10008 Background: NTRK1/2/3 gene fusions (TRK fusions) occur in a range of pediatric cancers and are the canonical molecular alterations in IFS. Larotrectinib is a highly selective TRK inhibitor that is FDA-approved for TRK fusion solid tumors in patients with no satisfactory alternative treatments or whose cancer has progressed following initial treatment. ADVL1823 (NCT03834961) evaluated larotrectinib in children with newly diagnosed TRK fusion positive solid tumors in two histology-based cohorts. Cohort A enrolled patients with IFS and is the focus of this analysis. Methods: Newly diagnosed patients ≤30 years old with unresectable or metastatic IFS and a locally identified NTRK gene fusion were eligible for Cohort A utilizing a Simon 2-stage design. Patients received larotrectinib at a dose of 100 mg/m2/dose BID (max of 100 mg/dose) continuously in 28-day cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, the tumor becoming surgically resectable following a minimum of 6 cycles of therapy, or completion of 12 cycles (for those with CR) or 26 cycles (for those with PR) of therapy. The primary endpoint was the centrally confirmed objective response rate within 6 cycles according to RECIST 1.1; response assessment occurred every 2 cycles for the first 6 cycles. The data cutoff was December 31, 2022. Results: Between October 2019 and May 2022, 18 patients with IFS were enrolled from 14 centers. The median age was 2 months (range <1 month to 4.6 years). NTRK fusions included presumed/confirmed ETV6: NTRK3, n=15, NTRK3 (partner unconfirmed), TMP3: NTRK1 and DCTN1: NTRK1, n=1 each, and were identified by FISH (n=8), NGS (n=7), and PCR (n=3). 17 of 18 patients (94%) demonstrated confirmed objective responses (16 PR and 1 CR,) resulting in closure to enrollment after meeting the pre-specified efficacy threshold. The only patient without confirmed response demonstrated 79% tumor reduction after cycle 2, but no confirmatory scan was obtained within the first 6 cycles. No patient discontinued therapy within the first 6 cycles due to disease progression or toxicity. Four (22%) patients had dose limiting toxicities: 2 neutropenia (both CTCAE V5 grade (G)4) and 1 each G3 AST increase and G3 weight loss. All patients resumed therapy following a dose reduction. Treatment-related grade ≥ 3 toxicities occurred in 7 patients, most commonly neutropenia (n=5, 3 G3, 2 G4). Conclusions: Larotrectinib is highly active and well tolerated in newly diagnosed patients with IFS. Enrollment of this very rare molecularly defined patient population was feasible within the COG. Ongoing follow-up will evaluate durability of response after treatment discontinuation at protocol specified response-adapted timepoints with or without surgical resection of tumor. Clinical trial information: NCT03834961 .
Palbociclib in solid tumor patients with genomic alterations in the cyclin D-CDK4/6-INK4a-Rb pathway: Results from NCI-COG pediatric MATCH trial Arm I (APEC1621I).
Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 4, 2023 | Volume: 41 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 10006-10006
10006 Background: The NCI-Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Pediatric Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (MATCH) trial assigns patients aged 1 to 21 years with relapsed or refractory solid tumors, lymphomas, and histiocytic disorders to phase 2 treatment arms of molecularly-targeted therapies based on genetic alterations detected in their tumor. Arm I evaluated palbociclib, a reversible, selective oral small molecule inhibitor of CDK 4 and 6 in tumors harboring specified genomic alterations in the cyclinD-cdk4/6-INK4a-Rb pathway: amplification of CDK4, CDK6, CCND1, CCND2, or CCND3. Positive Rb expression by IHC was required. Methods: Palbociclib was administered on days 1-21 at 75 mg/m2 once daily in 28-day cycles for up to 2 years, until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. Response assessment occurred every 2-3 cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response (OR) rate; secondary endpoints included safety/tolerability and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Twenty-three patients (median age 15 yrs; range 9-21) were enrolled between August 2018 and May 2022. Twenty patients received protocol therapy and were evaluable for response. Of treated patients, osteosarcoma was the most common diagnosis (9/20, 45%), with amplification of CCND3 detected in 6/9 patients, CDK4 in 2, and CDK6 in 1. Rhabdomyosarcoma was next most frequent (6/20, 30%), with all tumors harboring CDK4 amplifications. Other diagnoses were high grade glioma (n = 2), soft tissue sarcoma (n = 2), and neuroblastoma (NB) (n = 1). Additional genomic alterations were detected in 9/20 tumors, most frequently TP53 mutations (n = 4, including 2 patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome). Palbociclib was generally well tolerated with hematologic toxicities being the most common treatment related events and no related grade 5 events. Neutropenia was the most common grade 3-4 adverse event (n = 10, 50%) followed by thrombocytopenia (n = 8, 40%), leukopenia (n = 7, 35%), and anemia (n = 5, 25%). Four patients came off study for toxicity (3 for prolonged thrombocytopenia (cycle 1 (x2) and cycle 2) and 1 for prolonged grade 4 neutropenia (cycle 3)). Non-hematologic toxicities were mild (grade 1-2). No ORs were seen. Two patients with tumors harboring CDK4 amplifications had stable disease (SD): one with NB had SD for 5 cycles and one with sarcoma had SD for 3 cycles but came off therapy for toxicity. Six-month PFS was 10% (95% CI: 1.7%-27.2%) and six-month overall survival was 65% (95% CI: 40.3%, 81.5%). Conclusions: The CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib at 75mg/m2 PO daily was well tolerated in this heavily-pretreated cohort. No objective responses were observed in these biomarker-selected patients with treatment-refractory solid tumors. Further evaluation of this agent in combination with chemotherapy in the pediatric population is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03526250 .
A phase 1/2 study of bay 18953444 (Elimusertib) in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors: Initial report of the phase 1 results of PEPN2112.
Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 4, 2023 | Volume: 41 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: e15131-e15131
e15131 Background: Elimusertib is a highly selective oral inhibitor of the Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) kinase, which is required for efficient end-joining repair of double-stranded breaks, particularly during DNA replication. Many pediatric cancers involve potential ATR susceptibilities such as increased replication stress due to oncogenic fusions, specific DNA damage repair (DDR) deficiencies, oncogenic activation of DNA damage and nucleases such as PGBD5, as well as alternative lengthening of telomeres. We report the initial phase 1 results of PEPN2112 (NCT05071209), an ongoing pediatric phase 1/2 clinical trial of elimusertib monotherapy. Methods: Eligible patients (pts) included children, adolescents, and young adults with relapsed or refractory tumors with: (1) Ewing sarcoma or related EWSR1 fusion positive tumors (EWS), (2) alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, PAX3-FOXO1 fusion positive (aRMS), or (3) non-CNS primary tumors exhibiting specific DDR pathway defects anticipated to sensitize to ATR inhibition. For pts < 18 years (yrs), a rolling-six design was used to evaluate elimusertib administered BID x3 days/week of a 28-day cycle starting at the adult equivalent recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of 24 mg/m2/dose (max 40 mg) with a potential de-escalation to 18 mg/m2/dose (max 30 mg). The pediatric RP2D determination was based upon dose limiting toxicity (DLT) criteria (CTCAEv5) during cycle 1. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were performed. Pts > 18 yrs could enroll onto the phase 2 cohorts at the adult RP2D simultaneously with the pediatric phase 1. Once the pediatric RP2D was defined, pts < 18 yrs accrued to the phase 2 cohorts and a PK expansion for pts < 12 yrs was opened. Results: 8 eligible pts were enrolled (4 males) on the phase 1 part of the study. 2 pts were inevaluable for DLT as they received < 75% of protocol therapy. Median (range) age was 13 (10-17) yrs. Diagnoses included: EWS (n = 4) and 1 pt each with aRMS, adrenocortical carcinoma, clear cell sarcoma, and osteosarcoma. At 24 mg/m2/dose, no DLTs were observed. Toxicities were hematologic, with grade 3 toxicities including anemia (n = 3), neutropenia (n = 4), and decreased white blood cells (n = 1). One pt experienced grade 4 lymphopenia. There were no grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicities. Day 1 mean ± SD values of Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-8h and t1/2 were 1.6 ± 0.5 h, 1532 ± 385 ng/mL, 5863 ± 1841 h*ng/mL and 3.6 ± 0.9 h, respectively. Conclusions: Elimusertib-related toxicities were primarily hematologic. The RP2D for elimusertib monotherapy in pediatric pts is 24 mg/m2/dose (max 40 mg) orally BID x3 days/week continuously, analogous to dosing in adults with similar PK. Phase 2 and PK expansion cohorts as well as pharmacodynamic studies are ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT05071209 .
Erdafitinb in patients with FGFR-altered tumors: Results from the NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH trial arm B (APEC1621B).
Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 4, 2023 | Volume: 41 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 10007-10007
10007 Background: The NCI-Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Pediatric Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (MATCH) trial assigns patients aged 1-21 years with relapsed or refractory solid tumors, CNS tumors, lymphomas, and histiocytic disorders to phase 2 treatment arms of molecularly-targeted therapies based on genetic alterations in their tumor. Arm B (APEC1621B) evaluated the orally bioavailable FGFR inhibitor erdafitinib in patients whose tumors harbored activating alterations in FGFR 1/2/3/4. Methods: Patients received oral erdafitinib 4.7 mg/m 2 /dose (Max dose: 8 mg) daily for 28-day cycles until disease progression or drug related dose limiting toxicity (Max 26 cycles). Disease assessments were performed every 2-3 cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate; secondary endpoints included progression free survival (PFS). Results: A total of 20 evaluable patients (median age: 15 yrs) were enrolled from June 2018 to July 2022 in this first study of erdafitinib in pediatric patients. The most common diagnosis (n = 17) was glioma or glioneuronal tumor (11 low grade and 6 high grade). Three patients had non-CNS solid tumors (1 each with neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma). FGFR alterations detected consisted of activating hotspot mutations in FGFR1 (n = 16), FGFR2 (n = 1), FGFR4 (n = 1), and FGFR1 fusions (n = 2; FGFR1: TACC1, FGFR1: TACC3). Partial responses were confirmed by central review in 2/20 patients (10%, 90%CI: 3.4%, 26.2%), both with low grade gliomas or glioneuronal tumors (LGG, LGGNT) and FGFR1 hotspot mutations (K687E and N577K). A best response of stable disease (SD) was observed in 6 additional patients with gliomas with a median duration of SD of 6.5 cycles. Six-month PFS was 45% (95% CI: 23.1%, 64.7%) and six-month OS was 89.7% (95%CI: 64.8%, 97.3%). Treatment related adverse events included those previously reported with FGFR inhibitors including hyperphosphatemia and nail changes or infections. Grade 1 vision changes were also reported. There was one Grade 3 spinal cord compression and one Grade 4 intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusions: Erdafitinib was generally well tolerated in this heavily pre-treated cohort of children with relapsed tumors harboring FGFR alterations. Partial responses or stable disease were observed in the majority (6/11, 54%) of patients with FGFR1-mutant low grade gliomas or glioneuronal tumors, suggesting the possible benefit of FGFR inhibitor therapy for these patients. Further studies would be necessary to more thoroughly evaluate the activity of erdafitinib for patients with other histologies and FGFR alteration types or combination approaches that include other targeted and/or cytotoxic agents. Clinical trial information: NCT03210714 .
Tazemetostat for tumors harboring SMARCB1/SMARCA4 or EZH2 alterations: results from NCI-COG pediatric MATCH APEC1621C
JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute | May 24, 2023 | Volume: 115 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 1355-1363
Abstract Background National Cancer Institute-Children’s Oncology Group Pediatric Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice assigns patients aged 1-21 years with refractory solid tumors, brain tumors, lymphomas, and histiocytic disorders to phase II trials of molecularly targeted therapies based on detection of predefined genetic alterations. Patients whose tumors harbored EZH2 mutations or loss of SMARCB1 or SMARCA4 by immunohistochemistry were treated with EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat. Methods Patients received tazemetostat for 28-day cycles until disease progression or intolerable toxicity (max 26 cycles). The primary endpoint was objective response rate; secondary endpoints included progression-free survival and tolerability of tazemetostat. Results Twenty patients (median age = 5 years) enrolled, all evaluable for response and toxicities. The most frequent diagnoses were atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (n = 8) and malignant rhabdoid tumor (n = 4). Actionable alterations consisted of SMARCB1 loss (n = 16), EZH2 mutation (n = 3), and SMARCA4 loss (n = 1). One objective response was observed in a patient with non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis with SMARCA4 loss (26 cycles, 1200 mg/m2/dose twice daily). Four patients with SMARCB1 loss had a best response of stable disease: epithelioid sarcoma (n = 2), atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (n = 1), and renal medullary carcinoma (n = 1). Six-month progression-free survival was 35% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.7% to 55.2%) and 6-month overall survival was 45% (95% CI = 23.1% to 64.7%). Treatment-related adverse events were consistent with prior tazemetostat reports. Conclusions Although tazemetostat did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint in this population of refractory pediatric tumors (objective response rate = 5%, 90% CI = 1% to 20%), 25% of patients with multiple histologic diagnoses experienced prolonged stable disease of 6 months and over (range = 9-26 cycles), suggesting a potential effect of tazemetostat on disease stabilization.
Pediatric phase 2 trial of a WEE1 inhibitor, adavosertib (AZD1775), and irinotecan for relapsed neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma
Cancer | April 20, 2023 | Volume: 129 | Issue: 14 | Pages: 2245-2255
AbstractBackgroundInhibition of the WEE1 kinase by adavosertib (AZD1775) potentiates replicative stress from genomic instability or chemotherapy. This study reports the pediatric solid tumor phase 2 results of the ADVL1312 trial combining irinotecan and adavosertib.MethodsPediatric patients with recurrent neuroblastoma (part B), medulloblastoma/central nervous system embryonal tumors (part C), or rhabdomyosarcoma (part D) were treated with irinotecan and adavosertib orally for 5 days every 21 days. The combination was considered effective if there were at least three of 20 responses in parts B and D or six of 19 responses in part C. Tumor tissue was analyzed for alternative lengthening of telomeres and ATRX. Patient's prior tumor genomic analyses were provided.ResultsThe 20 patients with neuroblastoma (part B) had a median of three prior regimens and 95% had a history of prior irinotecan. There were three objective responses (9, 11, and 18 cycles) meeting the protocol defined efficacy end point. Two of the three patients with objective responses had tumors with alternative lengthening of telomeres. One patient with pineoblastoma had a partial response (11 cycles), but parts C and D did not meet the protocol defined efficacy end point. The combination was well tolerated and there were no dose limiting toxicities at cycle 1 or beyond in any parts of ADVL1312 at the recommended phase 2 dose.ConclusionThis is first phase 2 clinical trial of adavosertib in pediatrics and the first with irinotecan. The combination may be of sufficient activity to consider further study of adavosertib in neuroblastoma.
Abstract CT090: PEPN2011: a phase 1/2 study of tegavivint in children, adolescents, and young adults with recurrent or refractory solid tumors, including lymphomas and desmoid tumors: a report from the pediatric early phase clinical trials network
Cancer Research | April 14, 2023 | Volume: 83 | Issue: 8_Supplement | Pages: CT090-CT090
Abstract Introduction: Tegavivint is a first in class small molecule inhibitor of Wnt-ß-catenin signaling that functions by disrupting the interaction of ß-catenin and TBL1/TBLR1 resulting in degradation of nuclear ß-catenin. Aberrant Wnt signaling has been identified as a key mechanism of cancer biology, resulting in uncontrolled transcription of pro-oncogenic Wnt target genes. Pre-clinical in vivo studies of tegavivint demonstrated anti-tumor activity in a variety of pediatric solid tumors, including osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and lymphoma. Methods: We conducted a phase 1 dose-escalation study of single agent tegavivint in children aged ≥12 months to ≤21 years with relapsed or refractory solid tumors including lymphoma and desmoid tumors. The dose escalation was conducted using a rolling six design starting with the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) in adults, 5 mg/kg, administered intravenously over four hours on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28 day cycle. A single de-escalation to 4 mg/kg and escalations to 6.5 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg if pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters indicated were planned. Once the RP2D is defined a PK cohort and phase 2 cohorts including Ewing sarcoma, desmoid tumor, osteosarcoma, liver tumors, Wilms tumor and a disease agnostic cohort including cancers with Wnt alterations will be evaluated. Results: A total of 15 patients were enrolled on the phase 1 part of the study. Two patients were not treated due to pre-therapy DEXA scan demonstrating grade 1 osteoporosis; therefore, 13 patients received treatment with tegavivint on 2 dose levels (5 mg/kg and 6.5 mg/kg). The median age of treated patients was 16 years (range 3-21). Patient diagnoses included desmoid tumor (5), Wilms tumor (3), and one each of Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, CIC::DUX4 sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. There were no dose limiting toxicities among 4 DLT-evaluable patients at DL1 and 6 at DL2. The maximum tolerated dose was not determined. Grade three or higher adverse events at least possibly related to treatment included anemia (2) and lymphopenia (2). A single patient had a grade 3 QT prolongation requiring cessation of tegavivint after cycle 3. At 5 mg/kg, the mean AUC was 94,900 hr*ng/mL (range 52,000-136,000), and at 6.5 mg/kg was 91,200 hr*ng/mL (range 28,400-144,000). The pediatric RP2D dose was determined to be 6.5 mg/kg based on the pre-specified objective of achieving pharmacologically relevant plasma concentrations and less than 20% difference in mean AUC between the two tested dose levels. Conclusions: Tegavivint is well tolerated in children with refractory solid tumors, the pediatric RP2D is 6.5 mg/kg demonstrating pharmacologically relevant plasma concentrations. The study is currently enrolling patients to a pharmacokinetic expansion cohort and will then proceed to phase 2. Citation Format: Sarah B. Whittle, Joseph G. Pressey, Xiaowei Liu, Charles G. Minard, Kristina Z. Denic, Joel M. Reid, Stacey L. Berg, Elizabeth Fox, Brenda J. Weigel. PEPN2011: a phase 1/2 study of tegavivint in children, adolescents, and young adults with recurrent or refractory solid tumors, including lymphomas and desmoid tumors: a report from the pediatric early phase clinical trials network [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr CT090.
Model‐informed approach to support pediatric dosing for the pan‐PI3K inhibitor copanlisib in children and adolescents with relapsed/refractory solid tumors
Clinical and Translational Science | April 12, 2023 | Volume: 16 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 1197-1209
AbstractCopanlisib is an intravenously administered phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor which was investigated in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors. A model‐informed approach was undertaken to support and confirm an empirically selected starting dose of 28 mg/m2 for pediatric patients ≥1 year old, corresponding to 80% of the adult recommended dose adjusted for body surface area. An adult physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was initially established using copanlisib physicochemical and disposition properties and clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) data and was shown to adequately capture clinical PK across a range of copanlisib doses in adult cancer patients. The adult PBPK model was then extended to the pediatric population through incorporation of age‐dependent anatomical and physiological changes and used to simulate copanlisib exposures in pediatric cancer patient age groups. The pediatric PBPK model predicted that the copanlisib 28 mg/m2 dose would achieve similar copanlisib exposures across pediatric ages when compared with historical adult exposures following the approved copanlisib 60 mg dose administered on Days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28‐day cycle. Clinical PK were collected from a phase I study in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors (aged ≥4 years). An established adult population PK model was extended to incorporate an allometrically‐scaled effect of body surface area and confirmed that the copanlisib maximum tolerated dose of 28 mg/m2 was appropriate to achieve uniform copanlisib exposures across the investigated pediatric age range and consistent exposures to historical data in adult cancer patients. The model‐informed approach successfully supported and confirmed the copanlisib pediatric dose recommendation.
Abstract P3-11-04: Endoxifen Downregulates AKT Phosphorylation Through Protein Kinase C Beta 1 in ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer
Cancer Research | March 2, 2023 | Volume: 83 | Issue: 5_Supplement | Pages: P3-11-04-P3-11-04
Abstract Background: In phase I/II clinical trials, the tamoxifen metabolite Z-endoxifen (ENDX) demonstrated substantial oral bioavailability and promising antitumor activity in endocrine-refractory estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer (ER+ BC) and other solid tumors, with ENDX plasma concentrations reaching as high as 5 µM, a concentration that far exceeds the ERα-targeting nanomolar concentrations. We previously identified protein kinase C beta 1 (PKCβ1), an oncogenic signaling kinase which regulates cell proliferation and tumorigenic transformation, as a novel ENDX receptor. ENDX-bound PKCβ1 (KD: 100 nM) and inhibited PKCβ1 kinase activity (IC50: 357 nM) in vitro, at concentrations achieved in phase I/II ENDX studies. Given the observations that ENDX induces antitumor activity in breast cancers resistant to endocrine therapies, including AIs, tamoxifen and fulvestrant, we postulated that ENDX may impact additional signaling pathways. Therefore, in this study we performed unbiased mass spectrometry to analyze the effects of ENDX on the phosphoproteome and total proteome. Methods: In estrogen unstimulated aromatase-expressing ER+/human epidermal growth factor 2 receptor negative (HER2-) MCF7AC1 breast cancer cells, the effects of ENDX on the phosphoproteome and total proteome were analyzed using ENDX concentrations achieved in tamoxifen treated patients (0.01 and 0.1 µM) and concentrations observed in the ENDX phase I/II trials (5 µM). NetWorKIN and RoKAI prediction tools were utilized to identify the upstream kinases of ENDX downregulated phosphoproteins. In estrogen unstimulated MCF7AC1 as well as in the ER+/HER2- T47D breast cancer cells, the ability of ENDX, tamoxifen, fulvestrant and PKC kinase inhibitor enzastaurin to block insulin or PKC agonist phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated AKTSer473 phosphorylation was analyzed by immunoblot (IB) assay. Additionally, ENDX effects on AKTSer473 phosphorylation in the MCF7AC1 xenograft model in vivo was analyzed by IB assay. Further, the effects of PKCβ1 silencing in MCF7AC1 cells and the effects of AKT inhibitor MK-2206 treatment on growth and AKTSer473 phosphorylation in the MCF7AC1 as well as long-term estrogen deprived T47D (T47D-LTED) cell lines were analyzed by cell proliferation and IB assays. Results: In MCF7AC1 cells unstimulated with estrogen, ENDX at 5 µM but not at 0.01 and 0.1 µM concentrations inhibited growth, and induced apoptosis, suggesting an ERα-independent effect. Further, ENDX at 5 µM displayed three-fold greater effects in downregulating the phosphoproteome compared to the other concentrations, with minimal impact on the total proteome. Protein kinase C beta (PKCβ) and AKT1 were identified as the prevalent upstream kinases for ENDX downregulated protein phosphorylations. Notably, in estrogen unstimulated MCF7AC1 and T47D cells, ENDX at 5 µM attenuated phosphorylation of AKTSer473 and AKT substrates in vitro in the presence of insulin and in vivo. In MCF7AC1 cells, PMA-induced phosphorylation of PKCβ1 as well as AKTSer473 and AKT substrate phosphorylations were blocked by ENDX at 5 µM, with ENDX inducing PKCβ1 protein degradation both in the presence of insulin and PMA. Further, ENDX effects on growth and AKTSer473 phosphorylation were phenocopied by siRNA-mediated PKCβ1 knockdown as well as treatment with the pan-AKT inhibitor, MK-2206. Notably, the potent PKCβ1 kinase inhibitor, enzastaurin, had no effects either on PKCβ1 protein degradation nor on downstream AKT signaling. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that ENDX may exert anticancer activity via dual effects on blocking ERα as well as by targeting PKCβ1 for degradation, thus suppressing AKT signaling and induction of apoptosis. These preclinical findings will be studied in a planned neoadjuvant trial comparing ENDX with exemestane and ovarian function suppression (EVANGELINE) that will activate in the Fall of 2022. Citation Format: Swaathi Jayaraman, Xinyan Wu, Krishna R. Kalari, Xiaojia Tang, Mary Kuffel, Elizabeth S. Bruinsma, Santosh Renuse, James N. Ingle, Joel Reid, Matthew Schellenberg, John Hawse, Akhilesh Pandey, Matthew P. Goetz. Endoxifen Downregulates AKT Phosphorylation Through Protein Kinase C Beta 1 in ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-11-04.
Randomized Phase III Trial of Ganitumab With Interval-Compressed Chemotherapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group
Journal of Clinical Oncology | January 20, 2023 | Volume: 41 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 2098-2107
PURPOSE Monoclonal antibodies directed against insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) have shown activity in patients with relapsed Ewing sarcoma. The primary objective of Children's Oncology Group trial AEWS1221 was to determine if the addition of the IGF-1R monoclonal antibody ganitumab to interval-compressed chemotherapy improves event-free survival (EFS) in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic Ewing sarcoma. METHODS Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 at enrollment to standard arm (interval-compressed vincristine/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide alternating once every 2 weeks with ifosfamide/etoposide = VDC/IE) or to experimental arm (VDC/IE with ganitumab at cycle starts and as monotherapy once every 3 weeks for 6 months after conventional therapy). A planned sample size of 300 patients was projected to provide 81% power to detect an EFS hazard ratio of 0.67 or smaller for the experimental arm compared with the standard arm with a one-sided α of .025. RESULTS Two hundred ninety-eight eligible patients enrolled (148 in standard arm; 150 in experimental arm). The 3-year EFS estimates were 37.4% (95% CI, 29.3 to 45.5) for the standard arm and 39.1% (95% CI, 31.3 to 46.7) for the experimental arm (stratified EFS-event hazard ratio for experimental arm 1.00; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.33; 1-sided, P = .50). The 3-year overall survival estimates were 59.5% (95% CI, 50.8 to 67.3) for the standard arm and 56.7% (95% CI, 48.3 to 64.2) for the experimental arm. More cases of pneumonitis after radiation involving thoracic fields and nominally higher rates of febrile neutropenia and ALT elevation were reported on the experimental arm. CONCLUSION Ganitumab added to interval-compressed chemotherapy did not significantly reduce the risk of EFS event in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic Ewing sarcoma, with outcomes similar to prior trials without IGF-1R inhibition or interval compression. The addition of ganitumab may be associated with increased toxicity.