Combined weekly topotecan and biweekly bevacizumab in women with platinum-resistant ovarian, peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer: results of a phase 2 study

BACKGROUND

A phase 2 trial was conducted to determine the toxicity and efficacy of combined weekly topotecan and biweekly bevacizumab in patients with primary or secondary platinum-resistant ovarian, peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer (OC).

METHODS

Patients were treated with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg on days 1 and 15 and topotecan 4 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle until progressive disease (PD) or excessive toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary objectives included overall survival (OS), objective response, and toxicity.

RESULTS

Patients (N = 40) received a median of 8 treatment cycles. Toxicity was generally mild or moderate, with neutropenia (18%), hypertension (20%), gastrointestinal toxicity (18%), pain (13%), metabolic toxicity (15%), bowel obstruction (10%), and cardiotoxicity (8%) being the most common grade 3 and 4 adverse events. No bowel perforations, febrile neutropenia, or treatment-related deaths occurred. Median PFS and OS were 7.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0-9.4) and 16.6 months (95% CI, 12.8-22.9), with 22 (55%) patients progression-free for ≥6 months. Ten (25%) patients had partial response (PR), 14 (35%) had stable disease (SD), and 16 (40%) had PD. Patients treated with 2 prior regimens received greater benefit than patients treated with 1: PR/SD, 78.9% versus 42.9% (P = .03); median PFS, 10.9 versus 2.8 months (P = .08); median OS, 22.9 versus 12.8 months (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

A weekly topotecan and biweekly bevacizumab combination demonstrates acceptable toxicity and encouraging efficacy in patients with platinum-resistant OC; further study is warranted.

Phase II study of everolimus (E) with imatinib (IM) in patients with previously-treated renal carcinoma (RCC)

e16075

Background: Inhibitors of mTOR improve progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced RCC. We hypothesized that co-administration of the mTOR inhibitor E with an upstream receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor could augment activity in advanced RCC. We chose to study IM due to its inhibition of PDGFR, a relevant target for RCC with potential activity at both the tumor cell and the pericyte. Methods: Eligible patients had metastatic or unresectable clear cell renal carcinoma, at least one prior systemic therapy, no prior mTOR inhibitor therapy, performance status 0–2, and measurable disease. Treatment consisted of E 2.5 mg p.o. daily and IM 600 mg p.o. daily, a dose determined from a phase I study in GIST. A two-stage design was employed to test for a 3-month PFS of ≥ 70% vs. ≤ 50%. Results: 19 subjects were evaluable for toxicity and 18 for response. Median age 65; number of prior systemic therapies 1:2:3+ (47%:32%:21%); prior sorafenib and/or sunitinib 89%; MSKCC prognostic categories favorable:intermediate:poor (42%:47%:11%). There were no objective responses. Best response was stable disease (67%) and progressive disease (33%). The 3-month PFS rate was 49% (95% C.I. 23%, 72%). The median PFS was 2.9 months (95% C.I. 1.9, 6.2) and the median overall survival was 14.4 months (95% C.I. 11.3, N.R.). Toxicities and lab abnormalities affecting >50% of subjects were: nausea, elevated creatinine, edema, anemia, hypocalcemia, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, and dyspnea, and leucopenia. Most common grade 3+ events were: fatigue (16%), pleural effusion (16%), edema (11%), and renal failure (11%). The study was closed after the first stage as the 3-month PFS did not meet continuation criteria. Conclusions: The combination of E 2.5 mg with IM 600 mg in previously-treated patients with advanced RCC did not meet the study-defined level of activity to warrant further investigation. The natural history assumptions for this pretreated RCC population may have been overly optimistic. While the observed PFS is comparable to that reported with E 10mg monotherapy, there appears to be no advantage to combination IM therapy and the incidence of adverse events is high. Further development of this regimen for RCC is not recommended.

[Table: see text]

A phase II study of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor RAD001 plus imatinib mesylate (IM) in patients with previously treated advanced renal carcinoma (RCC)

15600

Background: The serine-threonine kinase mTOR is a valid target for RCC therapy with temsirolimus treatment resulting in improved overall survival in poor-risk patients (Hudes G et al., ASCO 2006). RAD001 is an oral inhibitor of mTOR which has demonstrated activity in RCC at 10mg/day (Amato R et al., ASCO 2006). IM is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), a target that may promote angiogenesis and growth of RCC. Combined mTOR and PDGFR inhibition with RAD001 and IM may achieve vertical blockade through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Methods: Eligibility: metastatic clear cell RCC, performance status (PS) 0–2, adequate organ function, and prior treatment with = 1 systemic therapy. Doses were based on a phase I study of the combination in GIST (Van Oosterom AT et al., ASCO 2005): RAD001 2.5 mg p.o. daily and IM 600 mg p.o. daily. Patients were reimaged every 6 weeks. This is a 2-stage phase II study to determine the 3-month progression-free rate. Results: 14 pts have been enrolled. Median age 66 years (51–79). 6 pts PS 0 and 8 pts PS 1. Median number of prior therapies 1.5 (1–4). 12 of 14 patients had prior TKI therapy. Prior therapies included sorafenib (11 pts), interferon (7), sunitinib (3), bevacizumab (2), erlotinib (1), panitumumab (1), high-dose IL-2 (1). Of 10 pts evaluable for the primary endpoint, 3 are progression-free = 3 months. Best response for 9 pts evaluable by RECIST: PR/CR 0, SD 7, PD 2. Most common adverse events in 11 evaluable patients include nausea (8), edema (7), increased creatinine (7), fatigue (7), transaminase elevation (6), thrombocytopenia (5), leukopenia (5), cough (5), diarrhea (5). Grade 3 adverse events include fatigue (3), LE edema, rash, pleural effusion, increased creatinine, abdominal pain, and thrombocytopenia (1 each). There were no grade 4 toxicities. Unique suspected RAD001 toxicities include grade 3 pneumonitis (1) and angioedema (1). Conclusions: The combination of RAD001 and IM has moderate toxicity. This is one of the first studies in RCC patients predominantly pretreated with a TKI. 3 month progression-free rate appears to be a clinically relevant endpoint in this population.

[Table: see text]

Phase II trial of imatinib (Gleevec®) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Fourteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated on a Phase II trial with imatinib. Eligible patients had histologically confirmed RCC, metastatic and measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of at least 70%, life expectancy of more than 3 months, and adequate hematological, renal, and liver function. Imatinib was given orally at a dose of 400 mg bid. The most common toxicities were Grade II/III nausea (28%) and Grade II renal insufficiency (14%). All patients had tumor tested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for KIT protein (CD117, DAKO). One tumor (7%) demonstrated strong, diffuse expression and the rest were negative. No complete or partial responses were observed in 12 evaluable patients treated with imatinib.

Phase II Trial of Temozolomide in Patients with Cisplatin-Refractory Germ Cell Tumors

Fourteen patients with cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors (GCT) were treated with temozolomide on a phase II trial. Temozolomide was given orally at 150 mg/m2/day on days 1-5. The cycle length was 28 days. No patient experienced a grade 3 or 4 toxicity, and none of the 14 evaluable patients achieved a complete or partial response. Temozolomide is not efficacious in the treatment of cisplatin-refractory GCT patients.

Phase II trial of arsenic trioxide in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Fourteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated on a Phase II trial with arsenic trioxide (As2O3). Eligible patients had metastatic renal cell carcinoma with bidimensionally measurable disease, a Karnofsky performance status of at least 70%, life expectancy of greater than three months, and no evidence of brain metastases. Arsenic trioxide was given intravenously at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days every four weeks. The most common toxicity observed was grade II elevation in liver function tests (36%), anemia (21%), renal insufficiency (14%), rash (7%), and diarrhea (7%). Best response was stable disease in 3 patients with one patient remaining on study at 8+ months At the dose and schedule used in this trial, arsenic trioxide did not achieve a complete or partial response in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Salvage chemotherapy for patients with advanced pure seminoma

PURPOSE

We describe the response to conventional or high-dose salvage chemotherapy in patients with advanced seminoma who experience disease progression after receiving first-line platinum-based treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients with progressive, advanced, pure seminoma were treated with salvage chemotherapy. Fifteen patients were treated with conventional-dose cisplatin-and-ifosfamide combination chemotherapy. Twelve patients were treated with high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem-cell rescue.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (56%) achieved a complete response (CR), nine achieved CR with a conventional-dose cisplatin and ifosfamide program, and six experienced CR after high-dose chemotherapy. Fourteen patients (52%) are alive and disease-free, with 13 (48%) continuously disease-free at a median follow-up of 72 months. Twelve (57%) of 21 patients whose pretreatment tumors were studied morphologically were found to have seminoma with atypia. Eight patients underwent resection after salvage chemotherapy; six with histologic findings of necrotic debris/fibrosis alone are alive and disease-free at last follow-up. Both patients with viable seminoma found at surgery died of disease.

CONCLUSION

Most patients with advanced seminoma are cured with standard first-line programs of cisplatin and etoposide with or without bleomycin. A small minority of patients with pure seminoma have resistant tumors and require salvage chemotherapy. In this setting, approximately 50% of patients with recurrent pure seminoma achieve durable CR with conventional or high-dose salvage chemotherapy. Identification of biologic markers to predict clinical outcome and an enhanced understanding of the basic biologic features of seminoma may lead to improvements in the management of this disease.

Phase II trial of thalidomide for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

To assess efficacy and toxicity of thalidomide in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients with RCC were treated with thalidomide at a starting dose of 200 mg daily. Thalidomide was increased by 200 mg every 2 weeks until a maximum dose of 800 mg or prohibitive toxicity was reached. Fifteen patients had prior nephrectomy, 11 patients had no prior systemic therapy, and 15 had received one prior systemic regimen.

RESULTS

A maximum dose of 800 mg, 600 mg, 400 mg, and 200 mg was reached in five, 10, eight, and three patients, respectively. Grade 2 and 3 dyspnea occurred in four and three patients, respectively. Grade 2 and 3 neurologic toxicity was observed in five and two patients, respectively. Of the 25 assessable patients, the best response was stable disease in 16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 43% to 82%) patients. The 6-month progression-free survival rate was 32% (95% CI, 14% to 50%). Three patients achieved prolonged stable disease of 16, 16+, and 18+ months, including two patients who were refractory to previous cytokine therapy. Fifty-seven percent were alive at 1 year (95% CI, 37% to 76%).

CONCLUSION

This trial does not support the routine use of thalidomide to induce partial response for metastatic RCC. Because disease stabilization occurs as a part of the natural history of metastatic RCC, the potential effect of thalidomide on progression-free and overall survival for patients with advanced RCC is being addressed in a randomized phase III trial. New immunomodulatory analogs of thalidomide that have shown potentially greater antitumor effects in preclinical models warrant study in metastatic RCC.

Phase I trial of 40-kd branched pegylated interferon alfa-2a for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

Pegylated (40 kd) interferon alfa-2a (IFNalpha2a) (PEGASYS, Hoffman-La Roche, Nutley, NJ; PEG-IFN) is a modified form of recombinant human IFNalpha2a with sustained absorption and prolonged half-life after subcutaneous administration. A phase I study of PEG-IFN with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluations was conducted in previously untreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled onto cohorts of three or six patients. PEG-IFN was administered on a weekly basis by subcutaneous injection. The dose was escalated from 180 microg/wk to a maximum of 540 microg/wk in 90-microg increments. Serial venous blood samples were drawn to assess concentrations of PEG-IFN and two immunologic surrogates, neopterin and 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS).

RESULTS

The maximum-tolerated dose was determined as 540 microg/wk, because two patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity within 28 days of starting treatment. One developed serum grade 3 ALT elevation, and a second developed grade 3 fatigue. Six patients were treated at 450 microg/wk without dose-limiting toxicity. Over the course of treatment, the side-effect profile was mostly mild to moderate in intensity. Adverse events included fatigue, fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, and decreased appetite. Five patients (19%) achieved a partial response. The mean maximum serum concentration increased from 5.0 to 27 ng/mL, and mean area under the curve increased from 247 to 2,981 ng/h/mL, with dose escalation from 180 microg/wk to 540 microg/wk. Serum concentration of PEG-IFN was sustained at close to peak during the dosing interval, and steady-state was achieved in approximately 5 weeks. The immunologic surrogates, neopterin and OAS, were induced at all doses with a sustained concentration profile similar to PEG-IFN.

CONCLUSION

PEG-IFN is a modified form of IFNalpha2a with distinct pharmacokinetic advantages and immunomodulatory and antitumor activity for patients with advanced RCC. A dose of 450 microg/wk by subcutaneous administration was determined as a suitable dose for further study. PEG-IFN is more convenient to administer than IFNalpha and has potential for increased efficacy, less toxicity, or both. The efficacy and toxicity of PEG-IFN will be further assessed in clinical trials and compared with IFNalpha.

Role of postchemotherapy adjunctive surgery in the management of patients with nonseminoma arising from the mediastinum

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of postchemotherapy surgery in patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors arising from the anterior mediastinum.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients with nonseminoma arising from a mediastinal primary site were treated on a clinical trial at our center, and they underwent postchemotherapy surgery. The results of postchemotherapy surgical resection, frequency of viable tumor found during postchemotherapy surgery, and prognostic factors for survival were assessed.

RESULTS

Complete resection of all gross residual disease was achieved in 27 patients (84%). Histologic analysis of resected residua postchemotherapy revealed viable tumor in 66%, teratoma in 22%, and necrosis in 12% of the specimens. Viable tumor included embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, seminoma, and teratoma with malignant transformation to nongerm cell histology (eg, sarcoma). Clinical characteristics associated with a shorter survival after surgery included the presence of viable tumor in a resected specimen (P =.003) and more than one site resected during surgery (P =.06). There were no statistically significant differences in survival for patients who underwent surgical resection with normal markers compared with patients with elevated serum tumor markers (P =.33). A trend toward shorter survival was found in patients with increasing tumor markers before surgery compared with patients with normal and declining serum tumor markers (P =.09).

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection of residual mass after chemotherapy plays an integral role in the management of patients with primary mediastinal nonseminoma. Teratoma and viable tumor were found in the majority of resected residua after chemotherapy. Because patients who undergo conventional salvage chemotherapy programs rarely achieve long-term disease-free status, selected patients with elevated markers after chemotherapy are considered candidates for surgical resection.

Cytokine therapy in renal cell cancer

Despite extensive investigations with many different treatment modalities, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains a disease highly resistant to systemic therapy. The outlook for patients with metastatic RCC is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Late relapses after nephrectomy, prolonged stable disease in the absence of systemic therapy, and rare spontaneous regression are clinical observations that suggest host immune mechanisms could be important in regulating tumor growth. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) have been extensively studied in advanced RCC with responses in the 10 to 20% range. Two randomized trials suggest that treatment with IFN-alpha compared with vinblastine or medroxyprogesterone results in a small improvement in survival. Prolonged responses with high-dose IL-2 is significant but is accompanied by formidable toxicity. Although the combination of IFN-alpha and IL-2 compared with monotherapy with IFN-alpha or IL-2 increases the response proportion, no improvement in survival could be demonstrated in a recent randomized trial. In addition, three randomized trials showed no survival benefit associated with IFN-alpha therapy given as adjuvant therapy following complete resection of locally advanced RCC. Small numbers of patients exhibit complete or partial responses to IFN-alpha and/or IL-2, but most patients do not respond and there are few long-term survivors. Clinical investigation of new agents and treatment programs to identify improved antitumor activity against metastases remain the highest priorities in this refractory disease.

Phase II trial of pyrazoloacridine in patients with cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors

Thirteen patients with cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors were treated on a Phase II trial with pyrazoloacridine. Pyrazoloacridine was given intravenously at 600 mg/m2 every three weeks. The median nadir leucocyte count was 2.5 cells/mm3, hemoglobin was 10.8 g/dl, and platelet count was 126,000 cells/m3. None of the thirteen evaluable patients achieved a major response. Pyrazoloacridine is not efficacious in the treatment of cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors.