Development and validation of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify the small molecule inhibitors adagrasib, alectinib, brigatinib, capmatinib, crizotinib, lorlatinib, selpercatinib, and sotorasib in human plasma.

Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) are increasingly being used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. To support pharmacokinetic research and clinical treatment monitoring, our aim was to develop and validate an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) assay for quantification of eight SMIs: adagrasib, alectinib, brigatinib, capmatinib, crizotinib, lorlatinib, selpercatinib, and sotorasib. Development of the UPLC-MS/MS assay was done by trying different columns and eluents to optimize peak shape. The assay was validated based on guidelines of the European Medicines Agency. Chromatographic separation was performed with a gradient elution using ammonium formate in water and methanol. Detection was performed using a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization. Validation was performed in a range of 10-2500 µg/L for lorlatinib, 25-6250 µg/L for alectinib and crizotinib, 25-10,000 µg/L for capmatinib and selpercatinib, 50-12,500 µg/L for brigatinib, and 100-25,000 µg/L for adagrasib and sotorasib. Imprecision was <8.88% and inaccuracy was <12.5% for all compounds. Seven out of eight compounds were stable for 96 h at room temperature. Sotorasib was stable for 8 h at room temperature. A sensitive and reliable method has been developed to quantify eight SMIs with a single assay, enhancing efficacy and safety of targeted therapies.

Head-to-head comparison of composite and individual biomarkers to predict clinical benefit to PD-1 blockade in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of PD-1 blocking agents in advanced NSCLC has shown prolonged effectiveness, but only in a minority of patients. Multiple biomarkers have been explored to predict treatment benefit, yet their combined performance remains inadequately examined. In this study, we assessed the combined predictive performance of multiple biomarkers in NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab. METHODS: Pretreatment samples from 135 patients receiving nivolumab were used to evaluate the predictive performance of CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), intratumoral (IT) localization of CD8 TILs, PD-1 high expressing TILs (PD1T TILs), CD3 TILs, CD20 B-cells, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) and the Tumor Inflammation score (TIS). Patients were randomly assigned to a training (n = 55) and validation cohort (n = 80). The primary outcome measure was Disease Control at 6 months (DC 6m) and the secondary outcome measure was DC at 12 months (DC 12m). RESULTS: In the validation cohort, the two best performing composite biomarkers (i.e. CD8+IT-CD8 and CD3+IT-CD8) demonstrated similar or lower sensitivity (64% and 83%) and NPV (76% and 85%) compared to individual biomarkers PD-1T TILs and TIS (sensitivity: 72% and 83%, NPV: 86% and 84%) for DC 6m, respectively. Additionally, at 12 months, both selected composite biomarkers (CD8+IT-CD8 and CD8+TIS) demonstrated inferior predictive performance compared to PD-1T TILs and TIS alone. PD-1T TILs and TIS showed high sensitivity (86% and 100%) and NPV (95% and 100%) for DC 12m. PD-1T TILs could more accurately discriminate patients with no long-term benefit, as specificity was substantially higher compared to TIS (74% versus 39%). CONCLUSION: Composite biomarkers did not show improved predictive performance compared to PD-1T TILs and TIS alone for both the 6- and 12-month endpoints. PD-1T TILs and TIS identified patients with DC 12m with high sensitivity. Patients with no long-term benefit to PD-1 blockade were most accurately identified by PD-1T TILs.

Model-Informed Development of a Cost-Saving Dosing Regimen for Sacituzumab Govitecan.

BACKGROUND: The antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan is approved for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and has shown promising results in various other types of cancer. Its costs may limit patient access to this novel effective treatment modality. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop an evidence-based rational dosing regimen that results in targeted drug exposure within the therapeutic range while minimizing financial toxicity, to improve treatment access. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Exposure equivalent dosing strategies were developed based on pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation by using the published pharmacokinetic model developed by the license holder. The alternative dose was based on the principle of using complete vials to prevent spillage and on the established non-linear relationship between body weight and systemic exposure. Equivalent exposure compared to the approved dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg was aimed for. Equivalent exposure was conservatively defined as calculated geometric mean ratios within the 0.9-1.11 boundaries for area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), trough concentration (Ctrough) and maximum concentration (Cmax) of the alternative dosing regimen compared to the approved dosing regimen. Since different vial sizes are available for the European Union (EU) and United States (US) market, because body weight distributions differ between these populations, we performed our analysis for both scenarios. RESULTS: Dosing regimens of sacituzumab govitecan for the EU (< 50 kg: 400 mg, 50-80 kg: 600 mg, and > 80 kg: 800 mg) and US population (< 40 kg: 360 mg, 40-65 kg: 540 mg, 65-90 kg: 720 mg, and > 90 kg: 900 mg) were developed, based on weight bands. The geometric mean ratios for all pharmacokinetic outcomes were within the predefined equivalence boundaries, while the quantity of drug used was 21.5% and 19.0% lower for the EU and US scenarios, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With the alternative dosing proposal, an approximately 20% reduction in drug expenses for sacituzumab govitecan can be realized while maintaining an equivalent and more evenly distributed exposure throughout the body weight range, without notable increases in pharmacokinetic variability.

Proactive monitoring of drug-drug interactions between direct oral anticoagulants and small-molecule inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) have revolutionised the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, SMI-induced drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with frequently co-administered direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), increase thromboembolic and bleeding risks. This study investigated and proactively managed the consequences of DOAC-SMI DDIs. METHODS: This prospective, observational study enrolled patients with NSCLC concomitantly using a DOAC and SMI. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with DOAC plasma trough (Ctrough) and peak (Cpeak) concentrations outside expected ranges. Secondary outcomes included DOAC treatment modifications, incidence of bleeding and thromboembolic events and feasibility evaluation of pharmacokinetically guided DOAC dosing. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were analysed. Thirty-nine percent (13/33) had DOAC Ctrough and/or Cpeak were outside the expected ranges in 39% (13/33). In 71% (5/7) of patients with DOAC concentrations quantified before and during concurrent SMI use, DOAC Ctrough and/or Cpeak increased or decreased >50% upon SMI initiation. In all patients in whom treatment modifications were deemed necessary, DOAC concentrations were adjusted to within the expected ranges. CONCLUSION: Proactive monitoring showed that a substantial proportion of patients had DOAC concentrations outside the expected ranges. DOAC concentrations were successfully normalised after treatment modifications. These results highlight the importance of proactive monitoring of DOAC-SMI DDIs to improve treatment in patients with NSCLC.