Phase II Trial of Eribulin in Patients With Metastatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer: A Trial of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (E5805).

BACKGROUND: Eribulin mesylate, a synthetic analog of halichondrin B, is a novel tubulin-binding agent that inhibits cancer cell proliferation at low-nanomolar levels. METHODS: In a multicenter ECOG trial, patients with progressive metastatic CRPC, ECOG 0-2 were treated with eribulin 1.4 mg/m as an IV bolus over 5 minutes on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. This noncomparative study stratified points to either a chemonaive (CN), prior-taxane (Tax) only, or 2 prior cytotoxic (TCx) chemotherapy arm. The trial was powered to detect a 50% PSA reduction using Consensus Criteria in at least 40% versus 20% (90% power, one-sided α=0.10) for the CN stratum and 25% versus. 10% (power 87%, one-sided α=0.10) for the Tax and TCx strata. RESULTS: In total, 119 pts received treatment of which 116 were eligible for the primary response determination in this study. Median age 70 years (range, 45 to 88); median number of treatment cycles 4 (range, 1 to 20+); ECOG 0-1 90%. Confirmed PSA response rates (50% decline from baseline) were 29% (90% [18.2%, 41.2%]; P=0.20), 10% (90% [5.2%, 27.1%]; P=1.00), and 4% ([0.2%, 18.3%]; P=0.59) in the chemonaive stratum, the prior-taxane stratum, and the 2-prior-chemotherapy stratum, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 3.5 months (95% CI, 2.0, 5.9), 2.3 months (95% CI, 2.0, 2.9) and 3.7 months (95% CI, 2.1, 4.2) for the chemonaive stratum, the prior-taxane stratum and the 2-prior-chemotherapy stratum, respectively. Nonhematological toxicities of any grade (mainly grade 1 and 2) were fatigue (74%), neuropathy (40%), alopecia (39%), nausea (35%), and anorexia (34%). Common hematological toxicities were decreased leukocytes (75%), decreased neutrophils (72%), and decreased hemoglobin (66%). The most common grade ≥ 3 toxicities were decreased neutrophils (55%), decreased leukocytes (42%), sensory neuropathy (13%), and fatigue (11%). Overall, there was a 4% rate of febrile neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, per the prespecified study endpoints, eribulin did not have adequate activity in chemotherapy naïve or chemotherapy pretreated patients with metastatic CRPC to support further study in this setting.

Phase 2 Study of Weekly Paclitaxel Plus Estramustine in Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Carcinoma: ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (E1898) Trial.

INTRODUCTION: This multicenter phase 2 study assessed the combination of estramustine and weekly paclitaxel with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 77 patients who had received no prior chemotherapy for CRPC between 1998 and 2000; a total of 74 subjects were eligible for the study. Each 8-week cycle included paclitaxel 90 mg/m2 provided intravenously weekly for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off therapy and oral estramustine 280 mg twice daily for 3 days beginning 24 hours before the first dose of paclitaxel. The primary end point was rate of objective or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response at 16 weeks. A 50% response rate was considered of further interest. RESULTS: Eligible patients received a median of 3 cycles (range, 1-10 cycles). The response rate among patients with measurable disease was 34% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19-52). The PSA response rate was 58% (95% CI, 47-70). Clinical benefit rate was 45% (95% CI, 33-57). The median progression-free survival was 5.9 months (95% CI, 4.4-6.7). The median overall survival was 17.6 months (95% CI, 14.6-20.8). The most common clinical grade 3/4 toxicities were fatigue (14%) and sensory neuropathy (7%). Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities included lymphopenia (21%) and anemia (9%). There was one toxicity-related death. Quality-of-life scores improved by week 8, but the change was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The combination has activity defined by PSA declines in CRPC but did not meet the protocol-specified end point for efficacy as defined by objective response rate. Since this study was conducted, more effective, better-tolerated regimens have been developed.

Hydroxychloroquine Destabilizes Phospho-S6 in Human Renal Carcinoma Cells.

mTOR inhibitors are used to treat metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC), but most patients eventually become resistant. One possible mechanism for resistance is upregulation of autophagy, a pathway that helps recycle intracellular proteins and promotes cell survival. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a potent autophagy inhibitor used to treat malaria and autoimmune disorders, is currently being studied in the context of cancer treatment. Here, we have investigated the effects of HCQ on three different renal carcinoma derived cell lines. We found that HCQ treatment inhibits RCC cell growth, promotes apoptosis, inhibits mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and increases rates of glycolysis. To understand the molecular mechanism behind these effects, we examined various nodes in the mTOR pathway and compared the effects of HCQ with the effects of the mTOR inhibitor RAD001. A key downstream readout of the pathway, phospho-S6 protein, was inhibited by both HCQ and RAD001. However, the upstream kinase, P70S6K was only inhibited by RAD001 and not HCQ, suggesting that the block by HCQ was downstream of P70S6K. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib restored phospho-S6 levels, suggesting that the reduction of phospho-S6 is caused by increased degradation of phospho-S6, but not total S6. Surprisingly, treatment with other autophagy inhibitors did not exhibit the same effects. Our findings suggest that HCQ causes the down-regulation of phospho-S6 in RCC cell lines via a novel mechanism that is not shared with other autophagy inhibitors.

Investigation of novel circulating proteins, germ line single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and molecular tumor markers as potential efficacy biomarkers of first-line sunitinib therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Sunitinib is a first-line advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) standard of care. In a randomized phase II trial comparing sunitinib treatment schedules, separate exploratory biomarker analyses investigated the correlations of efficacy with selected serum, germ line single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), or tumor markers. METHODS: Advanced RCC patients received first-line sunitinib 50 mg/day on the approved 4-week-on-2-week-off schedule (n = 146) or 37.5 mg/day continuous dosing (n = 146). The following correlation analyses were performed: (1) response evaluation criteria in solid tumors-defined tumor response with serum soluble protein levels via two distinct multiplex (n < 1,000) platforms; (2) response and time-to-event outcomes with germ line SNPs in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)3 genes; and (3) response and time-to-event outcomes with tumor immunohistochemistry status for hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and carbonic anhydrase-IX or tumor Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene inactivation status. RESULTS: Lower baseline angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and higher baseline matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) levels were identified by both platforms as statistically significantly associated with tumor response. There were no significant correlations between VEGF-A or VEGFR3 SNPs and outcomes. Progression-free survival was longer for HIF-1α percent of tumor expression groups 0-2 (HIF-1α low) versus 3-4 (HIF-1α high; p = 0.034). There were no significant correlations between outcomes and each VHL inactivation mechanism [mutation (86% of VHL-inactive patients), methylation (14%), and large deletion (7%)] or mechanisms combined. CONCLUSIONS: Serum Ang-2 and MMP-2 and tumor HIF-1α were identified as relevant baseline biomarkers of sunitinib activity in advanced RCC, warranting further research into their prognostic versus predictive value.

Accelerated methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin is safe, effective, and efficient neoadjuvant treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: results of a multicenter phase II study with molecular correlates of response and toxicity.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy is standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC); however, it is infrequently adopted in practice because of concerns regarding toxicity and delay to cystectomy. We hypothesized that three cycles of neoadjuvant accelerated methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (AMVAC) would be safe, shorten the time to surgery, and yield similar pathologic complete response (pT0) rates compared with historical controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with cT2-T4a and N0-N1 MIBC were eligible and received three cycles of AMVAC with pegfilgrastim followed by radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection. The primary end point was pT0 rate. Telomere length (TL) and p53 mutation status were correlated with response and toxicity. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were accrued; 60% had stage III to IV disease; median age was 64 years. Forty patients were evaluable for response, with 15 (38%; 95% CI, 23% to 53%) showing pT0 at cystectomy, meeting the primary end point of the study. Another six patients (14%) were downstaged to non-muscle invasive disease. Most (82%) experienced only grade 1 to 2 treatment-related toxicities. There were no grade 3 or 4 renal toxicities and no treatment-related deaths. One patient developed metastases and thus did not undergo cystectomy; all others (n = 43) proceeded to cystectomy within 8 weeks after last chemotherapy administration. Median time from start of chemotherapy to cystectomy was 9.7 weeks. TL and p53 mutation did not predict response or toxicity. CONCLUSION: AMVAC is well tolerated and results in similar pT0 rates with 6 weeks of treatment compared with standard 12-week regimens. Further analysis is ongoing to ascertain whether molecular alterations in tumor samples can predict response to chemotherapy.

PD-1 expression on peripheral blood cells increases with stage in renal cell carcinoma patients and is rapidly reduced after surgical tumor resection.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor is an inhibitory receptor on hematopoietic cells that can negatively regulate immune responses, particularly responses to tumors, which often upregulate PD-1 ligands. PD-1/PD-1 ligand blocking antibodies can reverse the inhibition and show significant therapeutic promise in treating renal cell carcinoma (RCC), lung cancer, and melanoma. While PD-1 expression on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has been associated with poor outcome in RCC, we sought to define immune cell biomarkers, including PD-1, on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that could predict disease progression of RCC patients before and after nephrectomy. We analyzed expression of numerous immune cell markers on fresh PBMCs from 90 RCC patients preoperatively and 25 age-matched healthy controls by 10-color flow cytometry. Postoperative blood samples were also analyzed from 23 members of the RCC patient cohort. The most striking phenotypic immune biomarker in RCC patients was a significant increase in PD-1 expression on certain PBMCs in a subset of patients. Increased PD-1 expression on CD14(bright) myelomonocytic cells, effector T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells correlated to disease stage, and expression was significantly reduced on all cell types soon after surgical resection of the primary tumor. The results indicate that PD-1 expression on fresh peripheral blood leukocytes may provide a useful indicator of RCC disease progression. Furthermore, measuring PD-1 levels in peripheral blood may assist in identifying patients likely to respond to PD-1 blocking antibodies, and these therapies may be most effective before and immediately after surgical resection of the primary tumor, when PD-1 expression is most prominent.

A phase 2, single-arm study of ramucirumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma with disease progression on or intolerance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

BACKGROUND: Multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have antitumor activity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Resistance to these agents develops frequently, and their use is often limited by intolerance. Ramucirumab is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody directed against human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. For this study, the authors investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of ramucirumab in patients with TKI-resistant/intolerant mRCC. METHODS: In this single-arm phase 2 trial, patients received ramucirumab 8 mg/kg every 2 weeks until they developed disease progression or intolerable toxicity. The primary endpoint was the best objective response rate (ORR); additional endpoints included the disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), the median duration of overall response, and safety. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with RCC received ramucirumab monotherapy. Prior TKI therapy included sunitinib (59% of patients), sunitinib and sorafenib (30.8% of patients), and sorafenib (10.3% of patients). The ORR was 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6%-17.3%). The 12-week DCR was 64.1% (95% CI, 47.2%-78.8%). The median PFS was 7.1 months (95% CI, 4.1-9.7 months), and the median overall survival was 24.8 months (95% CI, 18.9-32.6 months). Grade 3 or higher adverse events that occurred in ≥5% of patients included grade 3 hypertension (7.7%) and proteinuria (5.1%). There was 1 on-study death from multiorgan failure. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study did not meet its primary endpoint of ≥15% ORR, ramucirumab was associated with evidence of antitumor activity in patients with TKI-resistant/intolerant mRCC. Ramucirumab was safe and well tolerated.

A phase I study of temsirolimus and bryostatin-1 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Temsirolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1, is approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Bryostatin-1 inhibits protein kinase C, a downstream effector of mTOR complex 2. We observed antitumor effects with the combination of temsirolimus and bryostatin-1 in RCC cell lines. METHODS. Four cohorts of patients received weekly bryostatin-1 (20 µg/m²) with temsirolimus (10, 15, 25, or 37.5 mg) in 28-day cycles. RESULTS: Thirty patients received a total of 138 cycles across four dose levels. Twenty-five patients had RCC (17 clear cell, 7 papillary, and 1 unclassified). Two sarcoma patients with prior cytotoxic therapy experienced dose-limiting toxicity at 15 mg of temsirolimus (grade 3 neutropenia and grade 3 hypophosphatemia). Subsequently, patients with prior cytotoxic therapy were excluded. Two additional dose-limiting toxicities were noted with 37.5 mg of temsirolimus (grade 3 neutropenia and grade 3 creatinine elevation). Consequently, the maximum tolerated dose was defined as temsirolimus at 25 mg and bryostatin-1 at 20 µg/m² every 28 days. Of the 25 RCC patients, 3 patients had partial responses that lasted for 14 months, 28 months, and ≥ 80 months, respectively. Partial responses were seen in both clear cell and papillary histology. CONCLUSION: This combination of 37.5 mg of temsirolimus with 20 µg/m² of bryostatin-1 was reasonably safe and well tolerated. Durable responses were observed in 3 of 25 patients with RCC.

Phase II randomized study of figitumumab plus docetaxel and docetaxel alone with crossover for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Figitumumab is a human IgG2 monoclonal antibody targeting insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), with antitumor activity in prostate cancer. This phase II trial randomized chemotherapy-naïve men with progressing castration-resistant prostate cancer to receive figitumumab every 3 weeks with docetaxel/prednisone (Arm A) or docetaxel/prednisone alone (Arm B1). At progression on Arm B1, patients could cross over to the combination (Arm B2). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response was the primary endpoint; response assessment on the two arms was noncomparative and tested separately; H0 = 0.45 versus HA = 0.60 (α = 0.05; ß = 0.09) for Arm A; H0 = 0.05 versus HA = 0.20 (α = 0.05, ß = 0.10) for Arm B2. A comparison of progression-free survival (PFS) on Arms A and B1 was planned. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were randomized and 199 treated (Arm A: 97; Arm B1: 102); 37 patients crossed over to Arm B2 (median number of cycles started: Arm A = 8; B1 = 8; B2 = 4). PSA responses occurred in 52% and 60% of Arms A and B1, respectively; the primary PSA response objective in Arm A was not met. Median PFS was 4.9 and 7.9 months, respectively (HR = 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.96). PSA response rate was 28% in Arm B2. The figitumumab combination appeared more toxic, with more treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events (75% vs. 56%), particularly hyperglycemia, diarrhea, and asthenia, as well as treatment-related serious adverse events (41% vs. 15%), and all-causality grade 5 adverse events (18% vs. 8%). CONCLUSION: IGF-1R targeting may merit further evaluation in this disease in selected populations, but combination with docetaxel is not recommended.

Circulating proteins as potential biomarkers of sunitinib and interferon-α efficacy in treatment-naïve patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We investigated potential biomarkers of efficacy in a phase III trial of sunitinib versus interferon-alpha (IFN-α), first-line in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), by analyzing plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-C, soluble VEGF receptor-3 (sVEGFR-3) and interleukin (IL)-8. METHODS: Seven hundred and fifty mRCC patients were randomized to oral sunitinib 50 mg/day in repeated cycles of a 4-week on/2-week off schedule or IFN-α 9 million units subcutaneously thrice weekly. Plasma samples collected from a subset of 63 patients on days 1 and 28 of cycles 1-4 and at end of treatment were analyzed by ELISA. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of biomarker-evaluated patients in sunitinib (N = 33) and IFN-α (N = 30) arms were comparable to their respective intent-to-treat populations. By univariate Cox regression analysis, low baseline soluble protein levels were associated with lower risk of progression/death (all P < 0.05): in both treatment arms, baseline VEGF-A and IL-8 were associated with overall survival (OS) and baseline VEGF-C with progression-free survival (PFS); in the sunitinib arm, baseline VEGF-A was associated with PFS and baseline sVEGFR-3 with PFS and OS; in the IFN-α arm, baseline IL-8 was associated with PFS. In multivariate analysis, baseline sVEGFR-3 and IL-8 remained independent predictors of OS in the sunitinib arm, while no independent predictors of outcome remained in the IFN-α arm. Pharmacodynamic changes were not associated with PFS or OS for any plasma protein investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that, in mRCC, baseline VEGF-A and IL-8 may have prognostic value, while baseline sVEGFR-3 may predict sunitinib efficacy.

Tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetics of ridaforolimus in combination with bicalutamide in patients with asymptomatic, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

PURPOSE: Recent data indicate that there is a significant cross-talk between the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and androgen receptor signaling pathways. We evaluated safety and tolerability as well as potential drug-drug interaction of ridaforolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, when combined with the androgen receptor inhibitor bicalutamide in patients with asymptomatic, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were treated with the combination of ridaforolimus 30 mg/day for 5 consecutive days each week and bicalutamide 50 mg/day. Ridaforolimus pharmacokinetics was assessed with and without bicalutamide. RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled including 1 screen failure. Dose reductions were required in 7 patients. Three of the 11 patients experienced a dose-limited toxicity, 1 with Grade 3 hyperglycemia and 2 with Grade 2 stomatitis leading to <75 % of planned ridaforolimus dose during the first 35 days of study treatment. The pharmacokinetic results showed no differences in exposures to ridaforolimus with and without concomitant bicalutamide administration. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no evidence of a clinically relevant pharmacological drug-drug interaction, the occurrence of dose-limiting toxicities in 3 of 11 evaluable patients at a reduced dose of ridaforolimus of 30 mg/day suggests that this combination may not be well suited for asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic prostate cancer patients.

Phase II study to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the mitotic spindle kinesin inhibitor AZD4877 in patients with recurrent advanced urothelial cancer.

BACKGROUND: AZD4877 is a potent inhibitor of the mitotic spindle kinesin, Eg5. Early-phase clinical studies in a broad range of cancers showed that AZD4877 is well tolerated. This Phase II study evaluated the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics (Cmax) of AZD4877 in patients with previously treated advanced urothelial cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00661609). PATIENTS AND METHODS: AZD4877 25 mg was administered once-weekly for 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle until disease progression, death, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal. The primary objective was to determine the objective response rate (RECIST). Recruitment was to be halted if ≤ 2 of the first 20 evaluable patients achieved an objective tumor response. Cmax was assessed on days 1 and 8 of cycle 1. RESULTS: None of the first 20 patients evaluable for efficacy achieved an objective response; enrollment was therefore halted. During this initial analysis, a further 21 patients were recruited. Overall, 39 patients were evaluable for efficacy, including one with confirmed partial response (PR) and seven patients with stable disease for ≥ 8 weeks (including one unconfirmed PR). The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were neutropenia (22 patients), fatigue (12), leukopenia (7) and constipation (6); the most commonly reported grade ≥ 3 TRAE was neutropenia (21). Four patients had serious TRAEs. On days 1 and 8, the geometric mean Cmax of AZD4877 was 138 ng/ml (CV = 75 %) and 144 ng/ml (CV = 109 %), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AZD4877 was generally tolerable in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. Given the limited clinical efficacy, further development of AZD4877 in urothelial cancer is not planned.

A phase 1 study of a chimeric monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6, siltuximab, combined with docetaxel in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Siltuximab is a chimeric, anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody with potential therapeutic benefit in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. We assessed the safety and tolerability of siltuximab in combination with docetaxel, the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel alone and with siltuximab, and the efficacy and pharmacodynamics of siltuximab plus docetaxel. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an open-label, dose-escalation, multicenter, phase 1 study, patients with metastatic, progressive CRPC received docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) q3w plus siltuximab 6 mg/kg q2w (n=12), 9 mg/kg q3w (n=12), or 12 mg/kg q3w (n=15). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), PSA, and radiologic response according to WHO criteria were evaluated. RESULTS: DLT was reported in 1 of 11 patients receiving 6 mg/kg, 1 of 12 receiving 9 mg/kg, and in 1 of 14 receiving 12 mg/kg. Common Grade ≥ 3 adverse events were neutropenia (73 %), leukopenia (60 %), lymphopenia (30 %), dyspnea (19 %), and fatigue (14 %). Toxicities were not dose dependent. Siltuximab did not affect docetaxel pharmacokinetics. The pharmacokinetic profile for siltuximab in combination was similar to single-agent siltuximab pharmacokinetics. Twenty-three (62 %; 95 % CI 45 %, 78 %) of 37 combination-treated patients achieved a confirmed ≥ 50 % PSA decline. Of 17 patients with measurable disease at baseline, 2 confirmed and 2 unconfirmed radiologic partial responses ranging 190 to 193 days were achieved with 9- and 12-mg/kg siltuximab. C-reactive protein concentrations were suppressed throughout treatment in all patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that siltuximab in combination with docetaxel is safe and shows preliminary efficacy in patients with CRPC, although alternative siltuximab schedules may be better tolerated for future studies.

Phase II trial of cetuximab with or without paclitaxel in patients with advanced urothelial tract carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The benefit of salvage chemotherapy is modest in metastatic urothelial cancer. We conducted a randomized, noncomparative phase II study to measure the efficacy of cetuximab with or without paclitaxel in patients with previously treated urothelial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with metastatic urothelial cancer who received one line of chemotherapy in the perioperative or metastatic setting were randomly assigned to 4-week cycles of cetuximab 250 mg/m(2) with or without paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) per week. We used early progression as an indicator of futility. Either arm would close if seven of the initial 15 patients in that arm progressed at the first disease evaluation at 8 weeks. RESULTS: We enrolled 39 evaluable patients. The single-agent cetuximab arm closed after nine of the first 11 patients progressed by 8 weeks. The combination arm completed the full accrual of 28 patients, of whom 22 patients (78.5%) had visceral disease. Twelve of 28 patients had progression-free survival greater than 16 weeks. The overall response rate was 25% (95% CI, 11% to 45%; three complete responses and four partial responses). The median progression-free survival was 16.4 weeks (95% CI, 12 to 25.1 weeks), and the median overall survival was 42 weeks (95% CI, 30.4 to 78 weeks). Treatment-related grade 3 and 4 adverse events that occurred in at least two patients were rash (six cases), fatigue (five cases), and low magnesium (three cases). CONCLUSION: Although it had limited activity as a single agent, cetuximab appears to augment the antitumor activity of paclitaxel in previously treated urothelial cancers. The cetuximab and paclitaxel combination merits additional study to establish its role in the treatment of urothelial cancers.

Increase in cholesterol predicts survival advantage in renal cell carcinoma patients treated with temsirolimus.

PURPOSE: Temsirolimus is an effective treatment for renal cell carcinoma. It is associated with increases in serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose. We investigated whether changes of these biomarkers could predict its efficacy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined serial measurements of cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose from patients randomized to IFN or temsirolimus in the Global Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Trial. Using time-dependent proportional hazards models, we quantified the association between changes in these biomarkers from baseline with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). We also assess the extent to which changes of these biomarkers predict the effects of temsirolimus on survival. RESULTS: Temsirolimus was associated with larger mean increases in cholesterol (1.02 mmol/L; P < 0.0001), triglycerides (0.32 mmol/L; P = 0.0008), and glucose (1.28 mmol/L; P < 0.0001) compared with IFN and improved survival rate (OS: HR = 0.76, P = 0.02; PFS: HR = 0.70, P = 0.001). Cholesterol increase during study was associated with longer survival (OS: HR = 0.77 per mmol/L, P < 0.0001; PFS: HR = 0.81 per mmol/L; P < 0.0001). Temsirolimus effect on cholesterol predicted its effect on survival with no additional survival advantage observed after adjusting for cholesterol change during study (OS: HR = 1.14, P = 0.37; PFS: HR = 0.88, P = 0.35). Temsirolimus effect on triglycerides or glucose did not predict its effect on survival, with survival advantage in favor of temsirolimus still observed after adjusting for these factors (P = 0.003 and P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Cholesterol increase is a potential predictor for temsirolimus efficacy. Longer survival in patients treated with temsirolimus was observed in those with larger increases in cholesterol. Prospectively designed biomarker studies of temsirolimus or other mTOR inhibitors are recommended.

Randomized phase II trial of sunitinib on an intermittent versus continuous dosing schedule as first-line therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Sunitinib has shown antitumor activity with a manageable safety profile as metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment, when given by the standard intermittent schedule as well as a continuous daily dosing (CDD) schedule. A trial was conducted to compare the schedules. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with treatment-naive, clear cell advanced RCC were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive sunitinib 50 mg/d for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks off treatment (schedule 4/2; n = 146) or 37.5 mg/d on the CDD schedule (n = 146) for up to 2 years. The primary end point was time to tumor progression. RESULTS: Median time to tumor progression was 9.9 months for schedule 4/2 and 7.1 months for the CDD schedule (hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.04; P = .090). No significant difference was observed in overall survival (23.1 v 23.5 months; P = .615), commonly reported adverse events, or patient-reported kidney cancer symptoms. Schedule 4/2 was statistically superior to CDD in time to deterioration, a composite end point of death, progression, and disease-related symptoms (P = .034). CONCLUSION; There was no benefit in efficacy or safety for continuous dosing of sunitinib compared with the approved 50 mg/d dose on schedule 4/2. Given the numerically longer time to tumor progression with the approved 50 mg/d dose on schedule 4/2, adherence to this dose and schedule remains the treatment goal for patients with advanced RCC.