Crizotinib: a new treatment option for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To review the characteristics and clinical trial data of crizotinib in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). DATA SOURCE: A literature search using PubMed/MEDLINE (up to December 2012) was performed using the terms crizotinib, ALK-positive, non-small cell lung cancer, and PF-02341066. STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION: Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of crizotinib in a cohort of patients with ALK rearrangements and advanced NSCLC were evaluated. All peer-reviewed articles with clinically relevant information were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: ALK rearrangement results in an aberrant EML4-ALK fusion oncogene that constitutively activates ALK tyrosine kinase, resulting in inhibition of apoptosis and promotion of tumor cell proliferation. Approximately 3-5% of NSCLC exhibit this rearrangement. Crizotinib is an oral selective inhibitor of ALK and mesenchymal epithelial growth factor tyrosine kinases. Early phase trials with crizotinib showed improved response rates of 50-57% and extended duration of response of 6-10 months. Results of these studies led to accelerated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of crizotinib. Further clinical trial results confirmed improvement in response rates, duration of response, as well as progression-free survival in ALK-positive patients with NSCLC receiving crizotinib. The drug undergoes hepatic metabolism by CYP3A4 and demonstrates autoinhibition of CY3A4, thus predisposing it to drug interactions. The most frequent toxicities with crizotinib include mild visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, edema, and generally reversible, sometimes severe, elevations in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. CONCLUSIONS: Crizotinib is a novel targeted anticancer agent that appears to be a favorable treatment option for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC that is ALK-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Everolimus: a new treatment option for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To present the current clinical evidence on everolimus for use in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET). DATA SOURCES: A literature search was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE (1946-March 2012). Search terms were everolimus, RAD001, mTOR inhibitor, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2000-2012 meetings and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews were searched to obtain otherwise unpublished data. The national clinical trials registry was searched for current and future studies of everolimus in pNET. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Clinical studies available in the English language describing the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical activity, and safety of everolimus in pNET were included. All peer-reviewed, clinically relevant publications were reviewed for inclusion. DATA SYNTHESIS: Everolimus is an oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor approved by the FDA in May 2011 for the treatment of progressive, advanced pNET. Everolimus exerts its effect by inhibiting multiple downstream pathways of mTOR, which decreases cell proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. Its pNET indication was based on the results of RADIANT-3, a Phase 3 trial demonstrating increased median progression-free survival (11 months) with everolimus 10 mg orally once daily compared to placebo (4.6 months). Everolimus was well tolerated in clinical trials. The most commonly reported adverse events included stomatitis, rash, diarrhea, fatigue, infections, nausea, and decreased appetite. Grade 3/4 events including anemia, thrombocytopenia, pneumonitis, and hyperglycemia occurred in approximately 5% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Based on review of the available literature, everolimus is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with low- to intermediate-grade, unresectable or metastatic pNET that have progressed on prior therapies. Until results of head-to-head, randomized controlled trials are conducted to compare everolimus to other treatment options, it cannot be said whether everolimus is more efficacious or tolerable than other treatment options.

Romidepsin: a histone deacetylase inhibitor for refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of romidepsin in refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). DATA SOURCES: An English-language literature search of PubMed and MEDLINE (Nov 2011-April 2012) was performed using the terms romidepsin, CTCL, and depsipeptide (FK228). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, American Society of Clinical Oncology abstracts, American Society of Hematology abstracts, clinical trial registry, and prescribing information from the manufacturer were reviewed for additional information. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Phase 1 and 2 trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of romidepsin were reviewed with a specific focus on its use in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. All peer-reviewed articles with clinically relevant information were evaluated for inclusion. DATA SYNTHESIS: In advanced stage CTCL, single or combination chemotherapy regimen responses are variable and lack durability. Romidepsin is a histone deacetylase inhibitor approved for refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Romidepsin has shown an improvement in duration of response and pruritus over traditional therapy. In 2 independent Phase 2 trials, romidepsin showed an overall response rate of 34% and durable response of 13-15 months in patients with refractory CTCL. The most frequent toxicities of romidepsin include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or myelosuppression. Clinically insignificant QT interval changes have been observed but did not correlate with a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, or elevated laboratory markers of myocardial damage. CONCLUSIONS: Romidepsin is an effective, durable, and well-tolerated single-agent therapy in patients with refractory CTCL and should be considered for formulary addition in this population.