Faculty Publications

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) continues to be a source of significant morbidity and mortality. Agents that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), including monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have demonstrated activity in this disease. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the monoclonal antibody cetuximab in conjunction with radiation for locally advanced disease, and as a single agent for recurrent/metastatic disease. In addition, recent data have shown a survival benefit for patients with recurrent/metastatic disease who are treated with platinum, fluorouracil, and cetuximab. These promising results have prompted further study of EGFR inhibitors with radiation and cytotoxic chemotherapy to further increase the benefit of treatment for SCCHN.

Hypothesis: To study the progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity with 25- or 250-mg doses of temsirolimus (CCI-779) after induction chemotherapy in patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer. Methods: Patients with either stable or responding disease to four to six cycles of cisplatin or carboplatin plus etoposide or irinotecan were randomized between 4 and 8 weeks after completion of induction therapy to receive either 25 or 250 mg of temsirolimus intravenously every week until disease progression. Results: Eighty-seven patients entered between January 2002 and December 2003, of whom 85 were eligible: 44 received 25 mg (arm A), and 41 received 250 mg (arm 13). The overall median follow-up time for all eligible patients was 34.6 months. Median age was 59 years (range, 39-80); 42 (49.4%) were male and 43 (50.6%) female; 12.9% had brain metastases. The overall median and 1-year PFS were 2.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8, 2.9) and 4.7% (95% Cl: 0.2%, 9.2%), respectively. The median PFS (95% CI) for ann A was 1.9 months (1.6, 2.3); for arm B, it was 2.5 months (1.9, 3.4; p = 0.24). The median overall survival from randomization was 8 months (95% Cl: 6.5, 9.5). Among the 86 patients with reported toxicities. 36 (42%) had grade 3 toxicities, the most common of which were thrombocytopenia, hypophosphatemia, and fatigue, and an additional 12 (14%) had grade 4 toxicities, the most common of which was neutropenia. No patients experienced lethal toxicities. Conclusion: Temsirolimus (CCI 779), given at 25 or 250 mg weekly, seemed not to increase the PFS in this patient population.

The epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and its receptor were discovered nearly 40 years ago. Over the past decade interruption of this pathway has been exploited in the treatment of various solid tumors. Antibodies that interfere with ligand binding to and dimerization of the EGFR (and small molecules that inhibit the EGFR tyrosine kinase) are anti-proliferative, profoundly radiosensitizing, and synergistic with DNA-damaging cytotoxic agents. Proposed mechanisms of radio- and chemosensitization include enhanced apoptosis, interference, with DNA repair and angiogenesis, receptor depletion from the cell surface and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This article provides a reader with a comprehensive review of EGFR-targeting antibodies under development for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and also summarizes relevant clinical data in this disease with small molecule EGFR inhibitors. One of the monoclonal antibodies, cetuximab, recently received full FDA approval for the treatment of patients with locally advanced (with radiation) or metastatic HNSCC (as a single agent). Regulatory approval followed reporting of a large international study in which the addition of cetuximab to definitive radiation therapy in HNSCC resulted in statistically significant improvements in locoregional control and overall survival. Results of the pivotal trial, other clinical data supporting the regulatory approval, and a preview of the next generation of clinical trials are presented. Considerable work remains to be done, particularly to enhance our understanding of factors that may predict for favorable response to EGFR inhibitor therapy and to evaluate the impact of integrating anti-EGFR therapies into complex chemoradiation programs delivered with curative intent.

Purpose To assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary evidence of antitumor activity of mapatumumab (HGS-ETR1, TRM-1), a fully human agonist monoclonal antibody directed to the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor-1 (TRAIL-R1). Patients and Methods Patients with advanced solid malignancies were treated with escalating doses of mapatumumab intravenously (IV) administered over 30 to 120 minutes, initially as a single dose and then repetitively. Plasma mapatumumab concentrations were measured and serum was assayed to detect human antimapatumumab antibody formation. Archival tumor specimens were collected to detect the presence of TRAIL-R1 by immunohistochemistry. Results Forty-nine patients received 158 courses at doses ranging from 0.01 to 10 mg/kg IV. Initially, patients received mapatumumab as a single dose, then every 28 days repetitively, and then 10 mg/kg every 14 days. Mild ( grade 1 or 2) fatigue, fever, and myalgia were the most frequently reported nonhematologic adverse events related to mapatumumab, whereas hematologic toxicity was not clinically significant. The mean (+/- standard deviation) clearance and terminal elimination half-life values for mapatumumab at 10 mg/kg every 14 days were 3.7 mL/d/kg (+/- 1.5 mL/d/kg) and 18.8 days (+/- 10.1 days), respectively. TRAIL-R1 was documented in 68% of patients' tumors assayed. Nineteen patients had stable disease, with two lasting 9 months. Conclusion Mapatumumab can be administered safely and feasibly at 10 mg/kg IV every 14 days. The absence of severe toxicities and the attainment of plasma mapatumumab concentrations that are active in preclinical models warrant further disease-directed studies of this agent alone and in combination with chemotherapy in a broad array of tumors.

The epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and its receptor were discovered nearly 40 years ago. Over the past decade interruption of this pathway has been exploited in the treatment of various solid tumors. Antibodies that interfere with ligand binding to and dimerization of the EGFR (and small molecules that inhibit the EGFR tyrosine kinase) are anti-proliferative, profoundly radiosensitizing, and synergistic with DNA-damaging cytotoxic agents. Proposed mechanisms of radio- and chemosensitization include enhanced apoptosis, interference with DNA repair and angiogenesis, receptor depletion from the cell surface and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This article provides a reader with a comprehensive review of EGFR-targeting antibodies under development for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and also summarizes relevant clinical data in this disease with small molecule EGFR inhibitors. One of the monoclonal antibodies, cetuximab, recently received full FDA approval for the treatment of patients with locally advanced (with radiation) or metastatic HNSCC (as a single agent). Regulatory approval followed reporting of a large international study in which the addition of cetuximab to definitive radiation therapy in HNSCC resulted in statistically significant improvements in locoregional control and overall survival. Results of the pivotal trial, other clinical data supporting the regulatory approval, and a preview of the next generation of clinical trials are presented. Considerable work remains to be done, particularly to enhance our understanding of factors that may predict for favorable response to EGFR inhibitor therapy and to evaluate the impact of integrating anti-EGFR therapies into complex chemoradiation programs delivered with curative intent.

To evaluate the toxicity, pharmacological and biological properties of ATN-161, a five-amino-acid peptide derived from the synergy region of fibronectin, adult patients with advanced solid tumours were enrolled in eight sequential dose cohorts (0.1 - 16mg kg(-1)), receiving ATN-161 administered as a 10-min infusion thrice weekly. Pharmacokinetic sampling of blood and urine over 7 h was performed on Day 1. Twenty-six patients received from 1 to 144-week cycles of treatment. The total number of cycles administered to all patients was 86, without dose-limiting toxicities. At dose levels above 0.5 mg kg(-1), mean total clearance and volume of distribution showed dose-independent pharmacokinetics (PKs). At 8.0 and 16.0 mg kg(-1), clearance of ATN-161 was reduced, suggesting saturable PKs. Dose escalation was halted at 16 mg kg(-1) when drug exposure (area under the curve) exceeded that associated with efficacy in animal models. There were no objective responses. Six patients rece! ived more than four cycles of treatment (> 112 days). Three patients received 10 or more cycles (>= 280 days). ATN-161 was well tolerated at all dose levels. Approximately, 1/3 of the patients in the study manifested prolonged stable disease. These findings suggest that ATN-161 should be investigated further as an antiangiogenic and antimetastatic cancer agent alone or with chemotherapy.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor were discovered nearly 40 years ago. Over the past decade interruption of this pathway has been exploited in the treatment of various solid tumors. Antibodies that interfere with ligand binding to and dimerization of the EGFR (and small molecules that inhibit the EGFR tyrosine kinase) are anti-proliferative, radiosensitizing, and synergistic with DNA-damaging cytotoxic agents. Proposed mechanisms of radio- and. chemosensitization include enhanced apoptosis, interference with DNA repair and angiogenesis, receptor depletion from the cell surface and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This article provides the reader with a comprehensive review of EGFR-targeting antibodies under development for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and also summarizes relevant clinical data in this disease with small molecule EGFR inhibitors. One of the monoclonal antibodies, cetuximab, recently received full FDA approval for the treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced (with radiation) or metastatic HNSCC (as a single agent). Regulatory approval followed reporting of a large international study in which the addition of cetuximab to definitive radiation therapy in HNSCC resulted in statistically significant improvements in locoregional control and overall survival. Results of the pivotal trial, other clinical data supporting the regulatory approval, and a preview of the next generation of clinical trials are presented. Considerable work remains to be done, particularly to enhance our understanding of factors that may predict for favorable response to EGFR inhibitor therapy and to evaluate the impact of integrating anti-EGFR therapies into complex chemoradiation programs delivered with curative intent.

SO JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY LA English DT Meeting Abstract C1 Univ Colorado, Ctr Canc, Denver, CO 80262 USA. Fox Chase Canc Ctr, Philadelphia, PA 19111 USA. ImClone Syst Inc, Branchburg, NJ USA