Goldy C. George

A Multicenter Phase I Trial of PX-866, an Oral Irreversible Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Purpose: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of PX-866 in patients with incurable cancers. Experimental Design: This was a phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study. Drug was administered orally once per day either on an intermittent (arm 1; days 1–5 and 8–12 of a 28-day cycle) or continuous (arm 2; days 1–28 of a 28-day cycle) schedule. Additional patients were treated at the arm 2 MTD in a food effects substudy. Results: Eighty-four patients were treated in the arm 1 (n = 51), arm 2 (n = 20), and food effects (n = 13) cohorts. The most frequent study drug–related adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders (69.0%), with diarrhea being the most common (48.8%). The MTD was 12 and 8 mg for arm 1 and 2, respectively. The dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) consisted of grade III diarrhea (n = 3) and grade III elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST; n = 1). The pharmacokinetics profile was dose proportional, with no evidence of drug accumulation. PX-866–associated inhibition of platelet pAKTSER473 was observed at the arm 2 MTD. The best response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was stable disease in 22% of evaluable patients in arm 1, 53% in arm 2, and 11% in the food effects cohort. Eight patients were on study for 4 or more months. Conclusions: This first-in-human study shows that PX-866, an irreversible small-molecule inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), was well tolerated and was associated with prolonged stable disease, particularly when using a continuous dosing schedule. Clin Cancer Res; 18(15); 4173–82. ©2012 AACR.

The isolation and characterization of CTC subsets related to breast cancer dormancy.

Uncovering CTCs phenotypes offer the promise to dissect their heterogeneity related to metastatic competence. CTC survival rates are highly variable and this can lead to many questions as yet unexplored properties of CTCs responsible for invasion and metastasis vs dormancy. We isolated CTC subsets from peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with or without breast cancer brain metastasis. CTC subsets were selected for EpCAM negativity but positivity for CD44+/CD24− stem cell signature; along with combinatorial expression of uPAR and int β1, two markers directly implicated in breast cancer dormancy mechanisms. CTC subsets were cultured in vitro generating 3D CTC tumorspheres which were interrogated for biomarker profiling and biological characteristics. We identified proliferative and invasive properties of 3D CTC tumorspheres distinctive upon uPAR/int β1 combinatorial expression. The molecular characterization of uPAR/int β1 CTC subsets may enhance abilities to prospectively identify patients who may be at high risk of developing BCBM.

Phase I dose-escalation study of the multikinase inhibitor lenvatinib in patients with advanced solid tumors and in an expanded cohort of patients with melanoma

Purpose: This “3+3” phase I study evaluated the safety, biologic, and clinical activity of lenvatinib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, in patients with solid tumors. Experimental Design: Ascending doses of lenvatinib were administered per os twice daily in 28-day cycles. Safety and response were assessed for all patients. Angiogenic and apoptotic factors were tested as possible biomarkers in an expanded melanoma cohort. Results: Seventy-seven patients were treated in 3 cohorts: 18 with intermittent twice-daily dosing (7 days on, 7 days off) of 0.1–3.2 mg; 33 with twice-daily dosing of 3.2–12 mg; and 26 with twice-daily dosing of 10 mg (expanded melanoma cohort). Maximum tolerated dose was established at 10 mg per os twice daily. Prominent drug-related toxicities included hypertension (43%), fatigue (42%), proteinuria (39%), and nausea (25%); dose-limiting toxicities included hypertension, fatigue, and proteinuria. Twelve patients (15.6%) achieved partial response (PR, n = 9) or unconfirmed PR (uPR, n = 3), and 19 (24.7%) achieved stable disease (SD) ≥23 weeks. Total PR/uPR/SD ≥23 weeks was 40.3% (n = 31). Responses (PR/uPR) by disease were as follows: melanoma, 5 of 29 patients (includes 1 patient with NRAS mutation); thyroid, 3 of 6 patients; pancreatic, 1 of 2 patients; lung, 1 of 1 patients; renal, 1 of 1 patients; endometrial, 1 of 4 patients; and ovarian, 1 of 5 patients. AUC0–24 and Cmax increased dose proportionally. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analyses, increased baseline systolic blood pressure and decreased angiopoietin-1 ratio (2 hours:baseline) were associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS) in the expanded melanoma cohort (P = 0.041 and P = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: The toxicity profile, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of lenvatinib are encouraging. Decreases in the angiopoietin-1 ratio correlated with longer PFS in melanoma patients. Clin Cancer Res; 21(21); 4801–10. ©2015 AACR.

Dual inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway: A phase 1 trial evaluating bevacizumab and AZD2171 (cediranib) in patients with advanced solid tumors

The current study was conducted to evaluate the safety and biological activity of dual inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway with combined bevacizumab and cediranib (a VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor).

Sleep quality and its association with fatigue, symptom burden, and mood in patients with advanced cancer in a clinic for early-phase oncology clinical trials

Limited data exist about sleep quality for patients with advanced cancer in phase 1 clinical trials. Poor sleep quality is often not captured as an adverse event, and its association with fatigue, one of the most frequently reported adverse events, is not documented routinely. This article describes sleep quality and its relation with fatigue, symptom burden, and mood in patients recruited from an early‐phase clinic for targeted therapy.

Phase 1b study of lenvatinib (E7080) in combination with temozolomide for treatment of advanced melanoma

Objective and Methods In this phase 1b study, patients with stage 4 or unresectable stage 3 melanoma were treated with escalating doses of lenvatinib (once daily) and temozolomide (TMZ) (days 1–5) in 28-day cycles, to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination. Dose Level (DL)1: lenvatinib 20 mg, TMZ 100 mg/m2; DL2: lenvatinib 24 mg, TMZ 100 mg/m2; DL3: lenvatinib 24 mg, TMZ 150 mg/m2. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded and tumor response assessed per RECIST 1.0. Results Dose-limiting toxicity occurred in 1 of 32 treated patients (DL1); MTD was not reached. The highest dose administered was lenvatinib 24 mg + TMZ 150 mg/m2. Most common treatment-related AEs included fatigue (56.3%), hypertension (53.1%), and proteinuria (46.9%). Overall objective response rate was 18.8% (6 patients), all partial response; (DL1, n = 1; DL3, n = 5). Stable disease (SD) ≥ 16 weeks was observed in 28.1% of patients (DL1 and DL2, n = 1 each; DL3, n = 7); 12.5% of patients had SD ≥ 23 weeks. Single and repeat-dose pharmacokinetics of lenvatinib were comparable across cycles and with concomitant TMZ administration. Conclusion Lenvatinib 24 mg/day + TMZ 150 mg/m2/day (days 1–5) demonstrated modest clinical activity, an acceptable safety profile, and was administered without worsening of either lenvatinib- or TMZ-related toxicities in this patient group.

Cancer-Related Internet Use and its Association with Patient Decision Making and Trust in Physicians among Patients in an Early Drug Development Clinic (Preprint)

Background The role of cancer-related internet use on the patient-physician relationship has not been adequately explored among patients who are cancer-related internet users (CIUs) in early-phase clinical trial clinics. Objective We examined the association between cancer-related internet use and the patient-physician relationship and decision making among CIUs in an early drug development clinic. Methods Of 291 Phase I clinic patients who completed a questionnaire on internet use, 179 were CIUs. Generations were defined by the year of patient’s birth: “millennials” (after 1990) and “Generation X/Y” (1965-1990) grouped as “Millennials or Generation X/Y”; “Baby Boomers” (1946-1964); and “Greatest or Silent Generation” (1945 and earlier). Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results CIUs were 52% (94/179) female, 44% (78/179) were older than 60 years, and 60% (108/179) had household incomes exceeding US

Cancer-Related Internet Use and Online Social Networking Among Patients in an Early-Phase Clinical Trials Clinic at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

60,000. The sources of information on cancer and clinical trials included physicians (171/179, 96%), the internet (159/179, 89%), and other clinical trial personnel (121/179, 68%). For the overall sample and each generation, the median values for trust in referring and Phase I clinical trial physicians among early drug development clinic CIUs were 5 on a 0-5 scale, with 5 indicating “complete trust.” CIUs’ trust in their referring (5) and phase 1 (5) physicians was higher than CIUs’ trust in Web-based cancer-related information (3; P<.001 for both). CIUs who reported visiting the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website, NCI.org, to learn about cancer reported higher levels of trust in Web-based cancer-related information than CIUs who did not use the NCI website (P=.02). Approximately half of CIUs discussed internet information with their doctor. Only 14% (23/165) of CIUs had asked their physician to recommend cancer-related websites, and 24% (35/144) of CIUs reported at least occasional conflict between their physician’s advice and Web-based information. Conclusions Despite the plethora of websites related to cancer and cancer clinical trials, patients in early-phase clinical trial settings trust their physicians more than Web-based information. Cancer-related organizations should provide regularly updated links to trustworthy websites with cancer and clinical trial information for patients and providers and educate providers on reliable cancer websites so that they can better direct their patients to appropriate internet content.

Insurance clearance for early-phase oncology clinical trials following the affordable care act

PURPOSE We examined patterns, correlates, and the impact of cancer-related Internet use among patients with advanced cancer in a phase I clinical trials clinic for molecularly targeted oncologic agents. METHODS An anonymous questionnaire on Internet use for cancer-related purposes that incorporated input from phase I clinical trial oncologists and patients was self-administered by patients age ≥ 18 years in a phase I clinic. Multivariable modeling was used. Data were analyzed for the overall sample and by generation, which was defined by year of birth. RESULTS Of 291 patients (52% women, 82% non-Hispanic white, 50% age ≤ 60 years), 62% were cancer-related Internet users (CIUs). Cancer-related Internet use was associated with an income of ≥

Abstract 1530: Dissecting breast cancer dormant CTC phenotypes

60,000 (odds ratio, 2.42; P = .004). CIUs used the Internet to learn about their cancer (85%), treatment adverse effects (65%), clinical trials (52%), new alternative treatments (42%), and symptom management (41%). CIUs most frequently used the hospital Web site (70%) to learn about clinical trials, followed by ClinicalTrials.gov (42%) and search engines (41%). The emotional impact of Internet-derived cancer information on CIUs varied-56% felt empowered, 34% anxious, 29% relieved, and 17% confused. Cancer-related Internet information made 51% of patients from the Millennial (born after 1990) and Generation X/Y (born 1965 to 1990) CIU populations anxious compared with < 29% of CIUs from older generations (born 1964 and before). Most CIUs desired more online information about new experimental drugs (91%) and US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for cancer (72%). CONCLUSION As most phase I patients use the Internet for cancer-related purposes, the Internet overall and hospital Web sites should provide more extensive, pertinent, and helpful information on clinical trials and cancer treatment to phase I patients.