A multicenter open-label randomized phase II trial of paclitaxel plus EP-100, a novel LHRH receptor-targeted, membrane-disrupting peptide, versus paclitaxel alone for refractory or recurrent ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized open-label phase II study evaluated the safety and clinical activity of EP-100 plus weekly paclitaxel in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer expressing positive LHRH receptor. METHODS: In a limited "run-in" dose escalation phase for EP-100, six patients were treated with ascending dose levels (13 mg/m2, 20 mg/m2, 30 mg/m2). In the randomized phase, patients received weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 intravenously) plus twice weekly EP-100 (30 mg/m2 intravenously; combination arm) or weekly paclitaxel alone (80 mg/m2 intravenously; paclitaxel arm). The primary study endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Forty-four patients were then randomized to either the experimental combination arm (n = 23) or the standard of care paclitaxel monotherapy arm (n = 21). The ORR was 35% (95%CI 16%-57%) for the combination arm and 33% (95% CI 15%-57%) for the paclitaxel arm. An interesting observation from an unplanned analysis was that a subset of patients with target liver lesions showed a greater overall response rate to the combination (69%) compared to paclitaxel alone (16%). The frequency of treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events was similar between treatment arms: 48% vs 43% for the combination and paclitaxel arms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ORR in the EP-100 combination arm was similar to that in the group treated with paclitaxel alone; however, a subset of patients with liver metastases appeared to benefit from the combination. The addition of EP-100 did not appear to augment the adverse event profile of paclitaxel and was well tolerated.

Results of a Phase 1/2a dose-escalation study of FF-10501-01, an IMPDH inhibitor, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

FF-10501-01 potently inhibits inosine-5-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), inducing anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) human cell lines resistant to hypomethylating agents. In this Phase 1/2a study, Phase 1 enrolled 38 patients with relapsed/refractory AML (n = 28) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS/CMML, n = 10) to receive FF-10501 oral doses 50-500 mg/m2 BID for 14 or 21 days out of each 28-day cycle. Fifteen additional patients with HMA-resistant MDS/CMML (Phase 2a) were treated at 400 mg/m2 BID for 21 days. Most Phase 1 adverse events were disease-related and low-grade. 3 of 19 (16%) evaluable AML patients achieved partial remission (31, 7, and 5 months). 2 of 20 (10%) evaluable MDS/CMML patients (Phase 1 and 2a) attained marrow complete remission, one continuing treatment for 17 months. While FF-10501-01 demonstrated clinical activity and target inhibition in heavily pretreated patients with AML and MDS/CMML, increased mucositis events led to Phase 2a closure (ClinTrials.gov#NCT02193958).

Multicenter Phase IB Trial of Carboxyamidotriazole Orotate and Temozolomide for Recurrent and Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma and Other Anaplastic Gliomas.

Purpose Carboxyamidotriazole orotate (CTO) is a novel oral inhibitor of non-voltage-dependent calcium channels with modulatory effects in multiple cell-signaling pathways and synergistic effects with temozolomide (TMZ) in glioblastoma (GBM) models. We conducted a phase IB study combining CTO with two standard TMZ schedules in GBM. Methods In cohort 1, patients with recurrent anaplastic gliomas or GBM received escalating doses of CTO (219 to 812.5 mg/m2 once daily or 600 mg fixed once-daily dose) combined with TMZ (150 mg/m2 5 days during each 28-day cycle). In cohort 2, patients with newly diagnosed GBM received escalating doses of CTO (219 to 481 mg/m2/d once daily) with radiotherapy and TMZ 75 mg/m2/d, followed by TMZ 150 mg to 200 mg/m2 5 days during each 28-day cycle. Results Forty-seven patients were enrolled. Treatment was well tolerated; toxicities included fatigue, constipation, nausea, and hypophosphatemia. Pharmacokinetics showed that CTO did not alter TMZ levels; therapeutic concentrations were achieved in tumor and brain. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed; the recommended phase II dose was 600 mg/d flat dose. Signals of activity in cohort 1 (n = 27) included partial (n = 6) and complete (n = 1) response, including in O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase unmethylated and bevacizumab-refractory tumors. In cohort 2 (n = 15), median progression-free survival was 15 months and median overall survival was not reached (median follow-up, 28 months; 2-year overall survival, 62%). Gene sequencing disclosed a high rate of responses among EGFR-amplified tumors ( P = .005), with mechanisms of acquired resistance possibly involving mutations in mismatch-repair genes and/or downstream components TSC2, NF1, NF2, PTEN, and PIK3CA. Conclusion CTO can be combined safely with TMZ or chemoradiation in GBM and anaplastic gliomas, displaying favorable brain penetration and promising signals of activity in this difficult-to-treat population.

Combination of the low anticoagulant heparin CX-01 with chemotherapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Relapses in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are a result of quiescent leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in marrow stromal niches, where they resist chemotherapy. LSCs employ CXCL12/CXCR4 to home toward protective marrow niches. Heparin disrupts CXCL12-mediated sequestration of cells in the marrow. CX-01 is a low-anticoagulant heparin derivative. In this pilot study, we combined CX-01 with chemotherapy for the treatment of AML. Induction consisted of cytarabine and idarubicin (7 + 3) with CX-01. Twelve patients were enrolled (median age, 56 years; 3 women). Three, 5, and 4 patients had good-, intermediate-, and poor-risk disease, respectively. Day 14 bone marrows were available on 11 patients and were aplastic in all without detectable leukemia. Eleven patients (92%) had morphologic complete remission after 1 induction (CR1). Eight patients were alive at a median follow-up of 24 months (4 patients in CR1). Three patients received an allogeneic stem cell transplant in CR1. Median disease-free survival was 14.8 months. Median overall survival was not attained at the maximum follow-up time of 29.4 months. No CX-01-associated serious adverse events occurred. Median day to an untransfused platelet count of at least 20 × 109/L was 21. CX-01 is well tolerated when combined with intensive therapy for AML and appears associated with enhanced count recovery and treatment efficacy.

Tecarfarin, a novel vitamin K reductase antagonist, is not affected by CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 inhibition following concomitant administration of fluconazole in healthy participants.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of vitamin K epoxide reductase antagonists tecarfarin and warfarin were assessed before and after coadministration for 21 days of the CYP450 inhibitor fluconazole in a randomized, open-label, single-center drug interaction study. Twenty healthy adult participants were randomized 1:1 to receive approximately equipotent single oral doses of tecarfarin (50 mg) or warfarin (17.5 mg). Following 7 days of baseline serial blood level collections, each participant received oral fluconazole 400 mg daily for 21 days. A second identical single oral dose of tecarfarin or warfarin was given 14 days after starting fluconazole with serial pharmacokinetic sampling. Key pharmacokinetic parameters C(max), t(max), AUC(0-168), apparent clearance, and t(1/2) demonstrated no tecarfarin-fluconazole interaction but a strong warfarin-fluconazole interaction. The ratio of log-transformed mean AUC(0-168) with versus without fluconazole for tecarfarin was 91.2% (90% confidence interval [CI]: 83.3-99.8) and for racemic warfarin was 213% (90% CI: 202-226). The 90% CI was entirely within the standard 80% to 125% bioequivalence interval for tecarfarin but well outside the bioequivalence interval for warfarin, confirming a clinically significant pharmacokinetic interaction between warfarin and fluconazole. In contrast, tecarfarin pharmacokinetics were apparently unchanged by fluconazole.