resulted in a number of new approaches to clinical trials. Early clinical trials are no exception, with efforts to improve the eventual success rate of late stage trials through evolving phase I trial methodologies, the addition of extensive pharmacodynamic studies, and early adoption of patient selection strategies. Unfortunately, some of these new approaches have met with mixed results. Furthermore, no clear metrics are available to determine whether these designs are more successful than previous strategies. This review examines the evolution of phase I trials and draws upon several examples of strategies that have been successful as well as those that have not, and outlines a pragmatic approach to phase I trials as our understanding of the molecular biology of individual malignancies emerges.