N., Kim

295 Background: Patients (pts) with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) progressing after first-line chemotherapy have limited treatment options. Ramucirumab (Ram), a human VEGFR2-targeted mAb, has demonstrated clinical activity in several solid tumors. Preclinical testing supports a role for Ram-taxane combinations in UC. Study JCDC is an open-label, multicenter, randomized phase 2 study of docetaxel (Doc) alone or combined with Ram or icrucumab (Icr) in locally advanced or metastatic platinum-resistant UC. We report on a planned interim analysis for Doc + Ram vs Doc; Icr results will be reported later. Methods: Eligible pts with advanced UC and ECOG PS 0-1 who relapsed ≤ 1 year from a platinum-regimen were randomized to receive Doc 75 mg/m2IV alone or with Ram 10mg/kg IV on Day 1 of repeating 21-day cycles. A sample size of 46 pts per arm enabled 71% power to demonstrate statistical significance of 4.5 mo (Doc + Ram) vs 3 mo (Doc) at a 1-sided α= 0.1. Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint is investigator-assessed PFS with RECIST v1.1, analyzed by K-M methods. A planned interim analysis was performed after 75% of the PFS events. Results: 44 pts received Doc and 46 received Doc + Ram. Study arms were well matched with a mean age of 67 yr (29-84), and a 4:1 male to female ratio. 58.7% (Doc + Ram) vs 61.4% (Doc) had ECOG PS 1. 58.7% (Doc + Ram) vs 52.3% (Doc) had visceral metastases. Doc + Ram reduced the risk of disease progression, stratified HR = 0.388; 95% CI: 0.222, 0.677; log-rank p = 0.0005, improving median PFS (5.1 vs 2.4 mo). The ORR for Doc + Ram was 19.6 vs 4.5% for Doc (p= 0.0502), and the disease control rate was 67.4 vs 43.2%. OS maturity is pending. The most common adverse events in the Doc + Ram arm (all grades) were fatigue (80.4% Doc + Ram v 75.0% Doc), decreased appetite (54.3 v 43.2%), nausea (54.3 v 25.0%), and neuropathy (50.0 v 38.6%). Grade (G) ≥3 febrile neutropenia (19.6 v 11.4%), pneumonia (13 v 9.1%), hypertension (4.3 v 0%) were higher with Doc + Ram. One G3 hematuria was observed in each arm. Conclusions: Results support a statistically significant improvement in PFS for Doc + Ram in second-line UC. Final results are expected in 2015. Clinical trial information: NCT01282463.

Abstract Serum levels of miR-194 have been reported to predict prostate cancer recurrence after surgery, but its functional contributions to this disease have not been studied. Herein, it is demonstrated that miR-194 is a driver of prostate cancer metastasis. Prostate tissue levels of miR-194 were associated with disease aggressiveness and poor outcome. Ectopic delivery of miR-194 stimulated migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in human prostate cancer cell lines, and stable overexpression of miR-194 enhanced metastasis of intravenous and intraprostatic tumor xenografts. Conversely, inhibition of miR-194 activity suppressed the invasive capacity of prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigations identified the ubiquitin ligase suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) as a direct, biologically relevant target of miR-194 in prostate cancer. Low levels of SOCS2 correlated strongly with disease recurrence and metastasis in clinical specimens. SOCS2 downregulation recapitulated miR-194–driven metastatic phenotypes, whereas overexpression of a nontargetable SOCS2 reduced miR-194–stimulated invasion. Targeting of SOCS2 by miR-194 resulted in derepression of the oncogenic kinases FLT3 and JAK2, leading to enhanced ERK and STAT3 signaling. Pharmacologic inhibition of ERK and JAK/STAT pathways reversed miR-194–driven phenotypes. The GATA2 transcription factor was identified as an upstream regulator of miR-194, consistent with a strong concordance between GATA2 and miR-194 levels in clinical specimens. Overall, these results offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of metastatic progression in prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 77(4); 1021–34. ©2016 AACR.

Purpose This trial assessed the efficacy and safety of docetaxel monotherapy or docetaxel in combination with ramucirumab (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 antibody) or icrucumab (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 antibody) after progression during or within 12 months of platinum-based regimens for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on day 1 of a 3-week cycle (arm A), docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV plus ramucirumab 10 mg/kg IV on day 1 of a 3-week cycle (arm B), or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV on day 1 plus icrucumab 12 mg/kg IV on days 1 and 8 of a 3-week cycle (arm C). Treatment continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Results A total of 140 patients were randomly assigned and treated in arms A (n = 45), B (n = 46), or C (n = 49). PFS was significantly longer in arm B compared with arm A (median, 5.4 months; 95% CI, 3.1 to 6.9 months v 2.8 months; 95% CI, 1.9 to 3.6 months; stratified hazard ratio, 0.389; 95% CI, 0.235 to 0.643; P = .0002). Arm C did not experience improved PFS compared with arm A (1.6 months; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.9; stratified hazard ratio, 0.863; 95% CI, 0.550 to 1.357; P = .5053). The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events (arms A, B, and C) were neutropenia (36%, 33%, and 39%), fatigue (13%, 30%, and 20%), febrile neutropenia (13%, 17%, and 6.1%), and anemia (6.7%, 13%, and 14%, respectively). Conclusion The addition of ramucirumab to docetaxel met the prespecified efficacy end point for prolonging PFS in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma receiving second-line treatment and warrants further investigation in the phase III setting.