A phase 1 dosing study of ruxolitinib in children with relapsed or refractory solid tumors, leukemias, or myeloproliferative neoplasms: A Children's Oncology Group phase 1 consortium study (ADVL1011).

BACKGROUND: Ruxolitinib, an orally bioavailable JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, may treat cancers with CRLF2 and/or JAK pathway mutations. PROCEDURE: A phase 1 trial of ruxolitinib was performed to determine the maximum tolerated or recommended phase 2 dose, dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) in children with recurrent/refractory solid tumors (STs). Ruxolitinib was administered twice daily (BID) in 28-day cycles at five dose levels (15, 21, 29, 39, and 50 mg/m(2)/dose). PK and PD studies were performed during cycle 1. Toxicity, preliminary efficacy, and PK/PD were also assessed in children with relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies (HMs). RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were enrolled, 28 with STs (dose escalation cohort) and 21 with HMs. Ruxolitinib was well-tolerated with one DLT per cohort of six patients at dose levels (DLs) 2-5. One patient with an ST had grade 5 multi-organ failure at DL2. One patient each at DL3 and DL4 had a grade 4 neutropenia, and one patient at DL5 had a grade 4 creatinine phosphokinase elevation. No objective responses were observed in patients with STs. One patient with polycythemia vera achieved a partial response and received 18 cycles of ruxolitinib. The PK of ruxolitinib were similar to that in adults. Partial inhibition of phosphorylated JAK2, STAT5, and S6 was observed in in vitro plasma inhibitory activity PD assay. CONCLUSION: Ruxolitinib was well tolerated in children with refractory cancer. The recommended phase 2 dose for continuous BID oral administration is 50 mg/m(2)/dose. Subsequent evaluation of ruxolitinib in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in children, adolescents, and young adults with JAK-mutant leukemias is planned.

A phase I trial of MK-2206 in children with refractory malignancies: a Children's Oncology Group study.

BACKGROUND: We report results of a phase I trial designed to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), describe dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), and characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of MK-2206, an AKT inhibitor, in children with refractory or recurrent malignancies. PROCEDURE: MK-2206 was administered either every other day (Schedule 1), or once a week (Schedule 2) in a 28-day cycle. Dose escalations in increments of ∼30% were independently made in each part using the rolling-six design. Serial pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were obtained. Biological studies include analysis of PI3K/PTEN/AKT-cell signaling pathway in pre and post-therapy in PBMC and in tumors at diagnosis or recurrence. RESULTS: Fifty patients (26 males, median age 12.6 years [range, 3.1-21.9]) with malignant glioma (16), ependymoma (4), hepatocellular carcinoma (3), gliomatosis cereberi (2), or other tumors (22) were enrolled; 40 were fully evaluable for toxicity (Schedule 1, n = 23; Schedule 2, n = 17). Schedule 1 DLTs included: grade 3 dehydration in 1/6 patients at 28 mg/m(2) ; grade 4 hyperglycemia and neutropenia in 1/6 patients at 45 mg/m(2) ; and grade 3 rash in 3/6 patients at dose level 4 (58 mg/m(2) ). Schedule 2 DLTs included: grade 3 alkaline phosphatase in 1/6 patients at 90 mg/m(2) ; grade 3 rash in 1/6 patients at 120 mg/m(2) ; and grade 3 rash in 2/6 patients at 155 mg/m(2) . CONCLUSIONS: The recommended pediatric phase 2 dose of MK-2206 is 45 mg/m(2) /dose every other day or 120 mg/m(2) /dose weekly. PK appeared linear over the dose range studied.

A phase I trial of imetelstat in children with refractory or recurrent solid tumors: a Children's Oncology Group Phase I Consortium Study (ADVL1112).

PURPOSE: Imetelstat is a covalently-lipidated 13-mer thiophosphoramidate oligonucleotide that acts as a potent specific inhibitor of telomerase. It binds with high affinity to the template region of the RNA component of human telomerase (hTERC) and is a competitive inhibitor of telomerase enzymatic activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the recommended phase II dose of imetelstat in children with recurrent or refractory solid tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Imetelstat was administered intravenously more than two hours on days 1 and 8, every 21 days. Dose levels of 225, 285, and 360 mg/m(2) were evaluated, using the rolling-six design. Imetelstat pharmacokinetic and correlative biology studies were also performed during the first cycle. RESULTS: Twenty subjects were enrolled (median age, 14 years; range, 3-21). Seventeen were evaluable for toxicity. The most common toxicities were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia, with dose-limiting myelosuppression in 2 of 6 patients at 360 mg/m(2). Pharmacokinetics is dose dependent with a lower clearance at the highest dose level. Telomerase inhibition was observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at 285 and 360 mg/m(2). Two confirmed partial responses, osteosarcoma (n = 1) and Ewing sarcoma (n = 1), were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended phase II dose of imetelstat given on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle is 285 mg/m(2).

Phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of pazopanib in children with soft tissue sarcoma and other refractory solid tumors: a children's oncology group phase I consortium report.

PURPOSE: Pazopanib, an oral multikinase angiogenesis inhibitor, prolongs progression-free survival in adults with soft tissue sarcoma (STS). A phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of two formulations of pazopanib was performed in children with STS or other refractory solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pazopanib (tablet formulation) was administered once daily in 28-day cycles at four dose levels (275 to 600 mg/m(2)) using the rolling-six design. Dose determination for a powder suspension was initiated at 50% of the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) for the intact tablet. Ten patients with STS underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) scanning at baseline and 15 ± 2 days after initiation of pazopanib at the tablet MTD. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were enrolled; 51 were eligible (26 males; median age, 12.9 years; range, 3.8 to 23.9 years). Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were generally mild, with dose-limiting lipase, amylase, and ALT elevation, proteinuria, and hypertension. One patient with occult brain metastasis had grade 4 intracranial hemorrhage. The MTD was 450 mg/m(2) for tablet and 160 mg/m(2) for suspension. Steady-state trough concentrations were reached by day 15 and did not seem to be dose dependent. One patient each with hepatoblastoma or desmoplastic small round cell tumor achieved a partial response; eight patients had stable disease for ≥ six cycles, seven of whom had sarcoma. All patients with evaluable DCE-MRI (n = 8) experienced decreases in tumor blood volume and permeability (P < .01). Placental growth factor increased, whereas endoglin and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 decreased (P < .01; n = 41). CONCLUSION: Pazopanib is well tolerated in children, with evidence of antiangiogenic effect and potential clinical benefit in pediatric sarcoma.

A phase I trial of vorinostat and bortezomib in children with refractory or recurrent solid tumors: a Children's Oncology Group phase I consortium study (ADVL0916).

BACKGROUND: A pediatric Phase I trial was performed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), and pharmacokinetics (PK) of vorinostat and bortezomib, in patients with solid tumors. PROCEDURE: Oral vorinostat was administered on days 1-5 and 8-12 of a 21-day cycle (starting dose 180 mg/m(2) /day with dose escalations to 230 and 300 mg/m(2) /day). Bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2) i.v.) was administered on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of the same cycle. PK and correlative biology studies were performed during Cycle 1. RESULTS: Twenty-three eligible patients [17 male, median age 12 years (range: 1-20)] were enrolled of whom 17 were fully evaluable for toxicity. Cycle 1 DLTs that occurred in 2/6 patients at dose level 3 (vorinostat 300 mg/m(2) /day) were Grade 2 sensory neuropathy that progressed to Grade 4 (n = 1) and Grade 3 nausea and anorexia (n = 1). No objective responses were observed. There was wide interpatient variability in vorinostat PK parameters. Bortezomib disposition was best described by a three-compartment model that demonstrated rapid distribution followed by prolonged elimination. We did not observe a decrease in nuclear factor-κB activity or Grp78 induction after bortezomib treatment in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from solid tumor patients. CONCLUSION: The recommended Phase 2 dose and schedule is vorinostat (230 mg/m(2) /day PO on days 1-5 and 8-12) in combination with bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2) /day i.v. on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle) in children with recurrent or refractory solid tumors.

Pediatric phase I trial and pharmacokinetic study of MLN8237, an investigational oral selective small-molecule inhibitor of Aurora kinase A: a Children's Oncology Group Phase I Consortium study.

PURPOSE: MLN8237, a selective small-molecule inhibitor of Aurora kinase A, has activity in a broad range of preclinical pediatric cancer models. We conducted a phase I trial in children with refractory/recurrent solid tumors to define the maximum-tolerated dose, toxicities, and pharmacokinetic properties of MLN8237. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: MLN8237 was administered orally either once daily or divided twice daily for seven days, every 21 days. Using a rolling-six design, four dose levels (45, 60, 80, and 100 mg/m(2)/day) were evaluated on the once-daily schedule, and two dose levels (60 and 80 mg/m(2)/d) on the twice-daily schedule. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted with the initial dose and trough drug concentrations also measured at the steady state. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were enrolled. On the once-daily dosing schedule, myelosuppression was dose limiting in three of four patients at 100 mg/m(2), and one of six patients had dose-limiting mood alteration at 80 mg/m(2). At 45 mg/m(2), one of six patients experienced dose-limiting mucositis. Mucositis and myelosuppression were dose limiting at 80 mg/m(2) on the twice-daily schedule, and one of five patients at 60 mg/m(2) on the twice-daily schedule experienced a dose-limiting alkaline phosphatase. Five of 11 patients experienced hand-foot-skin syndrome with twice-daily dosing versus one of 21 after once-daily dosing. There was one partial response and six with prolonged stable disease among 33 evaluable subjects. CONCLUSION: The twice-daily dose regimen is well tolerated in adults; however, children experienced a greater frequency of myelosuppression and hand-foot-skin syndrome on this schedule. Children tolerated a higher dose and the recommended pediatric phase II dose is 80 mg/m(2)/d once daily for seven days.

Phase I/II trial and pharmacokinetic study of cixutumumab in pediatric patients with refractory solid tumors and Ewing sarcoma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: A phase I/II study of cixutumumab (IMC-A12) in children with refractory solid tumors was conducted. This study was designed to assess the toxicities, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of cixutumumab in children to determine a recommended phase II dose and to assess antitumor activity in Ewing sarcoma (ES). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors were treated with cixutumumab as a 1-hour intravenous infusion once per week. Two dose levels-6 and 9 mg/kg-were evaluated using a standard three-plus-three cohort design. Patients with refractory ES were treated in an expanded phase II cohort at each dose level. RESULTS: Forty-seven eligible patients with a median age of 15 years (range, 4 to 28 years) were enrolled. Twelve patients were treated in the dose-finding phase. Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were generally mild and infrequent. Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 4 thrombocytopenia at 6 mg/kg and grade 3 dehydration at 9 mg/kg. Mean trough concentration (± standard deviation) at 9 mg/kg was 106 ± 57 µg/mL, which exceeded the effective trough concentration of 60 µg/mL observed in xenograft models. Three patients with ES had confirmed partial responses: one of 10 at 6 mg/kg and two of 20 at 9 mg/kg. Serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels consistently increased after one dose of cixutumumab. Tumor IGF-I receptor expression by immunohistochemistry did not correlate with response in patients with ES. CONCLUSION: Cixutumumab is well tolerated in children with refractory solid tumors. The recommended phase II dose is 9 mg/kg. Limited single-agent activity of cixutumumab was seen in ES.

Tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of a sunitinib powder formulation in pediatric patients with refractory solid tumors: a Children's Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE: Sunitinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGF, PDGF, c-KIT, and flt-3 receptors. A pediatric phase I study of sunitinib capsules identified the maximum tolerated dose as 15 mg/m(2)/day. This study was conducted to evaluate sunitinib given as a powder formulation. METHODS: Sunitinib 15 mg/m(2) was administered orally daily for 4 weeks on/2 weeks off to patients <21 years old with refractory solid tumors. Sunitinib capsules were opened, and the powder sprinkled onto applesauce or yogurt. Plasma levels of sunitinib and an active metabolite, SU12662, were measured, and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. RESULTS: 12 patients, median age 13 (range 4-21) years, were treated. The most common first-cycle toxicities were leucopenia (n = 6), fatigue (n = 5), neutropenia (n = 4), and hypertension (n = 4). Three patients had dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in cycle 1 (dizziness/back pain, hand-foot syndrome, and intratumoral hemorrhage/hypoxia). A median peak plasma sunitinib concentration of 21 (range 6-36) ng/ml was reached at a median of 4 (range 4-8) h after the first dose. The median exposure (AUC(0-48)) was 585 (range 196-1,059) h ng/l. The median half-life was 23 (range 13-36) h. The median trough concentration measured before day 14 dosing was 32 (range 12-58) ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetic profile of sunitinib appears similar between a powder formulation and published data using capsules. The powder formulation allows patients unable to swallow capsules to receive sunitinib.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of sunitinib in pediatric patients with refractory solid tumors: a children's oncology group study.

PURPOSE: Sunitinib is an oral multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The purpose of this study was to determine the recommended phase 2 dose, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic effects, and preliminary antitumor activity of sunitinib in a pediatric population. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients who were 2 to 21 years of age with refractory solid tumors were eligible if they had measurable or evaluable disease and met baseline organ function requirements. Patients received sunitinib once daily for 28 days followed by a 14-day break between each cycle. Dose levels of 15 and 20 mg/m(2)/d were evaluated, with dose escalation based on a 3 + 3 design. Sunitinib pharmacokinetics and biomarkers of angiogenesis were also evaluated during the first cycle. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were treated (median age 13.9 years; range, 3.9-20.6 years). The most common toxicities were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver transaminases, gastrointestinal symptoms, and fatigue. Two patients developed dose-limiting reductions in cardiac ejection fraction prompting a protocol amendment to exclude patients with previous exposure to anthracyclines or cardiac radiation. In patients without these cardiac risk factors, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 15 mg/m(2)/d. Steady-state plasma concentrations were reached by day 7. No objective responses were observed. Four patients with sarcoma and glioma had stable disease for 2 to 9 cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac toxicity precluded determination of a recommended dose for pediatric patients with previous anthracycline or cardiac radiation exposure. The MTD of sunitinib for patients without risk factors for cardiac toxicity is 15 mg/m(2)/d for 28 days followed by a 14-day break.

Pancreatic resection without routine intraperitoneal drainage.

BACKGROUND: Most surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains at the time of pancreatic resection but this practice has recently been challenged. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the outcome when pancreatic resection is performed without operatively placed intraperitoneal drains. METHODS: In all, 226 consecutive patients underwent pancreatic resection. In 179 patients drains were routinely placed at the time of surgery and in 47 no drains were placed. Outcomes for these two cohorts were recorded in a prospective database and compared using the χ(2) - /Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, and Wilcoxon's test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Demographic, surgical and pathological details were similar between the two cohorts. Elimination of routine intraperitoneal drainage did not increase the frequency or severity of serious complications. However, when all grades of complications were considered, the number of patients that experienced any complication (65% vs. 47%, P= 0.020) and the median complication severity grade (1 vs. 0, P= 0.027) were increased in the group that had drains placed at the time of surgery. Eliminating intra-operative drains was associated with decreased delayed gastric emptying (24% vs. 9%, P= 0.020) and a trend towards decreased wound infection (12% vs. 2%, P= 0.054). The readmission rate (9% vs. 17% P= 0.007) and number of patients requiring post-operative percutaneous drains (2% vs. 11%, P= 0.001) was higher in patients who did not have operatively placed drains but there was no difference in the re-operation rate (4% vs. 0%, P= 0.210). CONCLUSION: Abandoning the practice of routine intraperitoneal drainage after pancreatic resection may not increase the incidence or severity of severe post-operative complications.

Down-regulation of ZIP4 by RNA interference inhibits pancreatic cancer growth and increases the survival of nude mice with pancreatic cancer xenografts.

PURPOSE: Zinc levels have been correlated with cancer risk, although the role of zinc and zinc transporters in cancer progression is largely unknown. We recently found that a zinc transporter, ZIP4, is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. In this study, we further deciphered the role that ZIP4 plays in a pancreatic cancer mouse model by silencing ZIP4. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: ZIP4 stable silencing was established in pancreatic cancer cell lines ASPC-1 (ASPC-shZIP4) and BxPC-3 (BxPC-shZIP4) by short hairpin RNA using retrovirus vectors. The stable cells were characterized in vitro and in vivo using a nude mouse xenograft model. RESULTS: Silencing of ZIP4 was associated with decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Both ASPC-shZIP4 and BxPC-shZIP4 cells showed a significant reduction in tumor volume and weight in the s.c. model, and decreased primary tumor weight in the orthotopic model compared with the vector control cells (ASPC-shV and BxPC-shV). Silencing of ZIP4 also caused reduced incidence of tumor metastasis in the mice and downsized the tumor grade. More importantly, silencing of ZIP4 significantly increased the survival rate of nude mice with orthotopic xenografts (P = 0.005). All ASPC-shZIP4-injected mice (100%) remained alive up to 32 days after tumor implantation, whereas only 30% of the ASPC-shV mice were alive at the same time point. CyclinD1 expression was decreased in the ASPC-shZIP4 xenografts. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify a previously uncharacterized role of ZIP4 in pancreatic cancer progression, and indicate that knocking down ZIP4 by short hairpin RNA might be a novel treatment strategy for pancreatic cancers with ZIP4 overexpression.