Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Amivantamab for EGFR-Mutant NSCLC.

INTRODUCTION: Amivantamab-vmjw (amivantamab) is a bispecific EGFR/MET antibody approved for patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, after prior therapy. Nevertheless, the benefits and safety of amivantamab in other EGFR-mutant lung cancer, with or without osimertinib, and with concurrent radiation therapy, are less known. METHODS: We queried the MD Anderson Lung Cancer GEMINI, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Stanford Cancer Center's database for patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC treated with amivantamab, not on a clinical trial. The data analyzed included initial response, duration of treatment, and concomitant radiation safety in overall population and prespecified subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients received amivantamab. Median age was 65 (31-81) years old; 72.1% were female; and 77% were patients with never smoking history. Median number of prior lines of therapies was four. On the basis of tumor's EGFR mutation, 39 patients were in the classical mutation cohort, 15 patients in the exon 20 cohort, and seven patients in the atypical cohort. There were 37 patients (58.7%) who received amivantamab concomitantly with osimertinib and 25 patients (39.1%) who received concomitant radiation. Furthermore, 54 patients were assessable for response in the overall population; 19 patients (45.2%) had clinical response and disease control rate (DCR) was 64.3%. In the classical mutation cohort of the 33 assessable patients, 12 (36.4%) had clinical response and DCR was 48.5%. In the atypical mutation cohort, six of the seven patients (85.7%) had clinical response and DCR was 100%. Of the 13 assessable patients in the exon 20 cohort, five patients (35.7%) had clinical response and DCR was 64.3%. Adverse events reported with amivantamab use were similar as previously described in product labeling. No additional toxicities were noted when amivantamab was given with radiation with or without osimertinib. CONCLUSIONS: Our real-world multicenter analysis revealed that amivantamab is a potentially effective treatment option for patients with EGFR mutations outside of exon 20 insertion mutations. The combination of osimertinib with amivantamab is safe and feasible. Radiation therapy also seems safe when administered sequentially or concurrently with amivantamab.

A phase I trial of escalating doses of cixutumumab (IMC-A12) and sorafenib in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway is activated in hepatocarcinogenesis. Cixutumumab is a monoclonal antibody against human insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). Given the cross-talk between the IGF and VEGF pathways, we performed a phase I study of the combination of cixutumumab and sorafenib in hepatocellular cancer (HCC). METHODS: Eligible patients with no prior systemic therapy for advanced HCC and Child-Pugh A to B7 were treated with sorafenib 400 mg BID and escalating doses of cixutumumab (2, 4, or 6 mg/kg IV weekly) in a 3 + 3 design. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as treatment-related grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic toxicity (except for a subset of manageable toxicities) or any grade 4 hematologic toxicities. RESULTS: In 21 patients enrolled, there were 3 DLTs; grade 3 hyperglycemia, grade 3 hypophosphatemia, and grade 5 peritonitis. The maximum tolerated dose of cixutumumab was 4 mg/kg IV weekly with standard dose sorafenib. Eighteen of 21 (86%) patients had grade 3 or above toxicities attributed to treatment. One patient also experienced grade 4 colonic perforation and grade 5 peritonitis. The median number of cycles completed was 4 (0-26). Of 16 patients evaluable for response, 81% achieved stable disease. The median progression free survival was 6.0 months (95% CI 3.6-undefined) and the median overall survival was 10.5 months (95% CI 7.1-undefined). CONCLUSIONS: While the combination of cixutumumab and sorafenib had a toxicity profile similar to that of sorafenib monotherapy, it manifested limited clinical efficacy in unselected patients with HCC.

Preclinical Evaluation of MET Inhibitor INC-280 With or Without the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Erlotinib in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib is initially effective in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with tumors harboring activating mutations of EGFR, most subsequently develop acquired resistance. One recognized resistance mechanism occurs through activation of bypass signaling via the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-MET pathway. INC-280 is a small molecule kinase inhibitor of MET. We sought to demonstrate the activity of INC-280 on select NSCLC cell lines both as a single agent and in combination with erlotinib using exogenous HGF to simulate MET up-regulation. METHODS: Four NSCLC cell lines (HCC827, PC9, H1666, and H358) were treated with either single-agent INC-280 or in combination with erlotinib with or without HGF. The activity of the drug treatments was measured by cell viability assays. Immunoblotting was used to monitor expression of EGFR/pEGFR, MET/pMET, GAB1/pGAB1, AKT/pAKT, and ERK/pERK as well as markers of apoptosis (PARP and capase-3 cleavage) in H1666, HCC827, and PC9. RESULTS: As a single agent, INC-280 showed minimal cytotoxicity despite potent inhibition of MET kinase activity at concentrations as low as 10 nM. Addition of HGF prevented erlotinib-induced cell death. The addition of INC280 to HGF-mediated erlotinib-resistant models restored erlotinib sensitivity for all cell lines tested, associated with cleavage of both PARP and caspase-3. In these models, INC-280 treatment was sufficient to restore erlotinib-induced inhibition of MET, GAB1, AKT, and ERK in the presence of HGF. CONCLUSION: Although the MET inhibitor INC-280 alone had no discernible effect on cell growth, it was able to restore sensitivity to erlotinib and promote apoptosis in NSCLC models rendered erlotinib resistant by HGF. These data provide a preclinical rationale for an ongoing phase 1 clinical trial of erlotinib plus INC-280 in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Bridging tumor genomics to patient outcomes through an integrated patient-derived xenograft platform.

New approaches to optimization of cancer drug development in the laboratory and the clinic will be required to fully achieve the goal of individualized, precision cancer therapy. Improved preclinical models that more closely reflect the now recognized genomic complexity of human cancers are needed. Here we describe a collaborative research project that integrates core resources of The Jackson Laboratory Basic Science Cancer Center with genomics and clinical research facilities at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center to establish a clinically and genomically annotated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) platform designed to enhance new drug development and strategies for targeted therapies. Advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was selected for initial studies because of emergence of a number of "druggable" molecular targets, and recent recognition of substantial inter- and intrapatient tumor heterogeneity. Additionally, clonal evolution after targeted therapy interventions make this tumor type ideal for investigation of this platform. Using the immunodeficient NOD scid gamma mouse, > 200 NSCLC tumor biopsies have been xenotransplanted. During the annotation process, patient tumors and subsequent PDXs are compared at multiple levels, including histomorphology, clinically applicable molecular biomarkers, global gene expression patterns, gene copy number variations, and DNA/chromosomal alterations. NSCLC PDXs are grouped into panels of interest according to oncogene subtype and/or histologic subtype. Multiregimen drug testing, paired with next-generation sequencing before and after therapy and timed tumor pharmacodynamics enables determination of efficacy, signaling pathway alterations, and mechanisms of sensitivity-resistance in individual models. This approach should facilitate derivation of new therapeutic strategies and the transition to individualized therapy.

Prognostic and predictive value of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase domain mutation status and gene copy number for adjuvant chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations may have a more favorable prognosis and greater response to chemotherapy. The effect of EGFR mutation and gene copy on patients with early-stage non-small cell lung carcinoma receiving adjuvant chemotherapy has not been reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tumor samples from NCIC Clinical Trials Group JBR.10, an adjuvant trial of vinorelbine/cisplatin adjuvant chemotherapy [ACT] versus observation (OBS), were analyzed for EGFR mutation by multiple sensitive methods and copy number by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Their prognostic and predictive roles were explored in correlation with survival. RESULTS: Mutation results were available in 221 OBS and 215 ACT and fluorescent in situ hybridization results in 159 OBS and 163 ACT patients. Mutations were identified in 43 (27 OBS and 16 ACT) patients (36 sensitizing exon 19 deletions or L858R mutations). Compared with wild-type, sensitizing mutations were not significantly prognostic in OBS patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-1.63, p = 0.53). Although the presence of sensitizing mutations resulted in relatively greater benefit in ACT patients (HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.11-1.70, p = 0.22) compared with wild-type patients (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.58-1.06, p = 0.12), this quantitative difference was not significant (interaction p = 0.50). Similarly, high EGFR copy was neither significantly prognostic nor predictive, although quantitatively it was associated with greater benefit from ACT. CONCLUSIONS: Trends toward longer survival and a greater benefit from chemotherapy were observed in patients with exon 19/21 mutations and high EGFR copy, although the differences were not statistically significant. The interpretation of the results was limited by the low EGFR mutation rate in this study of mainly white patients.

Sorafenib in platinum-treated patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG 0435) phase II trial.

INTRODUCTION: Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor affecting pathways involved in tumor progression and angiogenesis. We conducted a phase II trial of sorafenib in platinum-treated patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer to determine the tumor response rate, toxicity, and overall survival. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed, measurable disease, Zubrod performance status 0 to 1, and no more than 1 prior platinum-based treatment were eligible. Patients were stratified by platinum-sensitivity status: sensitive (progression >90 days after platinum) or refractory (progression during or ≤90 days after platinum). Patients were treated with sorafenib 400 mg orally twice a day continuously on a 28-day cycle. RESULTS: Of 89 patients registered, 82 were evaluable for toxicity assessment, and 83 were evaluable for response. There were four partial responses seen among the 38 patients in the platinum-sensitive stratum, for an estimated response rate of 11% (95% confidence interval: 3-25%), and one partial response among the 45 patients in the platinum-refractory stratum, for an estimated response rate of 2% (95% confidence interval: 0-12%). The median overall survival estimates were 6.7 months (95% confidence interval: 6.1-9.1 months) for the platinum-sensitive stratum and 5.3 months (95% confidence interval: 3.3-7.5 months) in the platinum-refractory stratum. Nineteen patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events or side effects from therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the lack of disease control seen in our trial, further investigation of single-agent sorafenib in the small cell lung cancer population is not recommended. Combination trials of sorafenib and chemotherapy are ongoing.

Phase I trial of GTI-2040, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine in the treatment of advanced metastatic solid tumors: a California Cancer Consortium Study.

BACKGROUND: GTI-2040 is a 20-mer antisense oligonucleotide targeting the mRNA of ribonucleotide reductase M2. It was combined with oxaliplatin and capecitabine in a phase I trial in patients with advance solid tumors based on previous studies demonstrating potentiation of chemotherapy with ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors. METHODS: Patients at least 18 years of age with advanced incurable solid tumors and normal organ function as well as a Karnofsky performance status of > or =60% were eligible. One prior chemotherapy regimen for advanced disease or relapse within 12 months of adjuvant chemotherapy was required. Patients could have received prior fluoropyrimidines, including capecitabine, but not oxaliplatin. Treatment cycles were 21 days. In each cycle, GTI-2040 was given as a continuous intravenous infusion over 14 days, oxaliplatin as a 2-h intravenous infusion on day 1, and capecitabine orally twice a day for 14 days. In cycle 1 only, oxaliplatin and capecitabine were started on day 2 to allow ribonucleotide reductase mRNA levels to be measured with and without oxaliplatin and capecitabine. Doses were escalated in cohorts of three patients using a standard 3 + 3 design until the maximum tolerated dose was established, defined as no more than one first-cycle dose-limiting toxicity among six patients treated at a given dose level. RESULTS: The maximum tolerated dose was estimated to be the combination of GTI-2040 3 mg/kg per day for 14 days, capecitabine 600 mg/m(2) twice daily for 14 days, and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m(2) every 21 days. Dose-limiting toxicities were hematologic. GTI-2040 pharmacokinetics, obtained at steady-state on days 7 and 14, showed the high inter-patient variability previously reported. Two of six patients had stable disease at the maximum tolerated dose and one patient, with heavily pre-treated non-small cell lung cancer, had a partial response at a higher dose level. In samples from a limited number of patients, there was no clear decrease in ribonucleotide reductase expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during treatment. CONCLUSION: A combination of GTI-2040, capecitabine and oxaliplatin is feasible in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Aurora kinases as anticancer drug targets.

The human aurora family of serine-threonine kinases comprises three members, which act in concert with many other proteins to control chromosome assembly and segregation during mitosis. Aurora dysfunction can cause aneuploidy, mitotic arrest, and cell death. Aurora kinases are strongly expressed in a broad range of cancer types. Aurora A expression in tumors is often associated with gene amplification, genetic instability, poor histologic differentiation, and poor prognosis. Aurora B is frequently expressed at high levels in a variety of tumors, often coincidently with aurora A, and expression level has also been associated with increased genetic instability and clinical outcome. Further, aurora kinase gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk or early onset of cancer. The expression of aurora C in cancer is less well studied. In recent years, several small-molecule aurora kinase inhibitors have been developed that exhibit preclinical activity against a wide range of solid tumors. Preliminary clinical data from phase I trials have largely been consistent with cytostatic effects, with disease stabilization as the best response achieved in solid tumors. Objective responses have been noted in leukemia patients, although this might conceivably be due to inhibition of the Abl kinase. Current challenges include the optimization of drug administration, the identification of potential biomarkers of tumor sensitivity, and combination studies with cytotoxic drugs. Here, we summarize the most recent preclinical and clinical data and discuss new directions in the development of aurora kinase inhibitors as antineoplastic agents.