Phase 0 study of vandetanib-eluting radiopaque embolics as a pre-operative embolization treatment in patients with resectable liver malignancies

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and tolerability of a vandetanib-eluting radiopaque embolic (BTG-002814) for transarterial chemo-embolization in patients with resectable liver malignancies. METHODS: The VEROnA clinical trial was a first-in-human, phase 0, single-arm, window-of-opportunity study. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years, had resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)(Child-Pugh A) or colorectal liver metastases (mCRC). Patients received 1mL of BTG-002814 transarterially (containing 100mg vandetanib) 7-21 days prior to surgery. Primary objectives were to establish the safety and tolerability of BTG-002814, and to determine concentrations of vandetanib and the N-desmethyl metabolite in plasma and resected liver post-treatment. Biomarker studies included circulating pro-angiogenic factors, perfusion computed tomography and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Eight patients were enrolled: two with HCC, and six with mCRC. There was one Grade 3 adverse event (AE) pre-surgery and 18 post-surgery; six AEs were deemed BTG-002814 related. Surgical resection was not delayed. Vandetanib was present in the plasma of all patients 12 days post-treatment with a mean maximum concentration (Cmax) of 24.3 ng/mL (SD 13.94) and present in resected liver tissue up to 32 days post-treatment (441-404,000 ng/g). Median tumor necrosis was 92.5% (range 5-100%). There were no significant changes in perfusion imaging parameters post-TACE. CONCLUSION: BTG-002814 has an acceptable safety profile in patients pre-surgery. Presence of vandetanib in tumor specimens up to 32 days post-treatment suggests sustained anticancer activity; low vandetanib plasma levels suggest minimal release into the systemic circulation. Further evaluation of this TACE combination is warranted in dose-finding and efficacy studies