Effect of food on the pharmacokinetic behavior of the potent oral taxane BMS-275183.

PURPOSE: BMS-275183 is a potent oral paclitaxel analogue that previously showed promising activity. The goal of the present trial was to investigate whether food affects the pharmacokinetics of BMS-275183. Additionally, we evaluated its pharmacokinetic variability using flat-fixed dosing compared with dosing individualized by body surface area (BSA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were treated with 200 mg of BMS-275183 under fasting condition (A), after a standard low-fat meal (B), or after a high-fat meal (C). The patients were randomized to one of six treatment sequences (ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, CAB, or CBA). The fourth (D) and consecutive weekly doses were normalized by BSA and consisted of 200 mg/m(2). Pharmacokinetic sampling was done up to 72 hours after the first four doses and analyzed with a validated liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry assay. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were treated. Pharmacokinetic data were available for 26 patients (A and C), 24 patients (B), and 21 patients (D). Compared with administration under fasted conditions, a decrease of 39% and 63% in the maximal observed drug concentration was observed when BMS-275183 was administered after a low-fat and a high-fat meal, respectively. There was no change in systemic exposure as measured by the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC(inf)). No apparent relationship was observed between AUC(inf) and BSA for either the 200 mg or the 200 mg/m(2) regimen. BMS-275183 was well tolerated with grade 3 and 4 toxicity in eight patients. One partial response was observed in a non-small cell lung cancer patient. CONCLUSIONS: Food intake does not affect the pharmacologic exposure to BMS-275183. BMS-275183 can be given orally by flat dosing instead of BSA-normalized dosing.

Phase I clinical evaluation of ZD6126, a novel vascular-targeting agent, in patients with solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: ZD6126 is a novel vascular-targeting agent that disrupts the endothelial tubulin cytoskeleton causing selective occlusion of tumor vasculature and extensive tumor necrosis. This Phase I clinical study was conducted to evaluate the dose and administration schedule of ZD6126. METHODS: Adult patients with solid tumors refractory to existing treatments received a 10-min, single-dose intravenous infusion of ZD6126 every 14 or 21 days. Subsequent dose escalation was performed, based on the incidence of adverse events (AEs) within the first cycle of drug administration. Blood samples were obtained for pharmacokinetic analysis, and the effects of ZD6126 on tumor vasculature were visualized using DCE-MRI technology. RESULTS: Forty-four patients received ZD6126 (5-112 mg/m2 in the 21-day schedule, n=35; 40-80 mg/m2 in the 14-day schedule, n=9). Common AEs were similar in both groups and included abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, which appeared to be dose related. The incidence of abdominal pain at 112 mg/m2 in the 21-day study prevented further dose escalation. Pharmacokinetic studies confirmed that ZD6126 is rapidly hydrolyzed to ZD6126 phenol. There was no difference in the pharmacokinetics of ZD6126 phenol upon repeat administration or between the two dosing regimens. DCE-MRI evaluation has demonstrated the antivascular effects of ZD6126. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that ZD6126 administered every 2 or 3 weeks at 80 mg/m2 was well tolerated, with mild but manageable gastrointestinal AEs. In approximately 11% (5 out of 44) of patients, ZD6126 was associated with cardiac events categorized as dose limiting toxicities (one patient with asymptomatic decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), two with increased troponin concentrations, one with myocardial ischemia, and one with ECG signs of myocardial ischemia).

A phase 1 trial of XK469: toxicity profile of a selective topoisomerase IIbeta inhibitor.

PURPOSE: XK469, a member of the quinoxaline family of antitumor agents, is believed to be unique in its ability to selectively target topoisomerase IIbeta. Based on encouraging pre-clinical data, a phase I trial was conducted to determine the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). METHODS: A 2B accelerated titration schema was employed. XK469 was administered as a 5 or 20 min IV infusion on days 1-5 every 21 days. The starting dose was 9 mg/m(2). Pharmacokinetics (PK) were conducted in cycles 1-3. RESULTS: 22 patients (21 evaluable, mean age: 56 years, median performance status: 1) were enrolled. At dose level 11 (260 mg/m(2)/daily X 5), 1/6 patients experienced a DLT of grade 4 neutropenia. At 346 mg/m(2)/daily X 5, 2/2 patients experienced DLT's with one episode of febrile neutropenia and one grade 3 infection. The MTD was identified as 260 mg/m(2)/day. XK469 peak plasma levels and systemic exposure were proportional to dose indicating linear pharmacokinetics. However, secondary peaks in the PK profiles and a rapid decline in drug level from 23 to 24 h occurred in some patients. Drug infusion in the afternoon followed by dense sampling of levels during the elimination phase supported the hypothesis that the drug was being sequestered. No anti-tumor activity was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional PK sampling designs were inadequate to describe XK469 disposition. XK469 and related structures work through a unique mechanism of action. A further understanding of the specific mechanism of these compounds might uncover a unique avenue for future drug development.

Phase I and pharmacodynamic study of the oral MEK inhibitor CI-1040 in patients with advanced malignancies.

PURPOSE: This phase I study was undertaken to define the toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and clinical activity of CI-1040, a small-molecule inhibitor of the dual-specificity kinases MEK(mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) -1 and MEK2 , in patients with advanced malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CI-1040 was tested in multiple daily dosing frequencies administered for 21 days repeated every 28 days leading ultimately to continuous administration, and effect of food on absorption was tested. Single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics were assessed during cycle 1 and phosphorylated extracellular receptor kinase (pERK) levels were assessed in WBCs and also in tumor tissue from selected patients. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients received CI-1040 at dose levels ranging from 100 mg QD to 800 mg tid. Grade 3 asthenia was dose limiting at the highest dose level tested, 800 mg tid administered with food. Ninety-eight percent of all drug-related adverse events were grade 1 or 2 in severity; most common toxicities included diarrhea, asthenia, rash, nausea, and vomiting. Plasma concentrations of CI-1040 and its active metabolite, PD 0184264, increased in a less than dose proportional manner from 100 to 800 mg QD. Administration with a high-fat meal resulted in an increase in drug exposure. The MTD and recommended phase II dose was 800 mg BID administered with food. Sixty-six patients were assessable for response. One partial response was achieved in a patient with pancreatic cancer and 19 patients (28%) achieved stable disease lasting a median of 5.5 months (range, 4 to 17 months). Inhibition of tumor pERK (median, 73%; range, 46% to 100%) was demonstrated in 10 patients. CONCLUSION: CI-1040 was well tolerated at 800 mg BID administered with food. Both target suppression and antitumor activity were demonstrated in this phase I study.

A phase I trial of daily oral 4'- N -benzoyl-staurosporine in combination with protracted continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

PURPOSE: 4'- N -Benzoyl-staurosporine (PKC412) is an orally available staurosporine derivative that inhibits protein kinase C. The objectives of this phase I trial were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the dose limiting toxicities (DLTs), and the pharmacokinetics of PKC412 when co-administered with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: PKC412 was given daily with a 21-day continuous i.v. infusion of 5-FU 200 mg/m2/day, repeated every 4 weeks. The PKC412 dose was escalated by a modified continual reassessment method. The steady-state plasma pharmacokinetics of 5-FU, PKC412, and two of its circulating metabolites were determined during the first cycle of therapy. RESULTS: A total of 33 patients were treated with 70 cycles (median: 2, range: 1-4) of PKC412 at doses ranging from 25 to 225 mg/day. No significant toxicities were encountered with doses up to 150 mg/day. Among nine patients treated with 225 mg/day of PKC412, one experienced grade 3 fatigue and nausea, another developed grade 3 hyperglycemia, and three had grade 2 emesis and stomatitis, leading to early treatment discontinuation. Minor responses consisting of a 40-45% tumor reduction were observed in two patients, one with gall bladder carcinoma and one with breast cancer. Mean values of steady-state pharmacokinetic variables for both PKC412 and 5-FU were comparable to single agent studies. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended phase II dose of PKC412 is 150 mg/day when combined with a continuous infusion of 200 mg/m2/day 5-FU. The dose limiting toxicity was grade 2 emesis and stomatitis and the regimen showed indications of activity. There was no evidence of a pharmacokinetic interaction between the two drugs.