Wee1 kinase inhibitor adavosertib with radiation in newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: A Children's Oncology Group phase I consortium study

Background

Children with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) have a dismal prognosis. Adavosertib (AZD1775) is an orally available, blood-brain barrier penetrant, Wee1 kinase inhibitor. Preclinical efficacy against DIPG is heightened by radiation induced replication stress.

Methods

Using a rolling six design, 7 adavosertib dose levels (DLs) (50 mg/m2 alternating weeks, 50 mg/m2 alternating with weeks of every other day, 50 mg/m2, then 95, 130, 160, 200 mg/m2) were assessed. Adavosertib was only given on days of cranial radiation therapy (CRT).The duration of CRT (54 Gy over 30 fractions; 6 weeks) constituted the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) period. Endpoints included tolerability, pharmacokinetics, overall survival (OS) and peripheral blood γH2AX levels as a marker of DNA damage.

Results

A total of 46 eligible patients with newly diagnosed DIPG [median (range) age 6 (3-21) years; 52% female] were enrolled. The recommend phase 2 dose (RP2D) of adavosertib was 200 mg/m2/d during days of CRT. Dose limiting toxicity included ALT elevation (n = 1, DL4) and neutropenia (n = 1, DL7). The mean Tmax, T1/2 and Clp on Day 1 were 2 h, 4.4 h, and 45.2 L/hr/m2, respectively. Modest accumulation of adavosertib was observed comparing day 5 versus day 1 AUC0-8h (accumulation ratio = 1.6). OS was 11.1 months (95% CI: 9.4, 12.5) and did not differ from historical control.

Conclusion

Adavosertib in combination with CRT is well tolerated in children with newly diagnosed DIPG, however, compared to historical controls, did not improve OS. These results can inform future trial design in children with high-risk cancer.

Experimental Metabolic Syndrome Model Associated with Mechanical and Structural Degenerative Changes of the Aortic Valve

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that an experimental high fat (HF) animal with metabolic syndrome results in structural degeneration of the aortic valve. Domestic pigs were divided (n = 12) and administered either a normal or HF diet. After 16-weeks, the HF diet group had increased weight (p ≤ 0.05), total cholesterol (p ≤ 0.05), and systolic and diastolic pressure (p ≤ 0.05). The aortic valve extracellular matrix showed loss of elastin fibers and increased collagen deposition in the HF diet group. Collagen was quantified with ELISA, which showed an increased concentration of collagen types 1 and 3 (p ≤ 0.05). In the HF diet group, the initial stages of microcalcification were observed. Uniaxial mechanical testing of aortic cusps revealed that the HF diet group expressed a decrease in ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus compared to the control diet group (p ≤ 0.05). Western blot and immunohistochemistry indicated the presence of proteins: lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, osteopontin, and osteocalcin with an increased expression in the HF diet group. The current study demonstrates that experimental metabolic syndrome induced by a 16-week HF diet was associated with a statistically significant alteration to the physical architecture of the aortic valve.

The morbidity and utility of periaortic radiotherapy in cervical carcinoma

From 1971 through 1981, 81 women received 4350 to 5075 rad to the periaortic lymph nodes as part of their primary management for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. While two patients developed chronic small bowel damage, only one required surgical intervention. Five-year disease-free survival was 40%. Approximately one-third of the first recurrences were within the pelvic and periaortic radiation portals, with the remainder in the lungs, liver, bones, abdomen, and supraclavicular lymph nodes. Radiation dose and volume guidelines are presented in order to minimize enteric morbidity.

Sequential surgery, radiation therapy, and Alkeran in the management of epithelial carcinoma of the ovary

In 1970, a prospective multidisciplinary protocol was initiated for Stages I through III obviously malignant ovarian epithelial carcinomas. The planned sequential therapy included 1) surgery, 2) radiotherapy (2000 rads to whole abdomen, 3000 rad boost to pelvis), 3) chemotherapy (ten cycles of Alkeran), and 4) a "second-look" surgical procedure. Ninety-six patients were enrolled in this program through 1976. Median follow-up of the survivors was greater than 44 months. Adjusted disease-free survival was 90 percent for Stage I, 64 percent for Stages IIB--IIC, and 16 percent for Stage III. Stage III patients with no palpable tumor at time of initiation of radiation therapy had a survival of 37 percent. No Stage III patient with palpable tumor at time of initiation of radiation therapy was cured. Eight percent of patients developed small bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention. Three percent of all patients died of hematologic causes; of the 30-month-plus survivors, 5 percent (2 of 37) developed acute myelogenous leukemia. Cure and toxicity will be examined in detail and compared with the literature.

A comparison of medroxyprogesterone serum concentrations by the oral or intramuscular route in patients with persistent or recurrent endometrial carcinoma

A randomized study, comparing serum medroxyprogesterone concentrations by the oral and intramuscular routes, was performed on 22 patients with persistent or recurrent endometrial adenocarcinoma by six institutions of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. The oral group (11 patients) received cutaneous Provera (medroxyprogesterone), 50 mg three times a day, and the intramuscular group (11 patients) received 300 mg of Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone) weekly for at least 2 months. Serum levels were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours after administration and every day for the first week and weekly thereafter for 8 weeks. The mean serum levels (nanograms per milliliter) of medroxyprogesterone in the oral group were consistently higher than the corresponding mean levels of the intramuscular group. In addition, from the first through eighth weeks, the measurements (medians) for the oral group were statistically higher than those for the intramuscular group. Although the study indicates a significant increase in serum levels achieved by the oral route, the follow-up period of patients under study is too early to evaluate its clinical effectiveness as compared to the intramuscular route.

Postpubertal evaluation of gonadal function following cyclophosphamide therapy before and during puberty

Evaluation of pituitary gonadotropins, gonadal steroids, spermatogenesis, and menstrual function was undertaken in 32 patients (19 males and 13 females) treated with cyclophosphamide because of nephrotic syndrome. Patients were treated before, during, or after puberty. Evaluations took place after or in very late puberty. Spermatogenic dysfunction occurred in six of 15 boys who received the entire course before and during puberty and was probably dose related. Menstrual dysfunction did not occur following treatment of six prepubertal or pubertal girls, though only low total doses were used. Therapy after puberty was associated with spermatogenic dysfunction in all four boys, but did not cause menstrual dysfunction in any of seven women. Tentative guidelines are suggested that many minimize gonadal toxicity when cyclophosphamide is used in children with nephrotic syndrome. Factors of particular importance in the interpretation of gonadotropin determinations and of sperm counts in young cyclophosphamide-treated patients are discussed.