Phase 1 study to evaluate the effect of the MEK inhibitor trametinib on cardiac repolarization in patients with solid tumours.

PURPOSE: Trametinib is a reversible, selective inhibitor of the mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (MEK1) and 2 (MEK2). Cardiotoxicity (congestive heart failure, decreased heart rate, left ventricular dysfunction, and hypertension) related to trametinib is an infrequent, but serious, adverse event (AE). Prolongation of the QT interval increases the risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. Thus, the risk of trametinib inducing QT prolongation at putative supratherapeutic exposure was evaluated. METHODS: Eligible patients with solid tumours received placebo on day 1, once-daily trametinib 2-mg doses on days 2-14, and a single trametinib 3-mg dose on day 15 to achieve supratherapeutic dosing for QTc measurement. Electrocardiogram was assessed by 12-lead ambulatory 24-h Holter monitoring pre-dose, and on day 1 and day 15. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) parameters were measured. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 35 patients completed the study. There was no effect of trametinib when compared with time-matched placebo on the change from baseline in QTcF, QTcB, or QTcI interval. Mean AUC0-24 and C max following trametinib 2-mg repeat doses were 364 ng.h/mL and 22.9 ng/mL, respectively; the corresponding values for the 3-mg dose were 454 ng.h/mL and 29.2 ng/mL. Median T max was approximately 2 h for both doses. Statistical analysis and PK/PD modelling showed no significant relationship between QTcF interval and trametinib plasma concentrations. AEs were consistent with those reported previously. No electrocardiogram abnormalities were reported as AEs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest trametinib has no significant effect on QT prolongation at supratherapeutic exposure.

Activity of the oral mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor trametinib in RAS-mutant relapsed or refractory myeloid malignancies.

BACKGROUND: RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase activation is common in myeloid malignancies. Trametinib, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1)/MEK2 inhibitor with activity against multiple myeloid cell lines at low nanomolar concentrations, was evaluated for safety and clinical activity in patients with relapsed/refractory leukemias. METHODS: This phase 1/2 study accrued patients with any relapsed/refractory leukemia in phase 1. In phase 2, this study accrued patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with NRAS or KRAS mutations (cohort 1); patients with AML, MDS, or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) with a RAS wild-type mutation or an unknown mutation status (cohort 2); and patients with CMML with an NRAS or KRAS mutation (cohorts 3). RESULTS: The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea, rash, nausea, and increased alanine aminotransferase levels. The phase 2 recommended dose for Trametinib was 2 mg orally daily. The overall response rates were 20%, 3%, and 27% for cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and this indicated preferential activity among RAS-mutated myeloid malignancies. Repeated cycles of trametinib were well tolerated with manageable or reversible toxicities; these results were similar to those of other trametinib studies. CONCLUSIONS: The selective, single-agent activity of trametinib against RAS-mutated myeloid malignancies validates its therapeutic potential. Combination strategies based on a better understanding of the hierarchical role of mutations and signaling in myeloid malignancies are likely to improve the response rate and duration. Cancer 2016;122:1871-9. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Trametinib, a first-in-class oral MEK inhibitor mass balance study with limited enrollment of two male subjects with advanced cancers.

1. This study assessed the mass balance, metabolism and disposition of [(14)C]trametinib, a first-in-class mitogen-activated extracellular signal-related kinase (MEK) inhibitor, as an open-label, single solution dose (2 mg, 2.9 MBq [79 µCi]) in two male subjects with advanced cancer. 2. Trametinib absorption was rapid. Excretion was primarily via feces (∼81% of excreted dose); minor route was urinary (∼19% of excreted dose). The primary metabolic elimination route was deacetylation alone or in combination with hydroxylation. Circulating drug-related component profiles (composed of parent with metabolites) were similar to those found in elimination together with N-glucuronide of deacetylation product. Metabolite analysis was only possible from <50% of administered dose; therefore, percent of excreted dose (defined as fraction of percent of administered dose recovery over total dose recovered in excreta) was used to assess the relative importance of excretion and metabolite routes. The long elimination half-life (∼10 days) favoring sustained targeted activity was important in permitting trametinib to be the first MEK inhibitor with clinical activity in late stage clinical studies. 3. This study exemplifies the challenges and adaptability needed to understand the metabolism and disposition of an anticancer agent, like trametinib, with both low exposure and a long elimination half-life.

A dose-escalation study of recombinant human interleukin-18 in combination with rituximab in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an immunostimulatory cytokine with antitumor activity in preclinical models. Rituximab is a CD20 monoclonal antibody with activity against human B-cell lymphomas. A phase I study of recombinant human (rh) IL-18 given with rituximab was performed in patients with CD20+ lymphoma. Cohorts of 3-4 patients were given infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m2) weekly for 4 weeks with escalating doses of rhIL-18 as a 2-hour intravenous infusion weekly for 12 consecutive weeks. Toxicities were graded using standard criteria. Blood samples were obtained for safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic studies. Nineteen patients with CD20+ B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma were given rituximab in combination with rhIL-18 at doses of 1, 3, 10, 20, 30, and 100 µg/kg. Common side effects included chills, fever, headache, and nausea. Common laboratory abnormalities included transient, asymptomatic lymphopenia, hyperglycemia, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and bilirubin and liver enzyme elevations. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Biologic effects of rhIL-18 included transient lymphopenia and increased expression of activation antigens on lymphocytes. Increases in serum concentrations of IFN-γ, GM-CSF, and chemokines were observed after dosing. Objective tumor responses were seen in 5 patients, including 2 complete and 3 partial responses. rhIL-18 can be given in biologically active doses by weekly infusions in combination with rituximab to patients with lymphoma. A maximum tolerated dose of rhIL-18 plus rituximab was not determined. Further studies of rhIL-18 and CD20 monoclonal antibodies in B-cell malignancies are warranted.

Effect of hepatic or renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of casopitant, a NK-1 receptor antagonist.

Two studies were conducted in subjects with mild or moderate hepatic or renal impairment and subjects with normal organ function to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of casopitant and to assess its safety in these populations. A total of 26 subjects were enrolled in the hepatic impairment study and 18 subjects in the renal impairment study. All subjects received oral casopitant 100 mg once-daily for 5 days. Casopitant area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) increased 11% and 24% in subjects with mild or moderate hepatic impairment, respectively, on Day 1, compared with subjects with normal hepatic function; a similar increase was observed on Day 5. The AUC of the active major metabolite, GSK525060, was reduced 29% and 19% on Days 1 and 5, respectively, in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment, but not altered by mild hepatic impairment. Casopitant AUC increased 34% and 22% on Day 1 in subjects with mild or moderate renal impairment, respectively, and 28% and 11% on Day 5, respectively, compared with subjects with normal renal function. GSK525060 AUC was increased 17% and 24% on Days 1 and 5, respectively, in subjects with mild renal impairment; but did not significantly change in subjects with moderate renal impairment. Further age-adjusted analysis showed no meaningful effect of renal impairment on casopitant or GSK525060 AUC. Plasma protein binding of casopitant and GSK525060 was similar in all subjects. The pharmacokinetics of casopitant is not altered to a clinically significant extent in subjects with mild or moderate, hepatic or renal impairment. The impact of severe hepatic or renal impairment was not evaluated.

Effect of hepatic or renal impairment on eltrombopag pharmacokinetics.

Eltrombopag, an oral, small-molecule, nonpeptide thrombopoietin receptor agonist for the treatment of thrombocytopenia, is highly protein bound and primarily eliminated via metabolism in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Single-dose eltrombopag pharmacokinetics were evaluated in participants with hepatic or renal impairment given possible changes in systemic exposure due to reduced plasma protein binding or reduced metabolism. All participants received a single 50-mg dose of eltrombopag. The adverse event profile was similar across groups, with headache, nausea, and back pain most frequently reported. Compared with healthy participants, participants with mild, moderate, or severe hepatic impairment had mean increases in AUC(0-∞) of 41%, 93%, and 80%, and participants with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment had mean decreases in AUC(0-∞) of 32%, 36%, and 60%. There was high pharmacokinetic variability and significant overlap in exposures between participants with hepatic or renal impairment and healthy participants. Results suggest that patients with renal impairment may initiate eltrombopag with the standard 50-mg once-daily starting regimen, whereas patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment should consider a lower 25-mg once-daily regimen. Patients with hepatic or renal impairment should be closely monitored for platelet response and safety, and eltrombopag doses should be adjusted accordingly.