Safety and activity of anti-mesothelin antibody-drug conjugate anetumab ravtansine in combination with pegylated-liposomal doxorubicin in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: multicenter, phase Ib dose escalation and expansion study.

OBJECTIVES: Anetumab ravtansine is an antibody-drug conjugate consisting of a fully human anti-mesothelin monoclonal antibody conjugated to cytotoxic maytansinoid tubulin inhibitor DM4. Mesothelin is highly expressed in ovarian cancer. This phase Ib study determines the safety, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor activity of anetumab ravtansine and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in mesothelin-expressing platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. METHODS: Anetumab ravtansine (5.5 or 6.5 mg/kg) and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (30 mg/m2) were administered intravenously every 3 weeks to 65 patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. Mesothelin expression was assessed by central immunohistochemistry. Adverse events, tumor response (RECIST 1.1), and progression-free survival were determined. Biomarker samples were assessed by ELISA and next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: In dose escalation, nine patients received anetumab ravtansine across two doses (5.5 or 6.5 mg/kg). The maximum tolerated dose of anetumab ravtansine was 6.5 mg/kg every 3 weeks and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. In dose expansion, 56 patients were treated at the maximum tolerated dose. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade were nausea (47.7%), decreased appetite (43.1%), fatigue (38.5%), diarrhea (32.3%), and corneal disorder (29.2%). In all treated patients the objective response rate was 27.7% (95% CI 17.3% to 40.2%), including one complete (1.5%) and 17 partial responses (26.2%), with median duration of response of 7.6 (95% CI 3.3 to 10.2) months and median progression-free survival of 5.0 (95% CI 3.2 to 6.0) months. In an exploratory analysis of a sub-set of patients (n=19) with high mesothelin expression who received ≤3 prior lines of systemic therapy, the objective response rate was 42.1% (95% CI 20.3% to 66.5%) with a median duration of response of 8.3 (95% CI 4.1 to 12.0) months and median progression-free survival of 8.5 (95% CI 4.0 to 11.4) months. CONCLUSIONS: Anetumab ravtansine and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin showed tolerability and promising clinical activity. These results established the dose schedule and the mesothelin-positive target population of this combination for a phase III study in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02751918.

Dual PD-1 and CTLA-4 Checkpoint Blockade Using Balstilimab and Zalifrelimab Combination as Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Cervical Cancer: An Open-Label Phase II Study.

PURPOSE: Balstilimab (antiprogrammed death-1) and zalifrelimab (anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4) are two new checkpoint inhibitors emerging as promising investigational agents for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer. This phase II trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03495882) evaluated the combination of balstilimab plus zalifrelimab in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer who relapsed after prior platinum-based therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were intravenously dosed with balstilimab 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks and zalifrelimab 1 mg/kg once every 6 weeks, for up to 24 months. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR, RECIST version 1.1, assessed by independent central review). Secondary end points included duration of response, safety and tolerability, and survival. RESULTS: In total, 155 women (median age, 50 years [range, 24-76 years]) were enrolled and treated with balstilimab plus zalifrelimab; 125 patients had measurable disease at baseline and one prior line of platinum-based therapy in the advanced setting, and these patients constituted the efficacy-evaluable population. The median follow-up was 21 months. The confirmed ORR was 25.6% (95% CI, 18.8 to 33.9), including 10 complete responders and 22 partial responders, with median duration of response not reached (86.5%, 75.5%, and 64.2% at 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively). The ORRs were 32.8% and 9.1% in patients with programmed death ligand-1-positive and programmed death ligand-1-negative tumors, respectively. For patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the ORR was 32.6%. The overall disease control rate was 52% (95% CI, 43.3 to 60.6). Hypothyroidism (14.2%) and hyperthyroidism (7.1%) were the most common immune-mediated adverse events. CONCLUSION: Promising and durable clinical activity, with favorable tolerability, was seen in this largest trial to date evaluating dual programmed death-1/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 blockade in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer. Further investigation of the balstilimab and zalifrelimab combination in this setting is continuing.

The pharmacokinetics of pamiparib in the presence of a strong CYP3A inhibitor (itraconazole) and strong CYP3A inducer (rifampin) in patients with solid tumors: an open-label, parallel-group phase 1 study.

PURPOSE: Pamiparib is an investigational, selective, oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1/2 (PARP1/2) inhibitor that has demonstrated PARP-DNA complex trapping and CNS penetration in preclinical models, as well as preliminary anti-tumor activity in early-phase clinical studies. We investigated whether the single-dose pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of pamiparib is altered by coadministration of a strong CYP3A inducer (rifampin) or a strong CYP3A inhibitor (itraconazole) in patients with solid tumors. METHODS: In this open-label, phase 1 study, adults with advanced solid tumors received either oral pamiparib 60 mg (days 1 and 10) and once-daily oral rifampin 600 mg (days 3-11) or oral pamiparib 20 mg (days 1 and 7) and once-daily oral itraconazole 200 mg (days 3-8). Primary endpoints included pamiparib maximum observed concentration (Cmax), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from zero to last quantifiable concentration (AUC0-tlast) and infinity (AUC0-inf). Secondary endpoints included safety and tolerability. RESULTS: Rifampin coadministration did not affect pamiparib Cmax (geometric least-squares [GLS] mean ratio 0.94; 90% confidence interval 0.83-1.06), but reduced its AUC0-tlast (0.62 [0.54-0.70]) and AUC0-inf (0.57 [0.48-0.69]). Itraconazole coadministration did not affect pamiparib Cmax (1.05 [0.95-1.15]), AUC0-tlast (0.99 [0.91-1.09]), or AUC0-inf (0.99 [0.90-1.09]). There were no serious treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Pamiparib plasma exposure was reduced 38-43% with rifampin coadministration but was unaffected by itraconazole coadministration. Pamiparib dose modifications are not considered necessary when coadministered with CYP3A inhibitors. Clinical safety and efficacy data will be used with these results to recommend dose modifications when pamiparib is coadministered with CYP3A inducers.

Clinical and Immunologic Responses to a B-Cell Epitope Vaccine in Patients with HER2/neu-Overexpressing Advanced Gastric Cancer-Results from Phase Ib Trial IMU.ACS.001.

PURPOSE: HER2/neu is overexpressed in up to 30% of gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (GEA) and linked to poor prognosis. Recombinant mAbs to treat HER2/neu-overexpressing cancers are effective with limitations, including resistance and toxicity. Therefore, we developed a therapeutic B-cell epitope vaccine (IMU-131/HER-Vaxx) consisting of three fused B-cell epitopes from the HER2/neu extracellular domain coupled to CRM197 and adjuvanted with Montanide. This phase Ib study aimed to evaluate the optimal/safe dose leading to immunogenicity and clinical responses (https//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02795988). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 14 patients with HER2/neu-overexpressing GEA were enrolled, and dose escalation (10, 30, 50 µg) was performed in three cohorts (C). Immunogenicity was evaluated by HER2-specific Abs and cellular responses, clinical responses by CT scans according to RECIST version 1.1. RESULTS: IMU-131 was safe without vaccine-related significant local/systemic reactions or serious adverse events. A total of 11 of 14 patients were evaluable for changes in tumor size and vaccine-specific immune responses. One patient showed complete, 5 partial responses, and 4 stable diseases as their best response. HER2-specific IgG levels were dose dependent. In contrast to patients in C1 and C2, all patients in C3 mounted substantial HER2-specific Ab levels. In addition, cellular vaccine responses, such as Th1-biased cytokine ratios and reduced regulatory T cell numbers, were generated. Progression-free survival was prolonged in C3, correlating with the vaccine-specific humoral and cellular responses. CONCLUSIONS: IMU-131 was well tolerated and safe. The induced HER2-specific Abs and cellular responses were dose dependent and correlated with clinical responses. The highest dose (50 µg) was recommended for further evaluation in a phase II trial, with chemotherapy + IMU-131 or chemotherapy alone, which is currently ongoing.

Pharmacokinetic Drug-Drug Interaction of Apalutamide, Part 1: Clinical Studies in Healthy Men and Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Two phase I studies assessed the drug-drug interaction potential of apalutamide as a substrate and perpetrator. METHODS: Study A randomized 45 healthy men to single-dose apalutamide 240 mg alone or with strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 (itraconazole) or CYP2C8 (gemfibrozil). In study B, 23 patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer received probes for CYP3A4 (midazolam), CYP2C9 (warfarin), CYP2C19 (omeprazole), and CYP2C8 (pioglitazone), and transporter substrates for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (fexofenadine) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)/organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 (rosuvastatin) at baseline and after repeat once-daily administration of apalutamide 240 mg to steady state. RESULTS: Systemic exposure (area under the plasma concentration-time curve) to single-dose apalutamide increased 68% with gemfibrozil but was relatively unchanged with itraconazole (study A). Apalutamide reduced systemic exposure to midazolam ↓92%, omeprazole ↓85%, S-warfarin ↓46%, fexofenadine ↓30%, rosuvastatin ↓41%, and pioglitazone ↓18% (study B). After a single dose, apalutamide is predominantly metabolized by CYP2C8, and less by CYP3A4. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of apalutamide with CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, P-gp, BCRP or OATP1B1 substrates may cause loss of activity for these medications. Therefore, appropriate mitigation strategies are recommended.

An open-label, multicenter, phase Ib study investigating the effect of apalutamide on ventricular repolarization in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Phase Ib study evaluating the effect of apalutamide, at therapeutic exposure, on ventricular repolarization by applying time-matched pharmacokinetics and electrocardiography (ECG) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. Safety of daily apalutamide was also assessed. METHODS: Patients received 240 mg oral apalutamide daily. Time-matched ECGs were collected via continuous 12-lead Holter recording before apalutamide (Day - 1) and on Days 1 and 57 (Cycle 3 Day 1). Pharmacokinetics of apalutamide were assessed on Days 1 and 57 at matched time points of ECG collection. QT interval was corrected for heart rate using Fridericia correction (QTcF). The primary endpoint was the maximum mean change in QTcF (ΔQTcF) from baseline to Cycle 3 Day 1 (steady state). Secondary endpoints were the effect of apalutamide on other ECG parameters, pharmacokinetics of apalutamide and its active metabolite, relationship between plasma concentrations of apalutamide and QTcF, and safety. RESULTS: Forty-five men were enrolled; 82% received treatment for ≥ 3 months. At steady state, the maximum ΔQTcF was 12.4 ms and the upper bound of its associated 90% CI was 16.0 ms. No clinically meaningful effects of apalutamide were reported for heart rate or other ECG parameters. A concentration-dependent increase in QTcF was observed for apalutamide. Most adverse events (AEs) (73%) were grade 1-2 in severity. No patients discontinued due to QTc prolongation or AEs. CONCLUSION: The effect of apalutamide on QTc prolongation was modest and does not produce a clinically meaningful effect on ventricular repolarization. The AE profile was consistent with other studies of apalutamide.