Real-life incidence of cardiotoxicity and associated risk factors in sarcoma patients receiving doxorubicin.

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity is well recognized but only few data exist in sarcoma patients. This study retrospectively aimed to analyze sequential Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT)-multigated equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA) for monitoring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and to assess the real-life incidence of cardiotoxicity in sarcoma patients receiving doxorubicin based chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all sarcoma patients referred to Herlev University Hospital between 2012 and 2015. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a decline in LVEF of > 10% percentage point to a LVEF < 50% as compared to baseline. Early cardiotoxicity was defined as < 1 year and late cardiotoxicity as ≥ 1 year. Recovery of cardiotoxicity was defined as a LVEF ≥ 50%. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients were referred, 75 (50%) sarcoma patients were included. The main reason for exclusion was that only one CZT-ERNA had been performed in 50 (68%) of the patients. Twenty-three (31%) of the patients experienced cardiotoxicity, 11 (48%) were female, mean age was 56.9 years. Early cardiotoxicity was observed in 16 (70%) of the patients and 11 (48%) experienced clinical symptoms of cardiotoxicity at diagnosis. Recovery of LVEF was seen in 12 (55%) of the patients and persistent recovery in 10 (45%). The diastolic blood pressure at baseline was positively and significantly associated with a higher risk of developing cardiotoxicity (Relative Risk (RR): 1.039 (95% CI= 1.001 - 1.079; p = 0.042)). The median survival was 1.4 years (range 0.5 - 2.2 years) for patients with metastatic disease versus 3.9 years (range 1.5 - 6.4 years) (p = 0.009) for localized disease at baseline. CONCLUSION: Cardiotoxicity is a relative frequent complication in sarcoma patients treated with doxorubicin based chemotherapy and the diastolic blood pressure at baseline was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing cardiotoxicity.

Phase II randomised discontinuation trial of brivanib in patients with advanced solid tumours.

BACKGROUND: Brivanib is a selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling. We performed a phase II randomised discontinuation trial of brivanib in 7 tumour types (soft-tissue sarcomas [STS], ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer [NSCLC], gastric/esophageal cancer and transitional cell carcinoma [TCC]). PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 12-week open-label lead-in period, patients received brivanib 800 mg daily and were evaluated for FGF2 status by immunohistochemistry. Patients with stable disease at week 12 were randomised to brivanib or placebo. A study steering committee evaluated week 12 response to determine if enrolment in a tumour type would continue. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS) for brivanib versus placebo in patients with FGF2-positive tumours. RESULTS: A total of 595 patients were treated, and stable disease was observed at the week 12 randomisation point in all tumour types. Closure decisions were made for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, NSCLC, gastric cancer and TCC. Criteria for expansion were met for STS and ovarian cancer. In 53 randomised patients with STS and FGF2-positive tumours, the median PFS was 2.8 months for brivanib and 1.4 months for placebo (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.58, p = 0.08). For all randomised patients with sarcomas, the median PFS was 2.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-4.0) for those treated with brivanib compared with 1.4 months (95% CI: 1.3-1.6) for placebo (HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.38-1.07; p = 0.09). In the 36 randomised patients with ovarian cancer and FGF2-positive tumours, the median PFS was 4.0 (95% CI: 2.6-4.2) months for brivanib and 2.0 months (95% CI: 1.2-2.7) for placebo (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.26-1.22). For all randomised patients with ovarian cancer, the median PFS in those randomised to brivanib was 4.0 months (95% CI: 2.6-4.2) and was 2.0 months (95% CI: 1.2-2.7) in those randomised to placebo (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.25-1.17; p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: Brivanib demonstrated activity in STS and ovarian cancer with an acceptable safety profile. FGF2 expression, as defined in the protocol, is not a predictive biomarker of the efficacy of brivanib.

A Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Belinostat (PXD101) in Combination with Doxorubicin in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas.

Background. Belinostat is a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor. Primary Objectives. Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) of belinostat (Bel) in combination with doxorubicin (Dox) in solid tumours (phase I) and response rate (RR) in soft tissue sarcomas (phase II). Methods. Bel was administered as a 30-minute IV infusion on days 1-5 and on day 5 with Dox. The dose escalation schedule was as follows: cohort 1: Bel 600 mg/m(2) and 50 mg/m(2) Dox, cohort 2: Bel 600 mg/m(2) and 75 mg/m(2) Dox, cohort 3: Bel 800 mg/m(2) and 75 mg/m(2) Dox, and cohort 4: Bel 1000 mg/m(2) and 75 mg/m(2) Dox. Results. 41 patients were included (25 in phase I, 16 in phase II). Adverse events were fatigue (95%), nausea (76%), and alopecia (63%). There was one DLT, grade 3 rash/hand and foot syndrome. MTD was Bel 1000 mg/m(2)/d and Dox 75 mg/m(2). Four responses were seen: 2 PR in phase I, RR of 8%; in phase II, 1 PR/1 CR, RR of 13%, and 9 patients (56%) with SD. Conclusion. The combination was well tolerated. Response rate was moderate but median time to progression was 6.0 months (95% CI, 1.6-9.7 months) which is superior to some reports of single-agent Dox.

89Zr-trastuzumab and 89Zr-bevacizumab PET to evaluate the effect of the HSP90 inhibitor NVP-AUY922 in metastatic breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: HSP90 chaperones have key client proteins that are involved in all hallmarks of breast cancer growth and progression. The primary aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the feasibility of using (89)Zr-trastuzumab PET (for HER2-positive breast cancer) or (89)Zr-bevacizumab PET [for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer] to determine in vivo degradation of client proteins caused by the novel HSP90 inhibitor NVP-AUY922. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Of note, 70 mg/m(2) NVP-AUY922 was administered intravenously in a weekly schedule to patients with advanced HER2 or ER-positive breast cancer. Biomarker analysis consisted of serial PET imaging with 2[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), (89)Zr-trastuzumab, or (89)Zr-bevacizumab. Response evaluation was performed according to RECIST1.0. FDG, (89)Zr-trastuzumab, and (89)Zr-bevacizumab distributions were scored visually and quantitatively by calculating the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax). In blood samples, serial HSP70 levels, extracellular form of HER2 (HER2-ECD), and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were measured. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (ten HER2-positive and six ER-positive tumors) were included. One partial response was observed; seven patients showed stable disease. SUVmax change in individual tumor lesions on baseline versus 3 weeks (89)Zr-trastuzumab PET was heterogeneous and related to size change on CT after 8 weeks treatment (r(2) = 0.69; P = 0.006). Tumor response on (89)Zr-bevacizumab PET and FDG-PET was not correlated with CT response. CONCLUSIONS: NVP-AUY922 showed proof-of-concept clinical response in HER2-amplified metastatic breast cancer. Early change on (89)Zr-trastuzumab PET was positively associated with change in size of individual lesions assessed by CT.

A retrospective study of patients with malignant PEComa receiving treatment with sirolimus or temsirolimus: the Royal Marsden Hospital experience.

UNLABELLED: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare tumors driven by tuberous sclerosis complex gene mutations causing up-regulation of mTOR. We report the outcome of ten consecutive patients treated with sirolimus or temsirolimus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients seen between 2007 and 2013. Demographic and treatment data were collected and radiological response was assessed. RESULTS: Ten patients were investigated, eight females, with median age of 47.5 years. Nine patients received sirolimus, one temsirolimus. The median treatment duration was 128 (range=7-1,366 days). Temsirolimus was given at 25 mg IV weekly and median starting dose of sirolimus was 3 mg daily. Seven patients were evaluable for response by RECIST: 5 showed partial response (50%), 1 stable disease (10%) and 1 progressive disease (10%). Two patients progressed rapidly on treatment. One patient stopped due to grade 3 hyperlipidaemia although CT scan shows maintained response. Three patients continue on treatment while the remainder stopped due to disease progression. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that mTOR inhibition with sirolimus/temsirolimus is well-tolerated with good radiological responses, albeit short-lived, and supports its use in PEComas.

Phase 1 trial of the oral AKT inhibitor MK-2206 plus carboplatin/paclitaxel, docetaxel, or erlotinib in patients with advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of AKT with MK-2206 has demonstrated synergism with anticancer agents. This phase 1 study assessed the MTD, DLTs, PK, and efficacy of MK-2206 in combination with cytotoxic and targeted therapies. METHODS: Advanced solid tumor patients received oral MK-2206 45 or 60 mg (QOD) with either carboplatin (AUC 6.0) and paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 (arm 1), docetaxel 75 mg/m2 (arm 2), or erlotinib 100 or 150 mg daily (arm 3); alternative schedules of MK-2206 135-200 mg QW or 90-250 mg Q3W were also tested. RESULTS: MTD of MK-2206 (N = 72) was 45 mg QOD or 200 mg Q3W (arm 1); MAD was 200 mg Q3W (arm 2) and 135 mg QW (arm 3). DLTs included skin rash (arms 1, 3), febrile neutropenia (QOD, arms 1, 2), tinnitus (Q3W, arm 2), and stomatitis (QOD, arm 3). Common drug-related toxicities included fatigue (68%), nausea (49%), and rash (47%). Two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (arm 1; Q3W) demonstrated a complete and partial response (PR); additional PRs were observed in patients (1 each) with melanoma, endometrial, neuroendocrine prostate, NSCLC, and cervical cancers. Six patients had stable disease ≥6 months. CONCLUSION: MK-2206 plus carboplatin and paclitaxel, docetaxel, or erlotinib was well-tolerated, with early evidence of antitumor activity.