3637 Background: In the CORRECT phase III trial, the multikinase inhibitor REG demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival vs placebo (P) in patients with mCRC whose disease had progressed on other standard therapies. The most frequent grade 3 AEs were hand–foot skin reaction (HFSR), fatigue, diarrhea, hypertension, and rash. We examined when these AEs first occurred and what impact they had on REG dosing. Methods: Adults with mCRC progressing after all standard therapies were randomized to receive REG 160 mg (n=505) or P (n=255) orally once daily for the first 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle. AEs were managed with dose modifications (reduction and interruption) according to the protocol. Results: The safety population comprised 753 pts (REG n=500, P n=253). The mean ± SD treatment duration was 12.1 ± 9.7 weeks for REG and 7.8 ± 5.2 weeks for P. Treatment-emergent AEs occurred in 99.6% of REG pts and 96.8% of P pts. AEs occurring in ≥10% more REG than P pts were fatigue, HFSR, anorexia, diarrhea, weight loss, voice changes, hypertension, rash/desquamation, oral mucositis, fever, hyperbilirubinemia, and low platelet count. The incidence of grade ≥3 HFSR, fatigue, hypertension, and rash/desquamation typically peaked in cycle 1 and tapered to a relatively stable lower incidence over later cycles, while the incidence of diarrhea remained relatively constant throughout the study; median time to first occurrence and worst grade of these AEs is shown in the table. AEs led to dose modifications in 66.6% of REG pts and 22.5% of P pts. Conclusions: The most common AEs in the REG group typically occurred early during treatment. Close early monitoring of AEs and proper management by dose modification is recommended. Clinical trial information: NCT01103323. [Table: see text]
Analysis of plasma protein biomarkers from the CORRECT phase III study of regorafenib for metastatic colorectal cancer.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 11, 2020 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 3514-3514
3514 Background: In the CORRECT phase III trial, the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib (REG) demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) vs placebo (Pla) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) whose disease had progressed on other standard therapies. An exploratory biomarker subanalysis was conducted to identify protein biomarkers with potential predictive or prognostic value. Methods: Fifteen proteins of interest, many of which are involved in angiogenesis, were quantified by multiplex immunoassay or ELISA in baseline plasma samples collected at study entry from 80% (611/760) of patients. Potential predictive and prognostic effects were evaluated. Results: The biomarker subpopulation was representative of the overall study population in terms of OS and PFS. Using OS as the clinical endpoint, Tie-1 was the only protein whose level demonstrated significant correlation with efficacy (low protein group: REG/Pla, HR 0.87; high protein group, HR 0.56; interaction, p=0.035). Using PFS as the clinical endpoint, von Willebrand factor (VWF) was the only protein whose level demonstrated significant correlation with efficacy (low protein group: REG/Pla, HR 0.39; high protein group, HR 0.60; interaction, p=0.02). Following correction for multiple testing, neither Tie-1 nor VWF data retained statistical significance. Baseline levels of IL-8 and placental growth factor (PlGF) were found to have prognostic value for OS (IL-8: high/low protein levels, HR 3.48, p<0.001; PIGF: HR 1.81, p=0.002). IL-8 was also prognostic for PFS (high/low protein levels: HR 1.63, p<0.001). Conclusions: None of the plasma proteins examined showed significant predictive value for REG efficacy after multiple testing correction. The association between baseline levels of Tie-1/VWF and REG efficacy may be a hypothesis to be tested in further trials. Clinical trial information: NCT01103323.
Regorafenib (REG) in progressive metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): Analysis of age subgroups in the phase III CORRECT trial.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 11, 2020 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 3636-3636
3636 Background: In the CORRECT phase III trial, the multikinase inhibitor REG demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival vs placebo (Pla) in patients (pts) with mCRC whose disease progressed on other standard therapies. The most frequent REG-related grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) of interest were hand–foot skin reaction (HFSR), fatigue, diarrhea, hypertension, and rash/desquamation. We explored whether the impact of REG in pts aged ≥65 years differed from that in younger patients. Methods: Pts with mCRC progressing following all other available therapies were randomized 2:1 to receive REG 160 mg once daily (n=505) or Pla (n=255) for the first 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle. The dose could be modified to manage AEs. The primary endpoint was OS. We report efficacy, safety, and dosing data from REG recipients by age. Results: The REG treatment group included 309 pts <65 years (307 evaluable for safety) and 196 pts ≥65 years (193 evaluable for safety). The OS hazard ratio (REG/Pla) was 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–0.91) in pts <65 years and 0.86 (95% CI 0.61–1.19) in pts ≥65 years (interaction p-value = 0.405). Median OS was 6.7 vs 5 months for REG vs Pla in pts <65 years, and 6.0 vs 5.6 months, respectively, in pts ≥65 years. Most pts experienced drug-related AEs (<65 years: 93.8%; ≥65 years: 91.7%). The rates of grade ≥3 REG-related AEs of interest and dose modifications are shown in the Table. In pts <65 years vs ≥65 years, median (interquartile range [IQR]) duration of REG was 7.6 weeks (6.6–15.4) vs 7.1 weeks (5.1–17.2), median (IQR) daily REG dose was 160.0 mg (134.6–160.0) vs 160.0 mg (137.5–160.0), and median (IQR) proportion of planned REG dose was 83.3% (65.7–100.0) vs 78.6% (66.7–100.0), respectively. Conclusions: In the CORRECT trial, REG demonstrated an OS benefit in pts <65 years and ≥65 years. Safety and tolerability of REG appeared to be similar in both age subgroups. Clinical trial information: NCT01103323. [Table: see text]
Phase III CORRECT trial of regorafenib in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 11, 2020 | Volume: 30 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 3502-3502
3502 Background: Regorafenib (REG) is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor. The CORRECT trial was conducted to evaluate REG in patients (pts) with mCRC who had progressed after all approved standard therapies. Methods: Enrollment criteria included documented mCRC and progression during or ≤3 months after last standard therapy. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive best supportive care plus either REG (160 mg od po, 3 wks on/1 wk off) or placebo (PL). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate, disease control rate, safety and quality of life (QoL). Efficacy analyses across prespecified subgroups were evaluated using univariate Cox regression. Results: 760 pts were randomized (REG: 505; PL: 255). The OS primary endpoint was met at a preplanned interim analysis. OS and PFS were significantly improved in REG arm compared to PL arm: hazard ratio (HR) for OS 0.77 (95% CI 0.64-0.94, 1-sided p=0.0052), median OS 6.4 vs 5.0 mos; HR for PFS 0.49 (95% CI 0.42-0.58, 1-sided p<0.000001), median PFS 1.9 vs 1.7 mos. Comparable OS and PFS benefits were observed in exploratory subgroup analyses by region, age, time from diagnosis of mCRC to randomization, prior lines of treatment, and KRAS status (shown in table). The most common grade 3+ AEs related to REG were hand-foot skin reaction (16.6%), fatigue (9.6%), hypertension (7.2%), diarrhea (7.2%) and rash/desquamation (5.8%). QoL data will be presented. Conclusions: REG demonstrated statistically significant improvement in OS and PFS over PL, as well as comparable efficacy benefits across pt subgroups analyzed. [Table: see text]
FIGHT-302: Phase III study of first-line (1L) pemigatinib (PEM) versus gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin (CIS) for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) with FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 4, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 4_suppl | Pages: TPS592-TPS592
TPS592 Background: For advanced CCA, standard of care 1L systemic treatment is GEM + CIS. Genetic alterations in intrahepatic CCA provide potential therapeutic targets. Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 2 gene rearrangements driving CCA tumorigenesis were identified almost exclusively in intrahepatic CCA patients (pts) (incidence, 10–16%). In phase 2, PEM (INCB054828), a selective, potent, oral FGFR1–3 inhibitor elicited an objective response rate (ORR) of 35.5% and median progression-free survival (PFS) of 6.9 months (mo) in previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic CCA with FGFR2 rearrangements (NCT02924376). FIGHT-302, a randomized, open-label, phase 3 study will evaluate efficacy and safety of 1L PEM vs GEM + CIS in unresectable/metastatic CCA with FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements (NCT03656536). Methods: Eligible pts are adults with confirmed unresectable/metastatic CCA; no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease < 6 mo before enrollment; radiographically measurable/evaluable disease (per RECIST v1.1); ECOG PS ≤1; documented FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements. Exclusions include clinically significant corneal or retinal disorder; history of calcium and phosphate homeostasis disorder or systemic mineral imbalance with ectopic soft tissue calcification; untreated CNS metastases or history of uncontrolled seizures. Pts will be randomized (1:1; stratified by region and tumor burden) to PEM 13.5 mg QD on a 21-day (d) cycle or GEM (1000 mg/m2) + CIS (25 mg/m2) on D1 and D8 of 21-d cycles (max 8). Crossover to PEM allowed after confirmed progression. PEM titration to 18 mg from cycle 2 allowed for pts without hyperphosphatemia (serum phosphate > 5.5 mg/dL) and Grade ≥2 treatment-related adverse events during cycle 1. Hyperphosphatemia will be managed with diet modifications, phosphate binders, diuretics, or dose adjustments. Treatment will continue until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint is PFS (by independent review). Secondary endpoints are ORR, overall survival, duration of response, disease control rate, safety, and quality of life. Four pts (target N = 432) are enrolled as of Sep 25, 2019. Clinical trial information: NCT03656536.
How to improve toxicity evaluation in clinical trials? Testing new metrics from irinotecan or oxaliplatin-based treatments in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): A pooled analysis from 2,349 patients in ARCAD database.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 4, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 4_suppl | Pages: 89-89
89 Background: Monitoring of adverse events (AE) is crucial in clinical trials. Maximum grade per patient (pt) is commonly used but better metrics are needed to aid describing and comparing AE profiles. Methods: We developed and evaluated 2 longitudinal AE summary metrics. 1) Onset time of max grade refers to whether a pt has max grade within pre-specified timeframes for an AE, e.g. onset can be defined as “early” (max grade before the 6th cy) or “late” (≥ 6th cy). 2) Adverse effect load (AEL) is a longitudinal score of worst grade possible excluding death over the entire treatment for an AE. Higher AEL means worst overall experience of AE. We applied these metrics to real trial data. Pts were from 6 mCRC trials included in ARCAD database and received Irinotecan-based (n = 1,119) or Oxaliplatin-based (n = 1,230) treatments that did not include biologicals. AEs were diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, neutropenia/leukopenia, and neuropathy. We used linear model to AEL and logistic model to the other metrics, adjusting for age, sex, and number of metastases. Results: For nausea/vomiting, pts in Oxali-based chemo showed a higher AEL compared to patients in Iri-based (mean (M) [standard deviation (SD)] = 0.04 [0.06] vs. 0.02 [0.04]; p < 0.001) even though less pts had gr ≥ 3 (10.4% vs. 16.2%, resp.; p < 0.001), suggesting a lower-grade but persistent nausea/vomiting for Oxali-based. Among pts with diarrhea max gr 2, pts in Iri-based had higher AEL than with Oxali-based (M [SD] = 0.11 [0.11] vs. 0.08 [0.09]; p = 0.008), indicating more persistent diarrhea for Iri-based trts even among pts with same max grade. For neutropenia/leukopenia, pts in Oxali-based trts experienced higher AEL (M [SD] = 0.09 [0.13] vs. 0.05 [0.11], p < 0.001), and more pts in Oxali-based trts had gr ≥ 3 (70.1% vs. 64.4%; p = 0.002), suggesting that pts in Oxali-based trts experienced worst overall and max grade neutropenia/leukopenia compared to pts in Iri-based. Conclusions: To improve toxicity assessment in clinical trials, AEL and onset time of max grade are new measures that describe the evolution of adverse events over time. Further validation is warranted.
Prognostic and predictive impact of primary tumor sidedness in first-line trials for advanced colorectal cancer: An analysis of 7,828 patients in the ARCAD database.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | February 4, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 4_suppl | Pages: 188-188
188 Background: Unplanned subgroup analyses from several studies have suggested primary tumor sidedness (PTS) as a potential prognostic and predictive parameter in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We aimed to investigate the prognostic and predictive impact of PTS on outcomes. Methods: PTS data of 7,828 mCRC patients (pts) from 10 first-line randomized trials in the ARCAD database were pooled. PTS was defined as right-sided (RS) or left-sided (LS) if tumor arose from the cecum to the hepatic flexure or from the splenic flexure to the rectum, respectively; transverse colon cancers were not included. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox models adjusting for age, sex, performance status (PS), prior radiation/chemo, and stratified by treatment arm. Predictive value was tested by interaction term between PTS and treatment (anti-EGFR plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone). Results: Compared to RS pts (2407, 31%), LS pts (5421, 69%) had better OS (median: 21.6 v 16.8 mos; HRadj: 0.73, 95% CI 0.69-0.78, P < .001) and PFS (median 8.4 v 7.2 mos; HRadj: 0.81, 95% CI 0.76-0.86, P < .001). Results were consistent among subgroups defined by age, sex, PS, metastatic sites and chemo backbone (irinotecan- and oxaliplatin-based). Interaction between PTS and KRAS mutation was significant (Pinteraction< .001): LS is associated with better prognosis only among KRAS wild-type (wt) (HRadj: OS 0.62, 95% CI, 0.55-0.70; PFS 0.71, 95% CI 0.63-0.80), but not among KRAS mutated pts. Among KRAS wt pts, survival benefit from anti-EGFR was observed for LS, but not for RS (table). Conclusions: The prognostic value of PTS is restricted to the KRAS wt population. PTS is predictive of anti-EGFR efficacy, with a significant improvement of survival for LS mCRC pts. These results suggest treatment stratification in mCRC studies by both PTS and KRAS status. [Table: see text]
Evaluation of Continuous Tumor-Size–Based End Points as Surrogates for Overall Survival in Randomized Clinical Trials in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
JAMA Network Open | September 20, 2019 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 9 | Pages: e1911750
Abstract Background: CXCL12 is a negative prognostic factor for head & neck (HNSCC) and pancreatic (PDCA) cancers, among others. Its receptor, CXCR4, is a negative prognostic factor in lymphoma/leukemia. CXCR4 signals in part through RAS species, and the expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 appears to be itself regulated by farnesylated proteins. We provide evidence that targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway with the farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib translates to long term clinical benefit. Methods: Next generation sequencing and analyses of gene expression were conducted in tumor samples from squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated in tipifarnib trials (studies KO-TIP-001, KO-TIP-002, CTEP20), and complemented with analyses of related tumor gene expression databases in TCGA and GEO. Results: Activating HRAS mutations in HNSCC and KRAS mutations in PDCA were mutually exclusive with CXCL12 expression, consistent with a role for RAS downstream from CXCR4. Contrary to KRAS and NRAS, HRAS is exclusively farnesylated, and treatment with tipifarnib in patients (pts) with advanced HNSCC tumors with a HRAS mutation variant allele frequency (VAF) >20% resulted in 8 partial responses (PR) in 14 pts. Two complete responses (CR), 3 PRs and 4 disease stabilizations (90% clinical benefit) were observed in 10 pts with relapsed/refractory peripheral T cell lymphoma overexpressing CXCL12. Decreases in plasma CXCL12 levels during treatment were observed. Seven CRs were observed in 11 elderly/unfit AML pts overexpressing CXCL12 in bone marrow (NRAS wt or unknown). Ex vivo treatment of bone marrow stromal cell cultures with tipifarnib decreased secretion of CXCL12. Finally, based on the reported relationship between CXCL12 expression and the suppression of pain in PDCA, we conducted a retrospective analysis of a phase 3 study of gemcitabine plus tipifarnib (GT) in advanced PDCA. Notably, absence of abdominal pain at study entry was associated with higher median survival in the GT arm (no pain, pain): 10.2 vs 5.9 months, HR=0.52, p<0.0001, whereas no significant effect was observed in the control arm: 6.1 vs 6.1 months. PDCA with <7% VAF of KRAS mutation (~30% PDCA pts) overexpressed CXCL12. Conclusions: The mechanism of action of tipifarnib appears to involve targeting the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway and demonstrates a crucial association with the tumor microenvironment and objective clinical responses. Citation Format: Antonio Gualberto, Catherine Scholz, Vishnu Mishra, Matthew R. Janes, Linda Kessler, Eric Van Cutsem, Alan L. Ho, Thomas Witzig. Mechanism of action of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor, tipifarnib, and its clinical applications [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT191.
Evaluating gender as a predictive marker for response to bevacizuamb (Bev) in metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC): Pooled analysis of 3369 patients (pts) in the ARCAD database.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 27, 2019 | Volume: 37 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 3539-3539
3539 Background: Previous studies suggest a possible gender-specific response to Bev in mCRC, showing a benefit in males, while the effect in females is less significant. Therefore, we evaluated response to Bev according to gender. Methods: Data from 3369 mCRC patients enrolled on 4 first-line randomized trials testing Bev (2000-2007) were pooled. Association between gender and progression-free survival (PFS)/overall survival (OS) was evaluated by stratified Cox regression model, adjusted for potential confounders. Predictive value was evaluated by interaction (inter.) effect between gender and treatment. In a pre-planned secondary analysis, analyses were stratified using an age cut-point of 60 years (commonly used in breast cancer trials) to evaluate the possible role of menopausal-related effects. Results: OS was not statistically different between males and females (median OS [mOS], 18.8 vs. 17.6 months [mo], adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj], 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-1.03, p, 0.15) in the overall population. Bev was associated with an improved mOS in males and females, with a 2.3 and 0.6 mo benefit, respectively, as well as an improved PFS. There was no statistically significant interaction effect between gender and treatment (see table). Further stratified by age (< vs. ≥ 60 years), Bev resulted in improved PFS and OS in both genders, at all ages, except for the effect in young females which did not reach statistical significance (see table). Conclusions: Our results confirmed the mOS benefit from addition of Bev to first-line chemotherapy in mCRC in both genders, although the benefit in females was < 1 month. For females under the age of 60, there are uncertainties for mOS benefit from addition of Bev and further evaluation is needed. [Table: see text]