Abstract P4-14-20: A phase 1b study of ONT 380, an oral HER2-specific inhibitor, combined with ado trastuzumab emtansine (T DM1), in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Abstract Background: ONT 380 is a potent HER2 selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor with minimal EGFR-like side effects. Preclinical studies demonstrate synergism with trastuzumab (T) and chemotherapy, as well as activity in models of HER2+ CNS disease. Based on the potential for increased clinical activity of dual HER2 blockade in the context of a targeted cytotoxic agent, we evaluated the safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor activity of ONT-380 in combination with T-DM1 in patients (pts) with MBC with and without CNS metastases (mets). Methods: 3+3 dose escalation with MTD expansion cohorts in pts with/without CNS mets evaluating ONT-380 (300 or 350 mg PO BID) combined with T-DM1 3.6 mg/kg IV q 21 days. Prior treatment with T and taxane was required; prior lapatinib and asymptomatic brain mets (treated or untreated) were allowed. Assessments included safety, PK, and systemic (RECIST 1.1) and CNS (modified RECIST) tumor response, with brain MRI at baseline and q 6 wks in pts with CNS mets at baseline. DLT was defined as the occurrence of protocol-specified events during the 1st treatment cycle. Results: As of 01 June 2015, 51 pts have been enrolled and have received between 1 and 22 cycles, with safety data available for 43 pts (n=36 at 300 mg BID; n=7 at 350 mg BID). Pts had a median of 2 prior treatments for MBC, including T (n=43); pertuzumab (n=15) and lapatinib (n=7). The MTD for ONT-380 was 300 mg BID with 5/36 pts (14%) with DLT (Gr 3 AST/ALT [n=4]; Gr 2 vomiting/Gr1 diarrhea [n=1]) vs. 3/7 pts (43%) with DLT at 350 mg BID (Gr 3 vomiting [n=1]; Gr 3 hypersensitivity [n=1]; Gr 3 fatigue [n=1]). Overall, the majority of AEs have been Gr 1 or 2. The most common AEs, regardless of relationship, were nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, thrombocytopenia, AST/ALT elevation, headache, decreased appetite, epistaxis, constipation, and hypokalemia. Gr 3 AST/ALT elevation has occurred in 7/43 pts (16%), with no events meeting Hy's law, and has been reversible with dose interruption and reduction except in 2 pts found to have progressive liver mets. No Gr 3 diarrhea has occurred at any dose. ONT-380 PK was dose proportional, and no drug-drug interaction was observed with T-DM1. In 33 of 43 pts with data available from at least one follow-up scan to evaluate response, best systemic response regardless of dose was 11 PR, 16 SD, and 6 PD, with clinical benefit rate (CBR= CR, PR, or SD &amp;gt;6 mos) of 19/33 (58%). The most common reason for treatment discontinuation was PD, with 3 pts coming off study for AEs (n=1 each of Gr 3 hypersensitivity, Gr 2 vomiting, Gr 3 AST/ALT). Eight pts to date have been evaluable for CNS response (untreated or progressive CNS mets with ≥1 follow-up MRI), with best CNS response of 1 CNS CR, 2 CNS PR, and 5 CNS SD, with a CNS CBR of 5/8 (63%). All pts with CNS response are still active. Conclusion: Treatment with ONT-380 300 mg BID and T-DM1 3.6 mg/kg has been tolerable. Early evidence of anti-tumor activity has been seen, including clinical benefit in patients with CNS mets. Updated results will be presented. Citation Format: Ferrario C, Hamilton E, Aucoin N, Falkson CI, Khan Q, Krop IE, Welch S, Bedard PL, Conlin A, Chaves J, Vo A, Walker L, Borges V. A phase 1b study of ONT 380, an oral HER2-specific inhibitor, combined with ado trastuzumab emtansine (T DM1), in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-14-20.</jats:p

Quorum-sensing control of antibiotic resistance stabilizes cooperation in Chromobacterium violaceum

Many Proteobacteria use quorum sensing to regulate production of public goods, such as antimicrobials and proteases, that are shared among members of a community. Public goods are vulnerable to exploitation by cheaters, such as quorum sensing-defective mutants. Quorum sensing- regulated private goods, goods that benefit only producing cells, can prevent the emergence of cheaters under certain growth conditions. Previously, we developed a laboratory co-culture model to investigate the importance of quorum-regulated antimicrobials during interspecies competition. In our model, Burkholderia thailandensis and Chromobacterium violaceum each use quorum sensing-controlled antimicrobials to inhibit the other species' growth. Here, we show that C. violaceum uses quorum sensing to increase resistance to bactobolin, a B. thailandensis antibiotic, by increasing transcription of a putative antibiotic efflux pump. We demonstrate conditions where C. violaceum quorum-defective cheaters emerge and show that in these conditions, bactobolin restrains cheaters. We also demonstrate that bactobolin restrains quorum-defective mutants in our co-culture model, and the increase in antimicrobial-producing cooperators drives the C. violaceum population to become more competitive. Our results describe a mechanism of cheater restraint involving quorum control of efflux pumps and demonstrate that interspecies competition can reinforce cooperative behaviors by placing constraints on quorum sensing-defective mutants