A single arm, prospective multicenter phase II study FOLFIRINOX in patients with advanced and recurrent biliary tract cancer

TPS514

Background: The current standard of care for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) is gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) combination chemotherapy. Despite intensive researches, no trials have proved better overall survival (OS) over GC. Recently, FOLFIRINOX provided a remarkable survival benefit over gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Given the promising results of FOLFIRI and FOLFOX in patients with advanced BTC, FOLFIRINOX can be an attractive option in patients with advanced BTC as well. Methods: This is a single-arm, open-label, multi-center phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FOLFIRINOX in patients with advanced BTC. The major inclusion criteria are as follows; unresectable or recurrent BTC, histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma, no prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy, age of 20-75 years, an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, at least one measurable lesion, adequate hematological, liver and renal function. The major exclusion criteria are as follows; UGT genetic polymorphisms of homozygous UGT1A1*6 or *28 or heterozygous UGT1A1*6 and *28, massive pleural effusion or ascites. FOLFIRINOX consists of oxaliplatin of 85 mg/m2, irinotecan of 180 mg/m2, leucovorin of 400 mg/m2 administered by intravenous infusion and fluorouracil of 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus and of 2,400 mg/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion every 2 weeks. The primary outcome is progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary outcomes are OS, tumor response and safety. PFS and OS will be calculated from the date of enrollment until the date of documentation of disease progression or death in patients without disease progression and the date of death. Tumor response will be evaluated according to the RECIST version 1.1 every 2 months. Safety will be evaluated with the CTCAE version 4.0. A total of 35 patients will be required to provide 75% power to detect an increase in median PFS from 6 months provided by standard care of GC to 10 months in patients receiving FOLFIRINOX, with a 24 months of recruitment and 18 months of follow-up. A phase III trial will be considered when this study shows the lower limit of the 80% confidence interval for PFS is longer than 6 months. Clinical trial information: UMIN000020801.

The phase I study of concurrent chemoradiotherapy using a combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer: Update

462

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) plus nab-paclitaxel (nP) are one of the standard of care for metastatic pancreatic cancer, but it is still controversial about the value in non-metastatic patients. Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to assess the toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with a combination of GEM and nP for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (UR-LAPC). Methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologically or cytologically proven UR-LAPC were enrolled to this trial. The patients received GEM and nP intravenously over 30 min. respectively on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days. Cycles were repeated every 28 days during radiotherapy. Patients were scheduled to receive GEM (mg/msq/week) and nP (mg/msq/day) at six dose levels: 600/50 (level 1), 600/75 (level 2), 600/100 (level 3), 800/100 (level 4), 1,000/100(level 5) and 1,000/125(level 6). Radiation therapy was delivered through four fields as a total dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.5 weeks, and no prophylactic nodal irradiation was given. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 4 hematological toxicity, grade 3 non-hematological toxicity and >14 days delay of treatment. Every patients were evaluated for response with RECIST criteria. Results: Twenty one patients were enrolled in this study between 12/2013 and 05/2015. Treatment was well tolerated; Every 21 patients completed radiotherapy of 50.4 Gy. Our recommended dose was level 3, Gem 600mg/ nP 100mg. Nine patients experienced DLT. The response rate was 67% (CR 0, PR 14, SD 6 and PD 1). Median OS was 23.8 months (95%CI: 17.0, -) and median PFS was 9.0 months (95%CI: 4.8, 11.9). Conclusions: The CRT with a combination of GEM and nP can be delivered almost safely for UR-LAPC. Clinical trial information: UMIN000012254.

Histological complete response in a patient with advanced biliary tract cancer treated by gemcitabine/cisplatin/S-1 combination chemotherapy: A case report

A 68-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with increased levels of biliary enzymes. On imaging, the patient was diagnosed with unresectable intrahepatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) with invasion of the portal vein and para-aortic lymph node metastasis (cT3N1M1, cStage IVb) and underwent endoscopic biliary drainage for the biliary stricture prior to therapy. The patient was subsequently enrolled in a phase III randomized trial (UMIN000014371/NCT02182778) and randomly assigned to receive gemcitabine/cisplatin/S-1 (GCS) combination therapy intravenously at doses of 1,000 or 25 mg/m² on day 1 and orally twice daily at a dose of 80 mg/m² on days 1–7 every 2 weeks. After 12 cycles of scheduled therapy without uncontrollable adverse effects, the patient achieved a good partial response with chemotherapy. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a marked reduction of the primary and metastatic lesions. In addition,¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/CT revealed diminishing abnormal uptake and no macroscopic evidence of factors adversely affecting tumor resectability. Therefore, the patient underwent extended right hepatic lobectomy, lymph node dissection and left hepaticojejunostomy. Finally, histological examination of the resected tissues revealed no residual cancer cells, suggesting a pathologically complete response. We herein present the case of a patient with intrahepatic BTC who achieved a pathologically complete response following combination chemotherapy with GCS.

Randomised phase II trial of irinotecan plus S-1 in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer

Background:

We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of irinotecan/S-1 (IRIS) therapy with S-1 monotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.

Methods:

Patients were treated with oral S-1 (80–120 mg for 14 days every 4 weeks) plus intravenous irinotecan (100 mg m⁻² on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks; IRIS group) or oral S-1 group (80–120 mg daily for 28 days every 6 weeks). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results:

Of 137 patients enrolled, 127 were eligible for efficacy. The median PFS in the IRIS group and S-1 monotherapy group were 3.5 and 1.9 months, respectively (hazard ratio (HR)=0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53–1.11; P=0.18), while the median overall survival (OS) were 6.8 and 5.8 months, respectively (HR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.51–1.09; P=0.13). Response rate was significantly higher in the IRIS group than in the S-1 monotherapy group (18.3% vs 6.0%, P=0.03). Grade 3 or higher neutropenia and anorexia occurred more frequently in the IRIS group.

Conclusions:

There was a trend for better PFS and OS in the IRIS group that could be a treatment arm in the clinical trials for gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer.

Identification of IGFBP2 and IGFBP3 As Compensatory Biomarkers for CA19-9 in Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer Using a Combination of Antibody-Based and LC-MS/MS-Based Proteomics

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumors, and reliable detection of early-stage pancreatic cancer and risk diseases for pancreatic cancer is essential to improve the prognosis. As 260 genes were previously reported to be upregulated in invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of pancreas (IDACP) cells, quantification of the corresponding proteins in plasma might be useful for IDACP diagnosis. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to identify plasma biomarkers for early detection of IDACP by using two proteomics strategies: antibody-based proteomics and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomics. Among the 260 genes, we focused on 130 encoded proteins with known function for which antibodies were available. Twenty-three proteins showed values of the area under the curve (AUC) of more than 0.8 in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) data of IDACP patients compared with healthy controls, and these proteins were selected as biomarker candidates. We then used our high-throughput selected reaction monitoring or multiple reaction monitoring (SRM/MRM) methodology, together with an automated sample preparation system, micro LC and auto analysis system, to quantify these candidate proteins in plasma from healthy controls and IDACP patients on a large scale. The results revealed that insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)2 and IGFBP3 have the ability to discriminate IDACP patients at an early stage from healthy controls, and IGFBP2 appeared to be increased in risk diseases of pancreatic malignancy, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). Furthermore, diagnosis of IDACP using the combination of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), IGFBP2 and IGFBP3 is significantly more effective than CA19-9 alone. This suggests that IGFBP2 and IGFBP3 may serve as compensatory biomarkers for CA19-9. Early diagnosis with this marker combination may improve the prognosis of IDACP patients.

Nuclear Expression of STAT5 in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are noninvasive lesions of the pancreas and classified as intraductal papillary mucinous adenomas (IPMAs), borderline IPMNs, and intraductal papillary mucinous carcinomas (IPMCs). Expression patterns of the specific genes alter during IPMN progression. Based on the evidence that signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 5 play important roles in tumor development, we tested STAT5 expression in IPMAs, borderline IPMNs, and IPMCs by immunohistochemical method. STAT5 frequently expressed in the nuclei of tumor cells of borderline IPMNs or IPMCs but was not observed in those of IPMAs. Nuclear expression of STAT5 protein correlated to the Ki-67 labeling index of the examined IPMNs. STAT5 protein could contribute to the progression and proliferation of IPMNs.

Phase I/II study of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine for chemotherapy-naive Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine have not been clarified in Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. No pharmacokinetic profile of co-administration of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine has been reported. We conducted a phase I/II study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics in Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The patients were administered 125 mg/m(2) nab-paclitaxel followed by 1000 mg/m(2) gemcitabine on day 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks. Treatment was continued until disease progression, unacceptable adverse events, or withdrawal of consent, whichever occurred first. The primary endpoints were tolerability in phase I and overall response rate according to RECIST in phase II.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients were enrolled. At the time of 1-year follow-up analysis since the last patient enrollment, the objective response rate by independent review committee was 58.8% (20 of 34 patients; 95% confidence interval [CI], 40.7-75.4%). The median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 6.5 months (95% CI, 5.1-8.3) and 13.5 months (95% CI, 10.6--not reached), respectively. Main adverse drug reactions of grade 3 or higher were neutropenia (70.6%), leukopenia (55.9%), anemia (14.7%), lymphocytopenia (14.7%), thrombocytopenia (14.7%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (11.8%). There were no treatment-related deaths and no marked differences in pharmacokinetics of combined paclitaxel and gemcitabine in historical comparison between co-administration and monotherapies.

CONCLUSIONS

Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine regimen showed highly promising efficacy with manageable safety profile under careful observation and with appropriate supportive care in Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

JapicCTI-121987.

Evofosfamide (TH-302) in combination with gemcitabine in previously untreated patients with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Primary analysis of the randomized, double-blind phase III MAESTRO study

193

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is invariably diagnosed at an advanced stage and has poor clinical outcome. Hypoxia is a significant prognostic factor in PDAC progression and is associated with poor prognosis. Evofosfamide (Evo, previously known as TH-302) is a hypoxia-activated prodrug of bromo-isophosphoramide mustard (Br-IPM) that is preferentially activated under hypoxic conditions. The addition of Evo to gemcitabine (Gem) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in a randomized phase II trial in advanced PDAC (NCT01144455). Methods: MAESTRO is an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial of Evo/Gem vs Placebo/Gem in patients (pts) with measurable, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic PDAC (NCT01746979). Evo and Gem were administered intravenously at a dose of 340 mg/m2 and 1,000 mg/m2, respectively, on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression. Key eligibility criteria included ECOG PS 0/1 and no neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy <6 months prior to entry. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) with the study designed to detect a HR of 0.75 with 90% power. Secondary endpoints included PFS and objective response rate (ORR), employing a hierarchical testing procedure with a 2-sided α=0.05 at each level. Results: A total of 693 pts were randomized to treatment with Evo/Gem (n=xxx) or Placebo/Gem (n=yyy). Baseline pt characteristics were similar between treatment arms. The OS HR was X.XX (95% CI: Y.YY, Z.ZZ; p=A.AAA). Median OS was AA.A months (m) for Evo/Gem vs BB.B m for Placebo/Gem. Median PFS was C.C m and D.D m, respectively (HR E.EE [95% CI: F.FF, G.GG; p = H.HHH). ORR was JJ.J% with Evo/Gem vs KK.K% with Placebo/Gem (p = L.LLL). Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) occurring in >5% of pts in treated with Evo/Gem were: TBC. Conclusions: The data from the MAESTRO trial will make an important contribution to our understanding of PDAC treatment. Clinical trial information: NCT01746979.

Prospective small bowel mucosal assessment immediately after chemoradiotherapy of unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer using capsule endoscopy: a case series

In this case series, three consecutive patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (ULAPC) underwent capsule endoscopy (CE) before and after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to evaluate duodenal and jejunal mucosa, and to examine the relationship between CE findings and dose distribution. CE after CRT showed duodenitis and proximal jejunitis in all three patients. The most inflamed region was the third part of the duodenum, and in dose distribution, this was the closest region to the center of irradiation. This case series shows that CE can safely diagnose acute duodenitis and proximal jejunitis caused by CRT for ULAPC, and that dose distribution is possible to predict the degree of duodenal and jejunal mucosal injuries.

A randomized phase II study of S-1 plus oral leucovorin versus S-1 monotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced pancreatic cancer

This is the first phase II trial in which adding oral leucovorin (LV) to S-1 (SL) significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) when compared with S-1 monotherapy (S) in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced pancreatic cancer (PC). The significantly better PFS and disease control rate with SL than with S suggest that the antitumor activity of S-1 is enhanced by LV in advanced PC.

Background

We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of adding oral leucovorin (LV) to S-1 when compared with S-1 monotherapy in patients with gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer (PC).

Patients and methods

Gemcitabine-refractory PC patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive S-1 at 40, 50, or 60 mg according to body surface area plus LV 25 mg, both given orally twice daily for 1 week, repeated every 2 weeks (SL group), or S-1 monotherapy at the same dose as the SL group for 4 weeks, repeated every 6 weeks (S-1 group). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Among 142 patients enrolled, 140 were eligible for efficacy assessment (SL: n = 69 and S-1: n = 71). PFS was significantly longer in the SL group than in the S-1 group [median PFS, 3.8 versus 2.7 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.37–0.85; P = 0.003]). The disease control rate was significantly higher in the SL group than in the S-1 group (91% versus 72%; P = 0.004). Overall survival (OS) was similar in both groups (median OS, 6.3 versus 6.1 months; HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.54–1.22; P = 0.463). After adjusting for patient background factors in a multivariate analysis, OS tended to be better in the SL group (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.47–1.07; P = 0.099). Both treatments were well tolerated, although gastrointestinal toxicities were slightly more severe in the SL group.

Conclusion

The addition of LV to S-1 significantly improved PFS in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced PC, and a phase III trial has been initiated in a similar setting.

Clinical trials number

Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center: JapicCTI-111554.

Pharmacokinetic Study of Adjuvant Gemcitabine Therapy for Biliary Tract Cancer following Major Hepatectomy (KHBO1101)

Background

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients who have undergone surgical resection with major hepatectomy cannot tolerate the standard gemcitabine regimen (1,000 mg/m² on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks) due to severe toxicities such as myelosuppression. Our dose-finding study of adjuvant gemcitabine therapy for biliary tract cancer following major hepatectomy determined that the recommended dose is 1,000 mg/m² on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks. Here, we evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of gemcitabine in these subjects.

Methods

We evaluated BTC patients scheduled to undergo surgical resection with major hepatectomy followed by gemcitabine therapy. A pharmacokinetic evaluation of gemcitabine and its main metabolite, 2′,2′-difluorodeoxyuridine (dFdU), was conducted at the initial administration of gemcitabine, which was given by intravenous infusion over 30 min at a dose of 800–1,000 mg/m². Physical examination and adverse events were monitored for 12 weeks.

Results

Thirteen patients were enrolled from August 2011 to January 2013, with 12 ultimately completing the pharmacokinetic study. Eight patients had hilar cholangiocarcinoma, three had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and one had superficial spreading type cholangiocarcinoma. The median interval from surgery to first administration of gemcitabine was 65.5 days (range, 43–83 days). We observed the following toxicities: neutropenia (n = 11, 91.7%), leukopenia (n = 10, 83.3%), thrombocytopenia (n = 6, 50.0%), and infection (n = 5, 41.7%). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 25% (n = 3) of patients. There were differences in clearance of gemcitabine and dFdU between our subjects and the subjects who had not undergone hepatectomy.

Conclusion

Major hepatectomy did not affect the pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine or dFdU.

Trial Registration

UMIN-CTR in (JPRN) UMIN000005109