Phase I study of novel SYK inhibitor TAK-659 (mivavotinib) in combination with R-CHOP for front-line treatment of high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

First-Line Combination of R-CHOP with the PDE4 Inhibitor Roflumilast for High-Risk DLBCL

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common and often fatal malignancy. The standard-of-care immunochemotherapy, R-CHOP, cures only about 60% of DLBCL patients. Improving this cure rate will likely require the effective translation of basic biology knowledge into clinical activities. We previously identified the cyclic-AMP/phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) axis as an important modulator of lymphomagenic processes. We also showed that the FDA-approved PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast can suppress B-cell receptor (BCR) signals, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity and angiogenesis. These data suggested that combining roflumilast with R-CHOP may be beneficial in DLBCL.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center, single-arm, open-label, phase 1 study of roflumilast in combination with the standard of care, R-CHOP (Ro+R-CHOP), in pathologically proven, treatment-naïve, high-risk DLBCL patients.

RESULTS

Ro+R-CHOP was safe, and at a median follow-up time of 44 months, 70% of patients were alive and disease free (median OS not reached, PFS 44% (95% CI, 21-92). In this pilot series, we found that the addition of roflumilast suppressed PI3K activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and VEGF-A secretion in the urine. We also encountered preliminary evidence to suggest that the Ro+R-CHOP combination may be particularly beneficial to patients diagnosed with high-risk genetic subtypes of DLBCL, namely MCD and A53.

CONCLUSIONS

These initial findings suggest that roflumilast may be an alternative agent able to inhibit BCR/PI3K activity and angiogenesis in DLBCL, and that the testing of Ro+R-CHOP in a larger series of genetically characterized tumors is warranted. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03458546.

A phase I study of TAK-659 and paclitaxel in patients with taxane-refractory advanced solid tumors

BACKGROUND

Paclitaxel resistance limits durability of response in patients with initial clinical benefit. Overexpression of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) has been proposed as a possible resistance mechanism. This phase I trial evaluated the safety and preliminary activity of the SYK inhibitor TAK-659 combined with paclitaxel in patients with advanced taxane-refractory solid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with advanced solid tumors and prior progression on taxane-based therapy received intravenous infusion of paclitaxel on days 1, 8, and 15 plus oral TAK-659 daily in 28-day cycles. The dose-escalation phase included six cohorts treated at different dose levels; the dose-expansion phase included patients with ovarian cancer treated at the highest dose level. Toxicity was graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Efficacy was evaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.

RESULTS

Our study included 49 patients. Maximum tolerated dose was not reached, but higher rates of adverse events were observed at higher dose levels. There were no treatment-related deaths. The most common treatment-related adverse events of any grade were increased aspartate aminotransferase (n = 31; 63%), increased alanine aminotransferase (n = 26; 53%), decreased neutrophil count (n = 26; 53%), and decreased white blood cell count (n = 26; 53%). Most adverse events were either grade 1 or 2. In the 44 patients with evaluable disease, 12 (27%) had stable disease as the best overall response, including three patients with prolonged stable disease, and 4 patients (9%) achieved a partial response.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of paclitaxel and TAK-659 showed preliminary activity possibly overcoming resistance to taxane-based therapy as well as a tolerable safety profile in patients with advanced solid tumors.