A Multicenter, Phase 2 Study of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Trap (Aflibercept) in Platinum- and Erlotinib-Resistant Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

IntroductionAflibercept (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] trap), a recombinant fusion protein, blocks the activity of VEGF-A and placental growth factor and has demonstrated activity in pretreated patients with lung cancer in a phase I trial. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravenous aflibercept in patients with platinum- and erlotinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsAn open-label, single arm, multicenter trial was conducted, with the primary end point of response rate (modified RECIST). Additional endpoints included safety, duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Patients with platinum- and erlotinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma were eligible. Aflibercept 4.0 mg/kg intravenous every 2 weeks was administered until progression of disease or intolerable toxicity.ResultsNinety-eight patients were enrolled; 89 were evaluable for response. Median age was 60 years, 41% were men with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1/2 in 35/55/9% of patients. The overall response rate was 2.0%, (95% confidence interval, 0.2-7.2%). Median progression-free survival was 2.7 months, and overall was survival 6.2 months. Six- and 12-month survival rates were 54 and 29%, respectively. A median of four cycles was administered (range 1-22). Common grade 3/4 toxicities included dyspnea (21%), hypertension (23%), and proteinuria (10%). Two cases of grade 5 hemoptysis were reported, and one case each of tracheoesophageal fistula, decreased cardiac ejection fraction, cerebral ischemia, and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy.ConclusionsAflibercept has minor single agent activity in heavily pretreated lung adenocarcinoma, and is well tolerated, with no unexpected toxicities. Further studies evaluating aflibercept in lung cancer, in combination with chemotherapy and other targeted therapies, are ongoing

Neutropenia, neutrophilia, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as prognostic markers in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Background and purpose: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are potentially useful prognostic markers in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This post hoc analysis investigated whether these markers can be utilized for dose considerations and evaluated the prognostic impact of leukocyte subtypes. Patients and methods: PROSELICA assessed the non-inferiority of cabazitaxel 20 mg/m2 (C20; n = 598) versus 25 mg/m2 (C25; n = 602) for overall survival (OS) in patients with mCRPC previously treated with docetaxel. The association of grade ⩾ 3 neutropenia, NLR, baseline neutrophilia and lymphopenia with OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and prostate-specific antigen response rate (PSArr) was investigated by an unplanned uni- and multivariate analyses. Results: PROSELICA confirmed the negative prognostic value of increased baseline NLR [⩾3, hazard ratio (HR) 1.40; p < 0.0001], but did not identify a subgroup of patients benefiting more from C20 or C25. In this post hoc analysis, patients who developed grade ⩾3 neutropenia (n = 673) had a significantly improved OS [∆OS = 2.7 months, HR = 0.78 (95% CI 0.68–0.89)] with the greatest advantage observed in patients with baseline neutrophilia [n = 85; 5.3 months, 0.60 (0.42–0.84)]. After adjustment for the Halabi criteria, neutropenia grade ⩾ 3 was the only biomarker that remained significantly associated with OS [ (HR 0.86 (0.75–0.98)], PFS [HR 0.78 (0.68–0.88)], and PSArr [odds ratio (OR) 1.82 (1.37–2.41)] while neutrophilia showed the strongest association with OS [1.53 (1.29–1.81)]. Conclusions: Grade ⩾ 3 neutropenia was the only leukocyte-based biomarker associated with all key outcome parameters in mCRPC patients receiving cabazitaxel and might be able to overcome the negative prognostic effect of baseline neutrophilia

Janus kinase-2 inhibitor fedratinib in patients with myelofibrosis previously treated with ruxolitinib (JAKARTA-2):a single-arm, open-label, non-randomised, phase 2, multicentre study

Background Myelofibrosis is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterised by splenomegaly, cytopenias, bone marrow fibrosis, and debilitating symptoms including fatigue, weight loss, and bone pain. Mutations in Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) occur in approximately 50% of patients. The only approved JAK2 inhibitor for myelofibrosis is the dual JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib. 58-71% of patients treated with ruxolitinib in clinical trials so far have not achieved the primary endpoint of 35% or more reduction in spleen volume from baseline assessed by MRI or CT. Furthermore, more than 50% of patients discontinue ruxolitinib treatment after 3-5 years. On the basis of this unmet need, we investigated the efficacy and safety of fedratinib, a JAK2-selective inhibitor, in patients with ruxolitinibresistant or ruxolitinib-intolerant myelofibrosis.Methods This single-arm, open-label, non-randomised, phase 2, multicentre study, done at 31 sites in nine countries, enrolled adult patients with a current diagnosis of intermediate or high-risk primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis, or post-essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis, found to be ruxolitinib resistant or intolerant after at least 14 days of treatment. Other main inclusion criteria were palpable splenomegaly (&gt;= 5 cm below the left costal margin), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or less, and life expectancy of 6 months or less. Patients received oral fedratinib at a starting dose of 400 mg once per day, for six consecutive 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was spleen response (defined as the proportion of patients with a &gt;= 35% reduction in spleen volume as determined by blinded CT and MRI at a central imaging laboratory). We did the primary analysis in the per-protocol population only (patients treated with fedratinib, for whom a baseline and at least one post-baseline spleen volume measurement was available) and the safety analysis in all patients receiving at least one dose of fedratinib. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01523171.Findings Between May 8, 2012, and Aug 29, 2013, 97 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of fedratinib. Of 83 assessable patients, 46 (55%, 95% CI 44-66) achieved a spleen response. Common grade 3-4 adverse events included anaemia (37 [38%] of 97 patients) and thrombocytopenia (21 [22%] of 97), with 18 (19%) patients discontinuing due to adverse events. Seven (7%) patients died during the study, but none of the deaths was drug related. Suspected cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy in other fedratinib trials led to study termination.Interpretation This phase 2 study met its primary endpoint, suggesting that patients with ruxolitinib-resistant or ruxolitinib-intolerant myelofibrosis might achieve significant clinical benefit with fedratinib, albeit at the cost of some potential toxicity, which requires further evaluation. Fedratinib development in this setting is currently being assessed.</p