Chan, Edward M.

7519 Background: Acalabrutinib, a highly selective, potent, covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, has a 24% overall response rate (ORR) as a single agent in R/R DLBCL. Pem targets PD-1, an immune checkpoint that limits anticancer responses. Pem showed responses in patients (pts) with Richter transformation who failed ibrutinib and can augment acalabrutinib activity in vitro. This study assessed acalabrutinib + Pem in R/R DLBCL. Methods: Pts with DLBCL, ≥1 prior chemoimmunotherapy and no prior allogeneic transplant received acalabrutinib 100 mg PO BID until progressive disease (PD) + Pem 200 mg/kg IV Q3W up to 2 y. Germinal center B-cell (GCB) vs non-GCB subtype was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Primary endpoint was safety. Results: Sixty-one pts (30 GCB; 31 non-GCB) were accrued, with a median age (range) of 67 y (30-85) and a median of 3 (1-8) prior therapies; 1 pt had prior autologous transplant. The most common Gr 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (15%) and anemia (11%). Gr 5 AEs were respiratory failure (n=3), sepsis, septic shock and abdominal abscess (n=1 each). All Gr atrial fibrillation was 5% (n=3), and major hemorrhage (≥ Gr 3) was 11% (4 gastrointestinal, 1 pulmonary, 1 epistaxis, 1 hematuria). Gr 3/4 immune-mediated events were elevated alanine aminotransferase (n=4), pneumonitis (n=2) and colitis (n=1). The ORR was 26% (Table) and was similar in GCB (27%) and non-GCB (26%) tumors. The median time on study was 5.2 mo (0.4-30.4+). Acalabrutinib/Pem discontinuations were due to PD (62%/56%) and AEs (15%/26%). As of June 2018, 10 pts remain on study; 6 on active therapy and 7 without PD. Conclusions: Acalabrutinib + Pem was well tolerated, with meaningful activity and some exceptional responders (>24 mo) in these R/R DLBCL pts. Randomized trials of the combination vs single agent are needed. Clinical trial information: NCT02362035. [Table: see text]

3001 Background: p38 MAPK regulates production of cytokines by the tumor microenvironment and its activation enables cancer cells to survive in the presence of oncogenic stress, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. LY2228820 is a selective small-molecule inhibitor of p38 MAPK and preclinical studies demonstrate antitumor activity as a single agent and in combination with standard agents. We performed a phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of LY2228820 and to characterize its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Methods: Dose escalation was performed in a 3+3 design. LY2228820 was taken orally every 12 hours on days 1-14 of a 28-day cycle. Results: 54 patients received either capsules at 8 dose levels (10, 20, 40, 65, 90, 120, 160, and 200mg) or tablets at 5 dose levels (160, 200, 300, 420, and 560mg). For both formulations, Cmax and AUC increased in a dose-dependent manner. LY2228820 inhibited p38 MAPK induced phosphorylation of MAPKAP-K2 in peripheral blood with dose-dependent maximum inhibition from 10 to 70% across the dose range 10-200mg. The most common drug-related adverse events included fatigue, nausea, rash, constipation, vomiting, and pruritus. 1 patient (200mg) had DLT of erythema multiforme (Gr3) and 2 patients (560mg) had DLT of ataxia (Gr3) and dizziness (Gr2), respectively. Although the MTD was 420mg, the frequency of Gr1/2 adverse events (mainly rash, dizziness, and tremor) and observation of clinical activity at lower dose levels led to a recommended dose of 300mg (mean AUC0-24 = 11.7ug-hr/ml at steady state). Early clinical activity has been observed in ovary, breast, and kidney cancers. One patient with metastatic clear cell carcinoma of the kidney refractory to sorafenib, sunitinib, and temsirolimus had confirmed near partial response (29% decrease) after 8 cycles and remains on therapy. 15 patients (28%) achieved best overall response of stable disease, which in 12 patients (22%) was prolonged (≥4 cycles). Conclusions: LY2228820 demonstrates acceptable pharmacokinetics, safety, and early clinical activity as a single agent in advanced cancer. A phase II study for patients with ovary cancer is planned.

Abstract Purpose: p38 MAPK regulates the production of cytokines in the tumor microenvironment and enables cancer cells to survive despite oncogenic stress, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Ralimetinib (LY2228820 dimesylate) is a selective small-molecule inhibitor of p38 MAPK. This phase I study aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ralimetinib, as a single agent and in combination with tamoxifen, when administered orally to patients with advanced cancer. Experimental Design: The study design consisted of a dose-escalation phase performed in a 3+3 design (Part A; n = 54), two dose-confirmation phases [Part B at 420 mg (n = 18) and Part C at 300 mg (n = 8)], and a tumor-specific expansion phase in combination with tamoxifen for women with hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer refractory to aromatase inhibitors (Part D; n = 9). Ralimetinib was administered orally every 12 hours on days 1 to 14 of a 28-day cycle. Results: Eighty-nine patients received ralimetinib at 11 dose levels (10, 20, 40, 65, 90, 120, 160, 200, 300, 420, and 560 mg). Plasma exposure of ralimetinib (Cmax and AUC) increased in a dose-dependent manner. After a single dose, ralimetinib inhibited p38 MAPK–induced phosphorylation of MAPKAP-K2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The most common adverse events, possibly drug-related, included rash, fatigue, nausea, constipation, pruritus, and vomiting. The recommended phase II dose was 300 mg every 12 hours as monotherapy or in combination with tamoxifen. Although no patients achieved a complete response or partial response,19 patients (21.3%) achieved stable disease with a median duration of 3.7 months, with 9 of these patients on study for ≥6 cycles. Conclusions: Ralimetinib demonstrated acceptable safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics for patients with advanced cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(5); 1095–102. ©2015 AACR.