The PI3Kδ inhibitor zandelisib on intermittent dosing in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma: Results from a global phase 2 study.

In this global phase 2 study in patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (FL), zandelisib was administered on intermittent dosing to mitigate immune-related adverse events and infections that have been reported with oral PI3Kδ inhibitors administered daily continuously. Eligible patients with measurable disease and progression after at least two prior therapies were administered zandelisib until disease progression or intolerability. The primary efficacy endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) and the key secondary efficacy endpoint was duration of response (DOR). We report on 121 patients with FL administered zandelisib on intermittent dosing after 8 weeks of daily dosing for tumor debulking. The median number of prior therapies was 3 (range, 2-8) and 45% of patients had refractory disease. The ORR was 73% (95% confidence interval [CI], 63.9-80.4), the complete response (CR) rate was 38% (95% CI, 29.3-47.3), and the median DOR was 16.4 months (95% CI, 9.5-not reached). With a median follow-up of 14.3 months (range, 1-30.5), the median progression-free survival was 11.6 months (95% CI, 8.3-not reached). Twenty-one patients (17%) discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. Grade 3-4 class-related toxicities included 6% diarrhea, 5% lung infections, 3% colitis (confirmed by biopsy or imaging), 3% rash, 2% AST elevation, and 1% non-infectious pneumonitis. Zandelisib achieved a high rate of durable responses in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory FL. The intermittent dosing resulted in a relatively low incidence of severe class-related toxicities, which supports the evaluation of zandelisib as a single agent and in combination with indolent B-cell malignancies.

Safety and efficacy of zandelisib plus zanubrutinib in previously treated follicular and mantle cell lymphomas.

The combination of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) inhibitor zandelisib with the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor zanubrutinib was hypothesized to be synergistic and prevent resistance to single-agent therapy. This phase 1 study (NCT02914938) included a dose-finding stage in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies (n = 20) and disease-specific expansion cohorts in follicular lymphoma (FL; n = 31) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL; n = 19). The recommended phase 2 dose was zandelisib 60 mg on Days 1-7 plus zanubrutinib 80 mg twice daily continuously in 28-day cycle. In the total population, the most common adverse events (AEs; all grades/grade 3-4) were neutropenia (35%/24%), diarrhoea (33%/2%), thrombocytopenia (32%/8%), anaemia (27%/8%), increased creatinine (25%/0%), contusion (21%/0%), fatigue (21%/2%), nausea (21%/2%) and increased aspartate aminotransferase (24%/6%). Three patients discontinued due to AEs. The overall response rate was 87% (complete response [CR] = 33%) for FL and 74% (CR = 47%) for MCL. The median duration of response and progression-free survival (PFS) were not reached in either group. The estimated 1-year PFS was 72.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51.9-85.1) for FL and 56.3% (95% CI, 28.9-76.7) for MCL (median follow-up: 16.5 and 10.9 months respectively). Zandelisib plus zanubrutinib was associated with high response rates and no increased toxicity compared to either agent alone.

Pracinostat plus azacitidine in older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia: results of a phase 2 study.

Pracinostat, a potent oral pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor with modest single-agent activity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has shown synergistic antitumor activity when combined with azacitidine. This single-group, multicenter phase 2 study assessed the safety and efficacy of pracinostat combined with azacitidine in patients who were at least 65 years old with newly diagnosed AML and who were ineligible for standard induction chemotherapy. Patients received pracinostat 60 mg/d, 3 d/wk, for 3 consecutive weeks, plus azacitidine 75 mg/m2 daily for 7 days in a 28-day cycle. Primary endpoints were complete remission (CR), CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi), and morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) rates of the combination. Secondary endpoints included safety, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of the regimen. Fifty patients (33 de novo, 12 secondary, and 5 therapy-related AML) were enrolled. Twenty-six patients (52%) achieved the primary endpoint of CR (42%), CRi (4%), and MLFS (6%). Median OS and PFS were 19.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10-26.5 months) and 12.6 months (95% CI, 10-17.7 months), respectively, with a 1-year OS rate of 62%. Forty-three patients (86%) experienced at least 1 grade 3 or worse treatment-emergent adverse event with the combination, with infections (52%), thrombocytopenia (46%), and febrile neutropenia (44%) reported as the most common toxicities. The 30- and 60-day all-cause mortality rates were 2% and 10%, respectively. DNA sequencing revealed somatic mutations at baseline, and clearance rates correlated with response to treatment. Pracinostat plus azacitidine is a well-tolerated and active regimen in the frontline treatment of older patients with AML unfit for intensive therapy. A larger controlled trial is ongoing. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01912274.

Phase 2, randomized, double-blind study of pracinostat in combination with azacitidine in patients with untreated, higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remains poor despite available therapies. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have demonstrated activity in patients with MDS and in vitro synergy with azacitidine. METHODS: A phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of azacitidine and pracinostat was conducted in patients who had International Prognostic Scoring System intermediate-2-risk or high-risk MDS. The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) rate by cycle 6 of therapy. RESULTS: Of 102 randomized patients, there were 51 in the pracinostat group and 51 in the placebo group. The median age was 69 years. The CR rate by cycle 6 of therapy was 18% and 33% (P = .07) in the pracinostat and placebo groups, respectively. No significant differences in overall survival (median, 16 vs 19 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-2.23) or progression-free survival (11 vs 9 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.546-1.46) were observed between groups. Grade ≥3 adverse events occurred more frequently in the pracinostat group (98% vs 74%), leading to more treatment discontinuations (20% vs 10%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of azacitidine with pracinostat did not improve outcomes in patients with higher-risk MDS. Higher rates of treatment discontinuation may partially explain these results, suggesting alternative dosing and schedules to improve tolerability may be required to determine the potential of the combination. Cancer 2017;123:994-1002. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

A dose-escalation phase IIa study of 2,2-dimethylbutyrate (HQK-1001), an oral fetal globin inducer, in sickle cell disease.

2,2-Dimethylbutyrate (HQK-1001), an orally-bioavailable promoter-targeted fetal globin gene-inducing agent, was evaluated in an open-label, randomized dose-escalation study in 52 subjects with hemoglobin SS or S/ß(0) thalassemia. HQK-1001 was administered daily for 26 weeks at 30 mg/kg (n = 15), 40 mg/kg (n = 18) and 50 mg/kg (n = 19), either alone (n = 21) or with hydroxyurea (n = 31). The most common drug-related adverse events were usually mild or moderate and reversible. Gastritis was graded as severe in three subjects at 40 mg/kg and was considered the dose-limiting toxicity. Subsequently all subjects were switched to the maximum tolerated dose of 30 mg/kg. Due to early discontinuations for blood transfusions, adverse events or non-compliance, only 25 subjects (48%) completed the study. Drug plasma concentrations were sustained above targeted levels at 30 mg/kg. Increases in fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) were observed in 42 subjects (80%), and 12 (23%) had increases ≥4%. The mean increase in Hb F was 2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8-3.2%] in 21 subjects receiving HQK-1001 alone and 2.7% (95% CI, 1.7-3.8%) in 31 subjects receiving HQK-1001 plus hydroxyurea. Total hemoglobin increased by a mean of 0.65 g/dL (95% CI, 0.5-1.0 g/dL), and 13 subjects (25%) had increases ≥1 g/dL. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of HQK-1001 in sickle cell disease. .

A phase 2 trial of immunotherapy with mitumprotimut-T (Id-KLH) and GM-CSF following rituximab in follicular B-cell lymphoma.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of patient-specific immunotherapy with mitumprotimut-T idiotype keyhole limpet hemocyanin and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) following rituximab in patients with follicular B-cell lymphoma. Patients with previously untreated or relapsed/refractory CD20+ follicular lymphoma received 4 weekly infusions of rituximab and those with a complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease received mitumprotimut-T and GM-CSF injections subcutaneously. Courses were given monthly for 6 doses, every 2 months for 6 doses, and then every 3 months until disease progression. Computed tomography scans were obtained every 3 to 6 months and reviewed centrally. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). Among 103 patients treated with rituximab, 92 (54 relapsed/refractory and 38 previously untreated) received mitumprotimut-T/GM-CSF; median age was 53 years, 91% had stage III to IV disease, and 59% had failed earlier therapy. The premitumprotimut-T objective response rate was 47% (2 CRs, 41 PRs). During the mitumprotimut-T treatment phase, 16 patients converted to CR resulting in an overall objective response rate of 60% (18 CRs, 37 PRs). Median EFS was 15.2, 20.8, and 13.5 months for all, treatment-naive, and relapsed/refractory disease patients, respectively. Anti-Id cellular immune responses were detected in 13 of 18 (72%) patients and humoral immune responses in 17 of 83 (20%) patients. Adverse events were usually mild-to-moderate. The most common adverse event was injection site reactions. Mitumprotimut-T/GM-CSF-induced anti-Id cellular immune responses in most patients. The occurrence of late CRs and favorable EFS suggested a clinical benefit of active immunotherapy and led to a placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Placebo-controlled phase III trial of patient-specific immunotherapy with mitumprotimut-T and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor after rituximab in patients with follicular lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate patient-specific immunotherapy with mitumprotimut-T (idiotype keyhole limpet hemocyanin [Id-KLH]) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in CD20(+) follicular lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with treatment-naive or relapsed/refractory disease achieving a complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease (SD) with four weekly rituximab infusions were randomly assigned to mitumprotimut-T/GM-CSF or placebo/GM-CSF, with doses given monthly for six doses, every 2 months for six doses, and then every 3 months until disease progression (PD). Randomization was stratified by prior therapy (treatment-naive or relapsed/refractory) and response to rituximab (CR/PR or SD). The primary end point was time to progression (TTP) from randomization. RESULTS: A total of 349 patients were randomly assigned; median age was 54 years, 79% were treatment naive, and 86% had stage III/IV disease. Median TTP was 9.0 months for mitumprotimut-T/GM-CSF and 12.6 months for placebo/GM-CSF (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.384; P = .019). TTP was comparable between the two arms in treatment-naive patients (HR = 1.196; P = .258) and shorter with mitumprotimut-T/GM-CSF in relapsed/refractory disease (HR = 2.265; P = .004). After adjusting for Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores, the difference in TTP between the two arms was no longer significant. Overall objective response rate, rate of response improvement, and duration of response were comparable between the two arms. Toxicity was similar in the two arms; 76% of adverse events were mild or moderate, and 94% of patients had injection site reactions. CONCLUSION: TTP was shorter with mitumprotimut-T/GM-CSF compared with placebo/GM-CSF. This difference was possibly due to the imbalance in FLIPI scores.

A Phase II trial of Denileukin Diftitox in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Denileukin diftitox, a chimeric protein, uses the cytocidal properties of diphtheria toxin to cells expressing interleukin-2 receptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of denileukin diftitox in the treatment of advanced relapsed nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multicenter phase II trial in patients with NSCLC with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS 0-2, stage IIIB/IV at diagnosis, who had failed at least 1 previous chemotherapy regimen. Denileukin diftitox was infused at 18 microg/kg/d x 5 days, every 21 days for 6 cycles. RESULTS: For the 41 patients enrolled, the median age was 56 years (range, 21-80), 25 were men, and the median number of previous chemotherapy regimens was 2 (range, 1-5). The median number of treatment cycles was 2 (range, 1-6). By RECIST criteria, 18 (44%) had stable disease, 10 (24%) progressive disease, and 13 (32%) were not evaluable for response as they received less than 2 treatment cycles. The median time to disease progression was 1.8 months [range, 0.3-11.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-2.6]. Median survival was 5.8 months (range, 0.3-33.6; 95% CI 3.4-11.4). The median follow-up time was 16.1 month. One death from myocarditis verified at autopsy was attributed to treatment. One grade 4 toxicity (vascular leak syndrome) was encountered, and 18 grade 3 toxicities, primarily gastro-intestinal, vascular leak syndrome, and constitutional symptoms. CONCLUSION: Denileukin diftitox at current dose schedule has limited activity in patients with previously treated NSCLC, manifested by disease control without impact on survival.

Administration of morphine sulfate extended-release capsules via gastrostomy: dissolution study and case reports.

BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation treatment develop painful mouth sores described as mucositis. There are grades I-IV of mucositis increasing in severity with grading. The aim of this study was to target patients who had painful mucositis at grade III-IV and treat their radiation-induced mucositis with gastrostomy administered morphine in an extended-release dosing form. OBJECTIVE: This study is important because many patients have breaks in radiation therapy secondary to severe painful mucositis and thus disrupt their potentially curative radiation treatment. DESIGN: The subjects were patients in a radiation clinic undergoing radiation for various head and neck cancers that had grade III-IV mucositis that was diagnosed by the clinician at the practice. The subjects were screened for mouth pain and sores when they came for radiation and they were then referred for study. The aim of the study was to measure the ability of the patient to administer the contents of the morphine extended-release capsules via gastrostomy tube was evaluated and the pain scores using a numerical rating scale (NRS). SETTING: The patients were seen in radiation oncology and screened for grade III or IV mucositis and then sent to the pain and palliative care clinic. MEASUREMENT: The measurements were to evaluate the feasibility of the patient's ability to administer the contents of the morphine extended-release capsule into the gastrostomy tube and to measure pain related to radiation-induced mucositis. The results were favorable in that the patients could self-administer the morphine using the described alternate route of administration and the pain scores reflected a trend toward pain relief by gastrostomy tube morphine delivery. However, a larger study sample will need to be investigated to determine efficacy in this type of delivery system for cancer pain relief in this population of patients undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancers.

Evidence of myeloid differentiation in non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia treated with the retinoid X receptor agonist bexarotene.

All-trans-retinoic acid has dramatically changed the treatment paradigm for acute promyelocytic leukemia, however, it has no significant activity in non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In vitro, bexarotene, a retinoid X receptor agonist inhibits the proliferation of non-M3 AML cell lines and induces differentiation of leukemic blasts from patients. We hypothesized that there may be similar activity in patients with AML. We report on two patients with relapsed or refractory non-M3 AML treated with bexarotene monotherapy. After initiating treatment, both patients showed leukemic differentiation in their peripheral blood and reduction in bone marrow blasts to less than 5%. One patient had a significant improvement in her platelet count with loss of platelet transfusion needs. Differentiation syndrome occurred in one patient and was successfully treated with steroids and discontinuation of bexarotene. These data suggest that bexarotene has clinical activity in non-M3 AML and may be able to induce myeloid differentiation in vivo.

Phase II trial of bexarotene capsules in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer after failure of two or more previous therapies.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of bexarotene on survival in patients with relapsed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB NSCLC with pleural effusion or stage IV NSCLC, who had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2, and were previously treated with > or = two different regimens that must have included a platinum and a taxane, received oral bexarotene 400 mg/m2/d plus concomitant levothyroxine and a lipid-lowering agent. Primary efficacy end point was survival. RESULTS: For the 146 assessable patients treated with bexarotene, median age was 66 years (range, 34 to 87 years), 51% were men, and the median number of prior regimens was three (range, one to seven). The overall median survival was 5 months (95% CI, 4 to 7 months) and the 1-year survival was 23% (95% CI, 16% to 31%). Survival was significantly longer in patients with bexarotene-induced hypertriglyceridemia and/or skin rash. In 26 patients who had both adverse effects, the median and 1-year survival rates were 12 months (95% CI, 8 to 15 months) and 48%, respectively. In 40 patients who had neither adverse effect, median and 1-year survival rates were 2 months (95% CI, 2 to 5 months) and 15%, respectively (P = .0002). Twenty patients (14%) discontinued therapy because of bexarotene-related toxicity. For the remaining patients, adverse reactions to bexarotene were generally mild to moderate. CONCLUSION: In the intent-to-treat population, bexarotene given as third or subsequent line of therapy for relapsed NSCLC did not achieve the intended median survival of 6 months. Survival may have been extended in patients who developed bexarotene-induced hypertriglyceremia and/or skin rash. It is important to confirm these observations in a randomized controlled trial.

Phase 1 trial of a novel anti-CD20 fusion protein in pretargeted radioimmunotherapy for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) has the potential to increase the dose of radionuclide delivered to tumors while limiting radiation to normal tissues. The purpose of this phase 1 trial is to assess safety of this multistep approach using a novel tetrameric single-chain anti-CD20-streptavidin fusion protein (B9E9FP) as the targeting moiety in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and to characterize its pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. All patients received B9E9FP (160 mg/m(2) or 320 mg/m(2)); either 48 or 72 hours later, a synthetic clearing agent (sCA) was administered (45 mg/m(2)) to remove circulating unbound B9E9FP. (90)Yttrium ((90)Y; 15 mCi/m(2))/(111)In (5 mCi)-DOTA-biotin was injected 24 hours later. There were 15 patients enrolled in the study. B9E9FP had a mean plasma half-life (T(1/2)) of 25 +/- 6 hours with a reduction in plasma level of more than 95% within 6 hours of sCA administration. (90)Y/(111)In-DOTA-biotin infusion resulted in rapid tumor localization and urinary excretion. The ratio of average tumor to whole-body radiation dose was 49:1. No significant hematologic toxicities were noted in 12 patients. There were 2 patients who had hematologic toxicity related to progressive disease. There were 2 complete remissions (90 and 325 days) and one partial response (297 days). B9E9FP performs well as the targeting component of PRIT with encouraging dosimetry, safety, and efficacy. A dose escalation trial of (90)Y-DOTA-biotin in this format is warranted.

166Ho-DOTMP plus melphalan followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: results of two phase 1/2 trials.

Holmium-166 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazcyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetramethylenephosphonate (166Ho-DOTMP) is a radiotherapeutic that localizes specifically to the skeleton and can deliver high-dose radiation to the bone and bone marrow. In patients with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation two phase 1/2 dose-escalation studies of high-dose 166Ho-DOTMP plus melphalan were conducted. Patients received a 30 mCi (1.110 Gbq) tracer dose of 166Ho-DOTMP to assess skeletal uptake and to calculate a patient-specific therapeutic dose to deliver a nominal radiation dose of 20, 30, or 40 Gy to the bone marrow. A total of 83 patients received a therapeutic dose of 166Ho-DOTMP followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation 6 to 10 days later. Of the patients, 81 had rapid and sustained hematologic recovery, and 2 died from infection before day 60. No grades 3 to 4 nonhematologic toxicities were reported within the first 60 days. There were 27 patients who experienced grades 2 to 3 hemorrhagic cystitis, only 1 of whom had received continuous bladder irrigation. There were 7 patients who experienced complications considered to be caused by severe thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). No cases of severe TMA were reported in patients receiving in 166Ho-DOMTP doses lower than 30 Gy. Approximately 30% of patients experienced grades 2 to 4 renal toxicity, usually at doses targeting more than 40 Gy to the bone marrow. Complete remission was achieved in 29 (35%) of evaluable patients. With a minimum follow-up of 23 months, the median survival had not been reached and the median event-free survival was 22 months. 166Ho-DOTMP is a promising therapy for patients with multiple myeloma and merits further evaluation.