Efficacy of bevacizumab plus erlotinib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and predictors of outcome: final results of a phase II trial

OBJECTIVE

A phase II study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bevacizumab and erlotinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and to investigate clinical and molecular predictors of outcome.

METHODS

59 patients with advanced HCC received 10 mg/kg i.v. of bevacizumab every 14 days and 150 mg p.o. of erlotinib daily. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) at 16 weeks. Clinical characteristics and plasma biomarkers expression levels were analyzed.

RESULTS

PFS at 16 weeks was 64% (95% CI 51-76): 14 patients achieved partial response (24%), 33 had stable disease (56%), 6 progressed (10%), and 6 were not evaluable (10%). Median overall survival was 13.7 months (95% CI 9.6-19.7), and median PFS was 7.2 months (95% CI 5.6-8.3). Grade 3-4 adverse events included fatigue (30%), diarrhea (17%), hypertension (14%), elevated transaminases (12%), and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (10%). High plasma angiopoietin-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and endothelin-1, and lack of acneiform rash were associated with poor outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of bevacizumab with erlotinib achieved encouraging results in patients with advanced HCC. Current correlatives may help to guide future HCC studies.

Abstract P1-11-05: Phase 2 Study of Neoadjuvant Treatment with Cellular Redox Modulator NOV-002 in Combination with Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Followed by Docetaxel (AC→T) in Patients with Stage II-III HER-2 (-) Breast Cancer

Background: NOV-002 (a formulation of disodium glutathione disulfide) modulates signaling pathways involved in tumor cell proliferation and metastasis and enhances anti-tumor immune responsiveness in tumor models. The addition of NOV-002 to a range of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic regimens has been shown to increase their anti-tumor efficacy in several early phase oncology trials and in animal models. Pathological complete response (pCR) has been demonstrated to be associated with favorable overall survival in primary breast cancer, and neoadjuvant treatment of early breast cancer aims at achieving high rates of pCR. In patients with HER-2 (-) breast cancer pCR rates with anthracycline and taxane combinations have been reported to be approximately 10-20% depending on hormone receptor status. We conducted a clinical trial in HER-2 negative patients (pts) combining daily N0V-002 with AC→T. Methods: Women with newly diagnosed stages II-III HER-2 (-) breast cancer received AC x 4 [60/600 mg/m2] followed by T [100 mg/m2] x 4 every 3 weeks in conjunction with daily N0V-002 [60mg IV day 1 and subcutaneously days 2-21 of each cycle]. The primary endpoint is pCR, defined as: (i) ypN0, and (ii) ypT0 or presence of invasive tumor <10mm.

Sample size (n=46 total patients) was calculated using a Simon 2-stage optimal design assuming a doubling of the historical pCR rate with the addition of NOV-002 to AC→T from a p0 of 0.16 to a p1 of 0.32. If a total of 12 or more patients experience a pCR by the end of the trial, then the treatment regimen will be declared active. The calculation assumes an alpha of 0.05 and 80% power.

Results: A total of 39 pts have been enrolled to date across three study sites, with 31 patients having completed chemotherapy and undergone surgery. One patient dropped out during cycle 1 and was not assessable for response; 5 are currently receiving chemotherapy; and 2 patients have completed all chemotherapy, but have not yet undergone surgery. A total of 292 chemotherapy cycles have been administered, with 92% of all patients being able to complete all 8 cycles of planned chemotherapy. Of the 31 evaluable patients, 12 achieved a pCR (39%), meeting the primary endpoint of the trial. In patients with residual invasive primary breast tumor <10mm and ypN0 (19%) mean residual tumor size was 4.4 mm. Interestingly, of the 17 patients with biopsy-proven axillary involvement, 4 (23%) had no residual invasive tumor in axillary nodes at time of surgery. In 26 patients with estrogen positive breast cancer, which is least sensitive to chemotherapy, 42% achieved a pCR. The most common toxicities included: nausea, sensory neuropathy, emesis, fatigue, and hand-foot syndrome. Conclusions: The addition of NOV-002 has to date resulted in a doubling of previously published pCR rates with AC→T in HER-2 (-) breast cancer patients. Subsequent investigation of NOV-002 in conjunction with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer is warranted. Updated clinical data on all 39 patients as well as immunologic correlative markers will be presented.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-05.

Bortezomib therapy for prostate specific antigen (PSA)-only relapse after definitive local therapy

e16053

Background: We conducted a single arm, phase II trial of single-agent bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, in patients with prostate cancer with biochemical recurrence (PSA relapse) after definitive local therapy. Eligible patients had previous radical prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy (including brachytherapy), and a rising PSA over 1 ng/mL without bone scan evidence of metastasis. The primary goal of this study was to determine the PSA response to single agent bortezomib. Secondary goal was to identify the time to PSA relapse after bortezomib therapy defined as time from nadir to PSA >1ng/ml. Methods: Treatment was composed of bortezomib 1.3mg/m2 IV on days 1,4,8,11 then 10 days off for the first two cycles. The third cycle was comprised of weekly bortezomib therapy for three out of four weeks. Sixteen patients were enrolled and treated at 4 sites with13 evaluable patients. Results: Median baseline PSA was 12.0 ng/ml. 3 of 13 patients (23%) achieved complete responses and 1 a partial response (PR) for a response rate of 30% (95% CI: 0.09 –0.61). Median time to PSA relapse in these 3 patients was 6.0 months. Linear longitudinal modeling was used to compare the rate of increase in PSA prior to treatment versus during treatment with bortezomib and found that treatment significantly decreased the slope of log PSA during treatment, slowing PSA rise (p = 0.003). The major toxicity associated with bortezomib therapy was peripheral neuropathy (7 pts, grade 3 in 3 pts) requiring dose reductions in 3 cases and discontinuation of therapy in 4 patients. Other toxicities included non-neutropenic infections (shingles in 2 pts), 1 small bowel ileus (grade 3), and 1 case of thrombocytopenia (grade 3). Conclusions: In a small number of patients there was a 30% PSA response rate to single agent bortezomib therapy. Further investigations using bortezomib as a single-agent or in combination are warranted in this patient population.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Biological activity of bevacizumab and erlotinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

4522

Purpose: HCC is the fifth most common solid tumor worldwide and the incidence is rising in western countries. Current standard of care for advanced HCC is sorafenib based on median survival (MS) of 10.7 months (mos), median time to progression 5.5 mos. HCC are highly vascular tumors, and due to the prevalence of vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors in HCC, a phase II single-arm open-label trial of B and E in patients (pts) with HCC has been completed. Patients and Methods: Eligibility criteria include biopsy-proven unresectable HCC, Child-Pugh class A or B cirrhosis, bilirubin ≤2.0 mg/dL, transaminase (TA) levels ≤5 times the upper limit of normal, platelets ≥50,000/μL and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) ≤2. Prior allowed therapies are surgery, external radiotherapy, ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and 1 systemic therapy. Pts received B 10 mg/kg every 14 days plus E 150 mg orally daily. Results: The primary endpoint was the percent of pts alive and progression-free after 16 weeks of therapy (PFS16) based on historic median PFS of 3 to 5 mos. Response was evaluated by RECIST. 57 pts have been enrolled and were evaluable for analysis on an intent to treat basis. For all pts, the median age was 62.8 years (range 29–82), 44 (77%) male, 25 (43.9%) Caucasian; 25 (43.9%); ECOG PS of 0, 31 (54.4%) pts PS of 1. 14 pts (24.6%) had prior therapy (6 sorafenib). Of the 57 pts enrolled, 14 (28%) had confirmed partial responses, 31 (62%) had stable disease and 5 (10%) had progressive disease. PFS16, was 73% (95% CI 60%, 84%). The median PFS is 7.9 mos (95% CI 5.7, 9.5) and the OS is 12.8 mos, 95% CI (9.5, 17.9). 6 pts were removed for toxicity; there was one on-study death. The most common grade 1 or 2 toxicities are folliculitis, anorexia, diarrhea, dry skin, and epistaxis. Grade 3 or 4 toxicities were transaminase elevation, diarrhea, fatigue, hyperkalemia, hypertension, proteinuria, pulmonary embolus, leukoencephalopathy and gastrointestinal bleed. Conclusions: The combination of B and E appears to have significant clinically meaningful activity in HCC. A multi-institution randomized phase II trial is planned.

[Table: see text]

Long term disease control outcomes for partial breast irradiation using MammoSite brachytherapy

Abstract #5145

Purpose: To describe 4-year local and ipsilateral breast recurrence-free intervals, overall freedom from disease failure, and disease-specific and overall survivals in a cohort of MammoSite Brachytherapy (MBT) patients with mature follow-up, treated at a single institution over a 6-year period.
 Methods and Materials: An analysis of MBT cases was performed using prospectively collected quality assurance database, departmental chart review, and electronic medical records. Patient-, tumor-, treatment-, and outcome-specific data were extracted and recorded into a research database. Eligible patients were required to have >6 months post-MBT follow-up. Local tumor failure was defined as pathologically-proven recurrence within 2 cm of the resected tumor bed, with all other ipsilateral breast recurrences (excluding axilla or internal mammary nodal failures) defined as ipsilateral breast failures. Any local, ipsilateral breast, nodal, or distant failure was censored for overall freedom from failure.
 Results: From 2004 through 2008, 115 MBT patients have been treated, of which 104 were eligible for the present analysis. Median patient age was 62 years (range 25–86). Primary tumors included ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) for 20 patients, T1a (12), T1b (31), T1c (34), and T2 (7). Lymph nodes were assessed in 94 patients (including all patients with invasive carcinomas), and revealed pN0 disease in 85 patients, pN1(mic) (3), and pN1a (6). Histologies of invasive carcinomas were ductal in 68 patients, lobular (3), mixed ductal/lobular (3), mucinous/colloid (7), medullary (2), and tubular (1). At a median follow up of 45.7 months (range 7.3-71.4), 6 patients have experienced disease recurrence, including 4 within the ipsilateral breast. Three patients with ipsilateral breast recurrence underwent salvage mastectomy, two of whom remain without evidence of disease recurrence at 56 and 14 months, respectively. Seven patients have died, 3 of or with recurrent breast cancer. Estimated 4-year outcomes for the entire cohort were: local tumor control 100%, ipsilateral breast control 97.0% (95% CI, 93.6%-100%), overall freedom from failure 93.8% (88.5%-99.5%), disease specific survival 97.8% (94.8%-100%) and overall survival 92.7% (87.2%-98.6%).
 Conclusions: The present study demonstrates low rates of local and ipsilateral breast disease failure in a well-defined cohort of MBT patients with mature follow-up.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 5145.

The impact of DNA methylation on the identification of recurrent prostate cancer

21086

Purpose: Biochemical (PSA) recurrence of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy remains a major problem. Better biomarkers are needed to identify high and low-risk patients. DNA methylation of promoter regions leads to gene silencing in many cancers. In this study, we assessed the impact of changes in DNA methylation on biochemical recurrence in men with prostate cancer. Methods: We examined the methylation status of fifteen genes using MSP (Methylation Specific PCR) on tissue samples from 151 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer for whom at least five years of follow-up after prostatectomy was available. Results: In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, extra capsular penetration, high Gleason score, and involvement of the lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, or surgical margin were associated with an increased risk of recurrence. In addition, samples with methylation of 2 specific genes involved in cell-cell adhesion and apoptosis were associated with biochemical recurrence with an odds ratio of 5.64 (95% CI=1.47–21.7, p=0.012) compared to samples without methylation of both of these genes. The methylation status of these 2 genes had a higher sensitivity (72.3%; 95% CI=57–84.4%) for detecting recurrences than all the clinico-pathological variables (p<0.02) except extra-capsular penetration (p=0.346). The methylation status of these 2 genes had a similar negative predictive value (79.0%; 95% CI=66.8–88.3%) as the individual clinico-pathological variables examined. Conclusion: DNA Methylation of specific genes is independently associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy even one considers the prognostic clinico-pathologic variables used in the clinic today. Our findings should be validated on another larger group of patients with prostate cancer who have undergone radical prosatetectomies.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Ethical difficulties in clinical practice: experiences of European doctors

BACKGROUND

Ethics support services are growing in Europe to help doctors in dealing with ethical difficulties. Currently, insufficient attention has been focused on the experiences of doctors who have faced ethical difficulties in these countries to provide an evidence base for the development of these services.

METHODS

A survey instrument was adapted to explore the types of ethical dilemma faced by European doctors, how they ranked the difficulty of these dilemmas, their satisfaction with the resolution of a recent ethically difficult case and the types of help they would consider useful. The questionnaire was translated and given to general internists in Norway, Switzerland, Italy and the UK.

RESULTS

Survey respondents (n=656, response rate 43%) ranged in age from 28 to 82 years, and averaged 25 years in practice. Only a minority (17.6%) reported having access to ethics consultation in individual cases. The ethical difficulties most often reported as being encountered were uncertain or impaired decision-making capacity (94.8%), disagreement among caregivers (81.2%) and limitation of treatment at the end of life (79.3%). The frequency of most ethical difficulties varied among countries, as did the type of issue considered most difficult. The types of help most often identified as potentially useful were professional reassurance about the decision being correct (47.5%), someone capable of providing specific advice (41.1%), help in weighing outcomes (36%) and clarification of the issues (35.9%). Few of the types of help expected to be useful varied among countries.

CONCLUSION

Cultural differences may indeed influence how doctors perceive ethical difficulties. The type of help needed, however, did not vary markedly. The general structure of ethics support services would not have to be radically altered to suit cultural variations among the surveyed countries.

A phase II evaluation of imatinib mesylate (G) in stage M0 prostate cancer (PC) patients (pts) on hormonal therapy (HT) with evidence of biochemical relapse

14612

Background: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, G) is a potent inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases and other signaling mediated events. Preclinical models suggest that G inhibits platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and stem cell factor (SCF) which are important for prostate cancer growth. This trial was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of G in PCA pts on HT with stage M0 disease. Methods: Eligible PCA pts included: stage M0 disease with rising PSA levels while on hormonal therapy, no prior chemotherapy. Planned treatment included G 400 mg PO BID given up to a maximum of 12 months. The statistical endpoint for this trial was the% of pts with a ↓ in prostate specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 50% lasting ≥ 4 wks. A 2 stage trial was designed where the study would terminate if the% of pts meeting the endpoint was not convincingly > 30% with 5% chance for error. Pts with a > 50% rise in PSA from baseline were removed from study. Follow-up included monthly toxicities and PSA (specimens frozen/stored until completion of each 3 months of therapy). Results: From 10/1/02–10/11/04, nine pts were enrolled. Pt characteristics included median: age of 67 years (range 52–80), ECOG performance status of 0 (range 0–1), baseline PSA of 29.6 ng/ml (range 2.69–39.52), # prior hormonal manipulations of 3 (1–5). Prior local therapies included: 1 status post (s/p) RP alone, 2 s/p RT alone, 2 s/p neoadjuvant HT plus RP, 2 s/p neoadjuvant HT plus RT. Two pts had no prior local therapy. Two pts had prior salvage RT, 1 had prior palliative RT. Eight of 9 pts evaluable for response and toxicity. One patient never received treatment. None of the pts had a decline 50% decline in PSA level lasting ≥ 4 weeks. Three of 8 pts (38%) had rapid increases in PSA and 4/8 pts (50%) developed metastatic disease after 3 months of therapy. Only one pt completed 12 months of planned therapy. Grade 3/4 toxicities included: fatigue (25%), rash (25%), arthralgias (12.5%), peripheral edema (25%), depression (12.5%), necessitating dose delays and/or discontinuation of G in 4/8 pts (50%). Conclusions: These data suggest significant toxicity and low clinical benefit. Further evaluation of Gleevec in this pt population is not warranted.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Phase II study of preemptive high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for lymphoma based on early FDG-PET scanning

7561

Background: [18F] FDG-PET after only 2–4 cycles of initial chemotherapy is highly prognostic in patients (pts) with aggressive lymphoma, with reported relapse rates of 71–100% if PET demonstrates residual viable disease. We hypothesized that midtreatment PET could optimize pt selection for preemptive transplantation through early risk stratification. Methods: A phase II, single center trial was activated in 2/2004. Pts with newly diagnosed aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma underwent PET-CT on days 11–20 of cycle 2 or 3 of (R)CHOP. Regardless of IPI, pts whose PET was considered positive for macroscopic residual lymphoma received 2 cycles of (R)ESHAP or (R)ICE, followed by autologous transplantation (busulfan-cyclophosphamide conditioning). Pts with negative interim PET completed standard therapy. We aimed to transplant ≥20 pts to detect a ≥25% absolute improvement in 2-year event-free survival (EFS) to 45%, versus 20% in a historical cohort of PET positive pts who did not receive early transplantation (85% power and two-sided alpha of 0.05). An ongoing imaging analysis of gradations of FDG uptake, scored as 0 to 4+, will be correlated with outcome. Results: As of 1/6/2006, 41 evaluable pts have been accrued, 39 with large B-cell lymphoma (8 primary mediastinal), 1 follicular large cell, 1 peripheral T-cell. Median age at diagnosis was 50 (20–78); 26 pts were stage III or IV. Twenty-five pts (61%) had a positive midtreatment PET. Of 26 pts with IPI of 0–2, 17 (65%) had positive PET; of 13 pts with IPI of ≥3, 8 (62%) were positive; 2 pts had undetermined IPI. The actuarial 1-year EFS from the time of midtreatment imaging is 78% for the group as a whole, 69% for PET positive pts, 81% for PET negative pts. Twenty pts have completed transplant, and 2 were ineligible because of early disease progression. Two transplant recipients have relapsed. Treatment-related mortality has been limited to 1 death from veno-occlusive disease. Conversion from PET positive to negative at initial post-transplant assessment occurred in 68%. The actuarial 1-year EFS after transplantation at 10 month median follow-up is 82%. Conclusions: Immediate intensification of therapy for poor-risk pts identified by midtreatment PET has been feasible and so far very promising.

[Table: see text]

Pharmacodynamic-guided, modified continuous reassessment method (mCRM)-based, dose finding study of rapamycin in adult patients with solid tumors

3020

Background: Pharmacodynamic (PD) studies, using either surrogate or tumor tissues, are frequently incorporated in Phase I trials. However, it has been less common to base dose selection, the primary endpoint in Phase I trials, in PD effects. We conducted a PD-based dose selection study with rapamycin (Rap). Methods: We used the modified continuous reassessment method (mCRM), a computer-based dose escalation algorithm, and adapted the logit function from its classic toxicity-based input data to a PD-based input. We coupled this design to a Phase I trial of Rap with 2 parts: a dose estimation phase where PD endpoints are measured in normal tissues and a confirmation phase where tumor tissue is assessed. Patients (pts) had solid tumors refractory to standard therapy. Rap was given starting at 2 mg/day continuously in 3-pt cohorts. The PD endpoint was pP70S6K in skin and tumor. Biopsies were done on days 0 and 28 of cycle 1, and a PD effect was defined as ≥ 80% inhibition from baseline. The first 2 dose levels (2 and 3 mgs) were evaluated before implementing the mCRM. The data was then fed to the computer that based on the PD effect calculated the next dose level. The mCRM was set so escalation continued until a dose level elicited a PD effect and the mCRM assigned the same dose to 8 consecutive pts, at which point the effect of that dose will be confirmed in tumor biopsies. Other correlates were PET-CT and pharmacokinetics. Results: Ten pts were enrolled at doses of 2 mg (n = 4), 3 mg (n = 3) and 6 mg (n = 3). Toxicity was anemia (4 G1, 1 G2), leucopenia (1 G1, 2 G2), low ANC (2 G2), hyperglycemia (2 G1, 1 G2), hyperlipidemia (4 G1), and mucositis (1 G1, 1 G2). PD responses were seen in 2 and 1 pt at 2 and 3 mg dose levels. Input of data to the mCRM selected a dose of 6 mg for the third cohort, where PD effect was seen in 1 pt, and thus a fourth dose around 9 mg will be tested. No responses by RECIST occurred, but 2 pts had a response by PET. The PK was consistent with prior data (t1/2 24.6 ± 10.2 h, CL 31.4 ± 12.0 L/h, vol of distribution 235 ± 65 L), and exposure increased with dose. Steady-state concentration were in the 5–20 nM range. Conclusions: mCRM-based dose escalation based on real-time PD assessment is feasible and permits the exploitation of PD effects for dose selection in a rational manner.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.