Search

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) are next-generation core-shell nanostructures, conceptually derived from both liposome and polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), where a polymer core remains enveloped by a lipid layer. Although they have garnered significant interest, they remain not yet widely exploited or ubiquitous. Recently, a fundamental transformation has occurred in the preparation of LPHNPs, characterized by a transition from a two-step to a one-step strategy, involving synchronous self-assembly of polymers and lipids. Owing to its two-in-one structure, this approach is of particular interest as a combinatorial drug delivery platform in oncology. In particular, the outer surface can be decorated in multifarious ways for active targeting of anticancer therapy, delivery of DNA or RNA materials, and use as a diagnostic imaging agent. This review will provide an update on recent key advancements in design, synthesis, and bioactivity evaluation as well as discussion of future clinical possibilities of LPHNPs.

BACKGROUND MDNA55 is an IL4R-targeted toxin in development for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). MDNA55 binds to IL4R expressed by tumor cells and non-malignant cells of the tumor microenvironment. METHOD MDNA55-05 was an open-label, single-arm study of MDNA55 delivered by CED as a single treatment in patients with 1st or 2nd recurrence following de novo GBM, IDH wild type status and not indicated for resection at relapse. Dose volumes (up to 60mL) and concentration of MDNA55 (1.5 to 9.0 μg/mL) were studied. RESULTS MDNA55 showed an acceptable safety profile at all doses tested. Median OS (mOS) amongst all subjects was 11.9 months, OS-24 was 20%, and PFS-12 was 27%. Among subjects expressing high levels of IL4R (irrespective of MDNA55 dose) and low levels of IL4R expression administered high dose (≥ 180μg) of MDNA55 (IL4Rhi + IL4Rlo/hd), mOS further improved to 14.0 months with OS-24 of 20%. Unmethylated MGMT promoter status did not affect MDNA55 treatment outcomes. In the IL4Rhi + IL4Rlo/hd population (N=17), mOS was 14.9 months with OS-24 of 22%. Following treatment with high concentrations of MDNA55 (6.0 or 9.0 μg/mL), transient (median of 3 cycles) low dose Avastin (5mg/kg q2w or 7.5mg/kg q3w) was used for symptom control and steroid sparring. Among these subjects, mOS amongst all comers (N=9) and the IL4Rhi + IL4Rlo/hd group (N=8) increased to 21.8 and 18.6 months with OS-24 of 44% and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS MDNA55 shows potential to benefit all rGBM patients treated at high dose irrespective of IL4R expression. In the 1:1 randomized Phase 3 trial, the study will enrol two-thirds of subjects in the SOC arm from a matched external control arm. Unlike conventional RCTs, the hybrid design sets a new precedent for GBM trials, allowing robust OS analysis while significantly reducing the number of subjects randomized to SOC arm.

Purpose: The current study compared the standard response assessment in neuro-oncology (RANO), immunotherapy RANO (iRANO), and modified RANO (mRANO) criteria as well as quantified the association between progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in an immunotherapy trial in recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). Patients and Methods: A total of 47 patients with rGBM were enrolled in a prospective phase II convection-enhanced delivery of an IL4R-targeted immunotoxin (MDNA55-05, NCT02858895). Bidirectional tumor measurements were created by local sites and centrally by an independent radiologic faculty, then standard RANO, iRANO, and mRANO criteria were applied. Results: A total of 41 of 47 patients (mean age 56 ± 11.7) were evaluable for response. PFS was significantly shorter using standard RANO compared with iRANO (log-rank, P < 0.0001; HR = 0.3) and mRANO (P < 0.0001; HR = 0.3). In patients who died and had confirmed progression on standard RANO, no correlation was observed between PFS and OS (local, P = 0.47; central, P = 0.34). Using iRANO, a weak association was observed between confirmed PFS and OS via local site measurements (P = 0.017), but not central measurements (P = 0.18). A total of 24 of 41 patients (59%) were censored using iRANO and because they lacked confirmation of progression 3 months after initial progression. A strong correlation was observed between mRANO PFS and OS for both local (R2 = 0.66, P < 0.0001) and centrally determined reads (R2 = 0.57, P = 0.0007). Conclusions: No correlation between radiographic PFS and OS was observed for standard RANO or iRANO, but a correlation was observed between PFS and OS using the mRANO criteria. Also, the iRANO criteria was difficult to implement due to need to confirm progression 3 months after initial progression, censoring more than half the patients.

ObjectiveTo determine whether chronic motor deficits secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be improved by implantation of allogeneic modified bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (SB623).MethodsThis 6-month interim analysis of the 1-year double-blind, randomized, surgical sham–controlled, phase 2 Stem Cell Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury (STEMTRA) trial (NCT02416492) evaluated safety and efficacy of the stereotactic intracranial implantation of SB623 in patients with stable chronic motor deficits secondary to TBI. Patients in this multicenter trial (n = 63) underwent randomization in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to 2.5 × 106, 5.0 × 106, or 10 × 106 SB623 cells or control. Safety was assessed in patients who underwent surgery (n = 61), and efficacy was assessed in the modified intent-to-treat population of randomized patients who underwent surgery (n = 61; SB623 = 46, control = 15).ResultsThe primary efficacy endpoint of significant improvement from baseline of Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale score at 6 months for SB623-treated patients was achieved. SB623-treated patients improved by (least square [LS] mean) 8.3 (standard error 1.4) vs 2.3 (standard error 2.5) for control at 6 months, the LS mean difference was 6.0 (95% confidence interval 0.3–11.8, p = 0.040). Secondary efficacy endpoints improved from baseline but were not statistically significant vs control at 6 months. There were no dose-limiting toxicities or deaths, and 100% of SB623-treated patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events vs 93.3% of control patients (p = 0.25).ConclusionsSB623 cell implantation appeared to be safe and well tolerated, and patients implanted with SB623 experienced significant improvement from baseline motor status at 6 months compared to controls.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT02416492.Classification of EvidenceThis study provides Class I evidence that implantation of SB623 was well tolerated and associated with improvement in motor status.

Objectives Pituitary adenoma (PA), among the most commonly encountered sellar pathologies, accounts for 10% of primary intracranial tumors. The reported incidence of postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI) is highly variable. In this study, we report our experience with DI following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for PAs, elucidating the risk factors of postoperative DI, the likelihood of long-term DI, and the impact of DI on the length of stay (LOS). Methods The study included 178 patients who underwent endoscopic resection of PAs. Early DI was defined as that occurring within the first postoperative week. The mean follow-up was 36 months. Long-term DI was considered as DI apparent in the last follow-up visit. Results Of the 178 patients included in the study, 77% of the tumors were macroadenomas. Forty-seven patients (26%) developed early DI. Long-term DI was observed in 18 (10.1%) of the full cohort. Age younger than 50 years was significantly associated with a higher incidence of long-term DI (p = 0.02). Macroadenoma and gross total resection were significantly associated with higher incidence of early DI (p = 0.05 and p = 0.04, respectively). The mean LOS was 4 days for patients with early postoperative DI and 3 days for those without it. Conclusion The reported incidence of postoperative DI is significantly variable. We identified age younger than 50 years a risk factor for developing long-term postoperative DI. Gross total surgical resection and tumor size (> 1 cm) were associated with development of early DI. Early DI increased the LOS on average by 1 day.

Aim: Genomically matched trials in primary brain tumors (PBTs) require recent tumor sequencing. We evaluated whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could facilitate genomic interrogation in these patients. Methods: Data from 419 PBT patients tested clinically with a ctDNA NGS panel at a CLIA-certified laboratory were analyzed. Results: A total of 211 patients (50%) had ≥1 somatic alteration detected. Detection was highest in meningioma (59%) and gliobastoma (55%). Single nucleotide variants were detected in 61 genes, with amplifications detected in ERBB2, MET, EGFR and others. Conclusion: Contrary to previous studies with very low yields, we found half of PBT patients had detectable ctDNA with genomically targetable off-label or clinical trial options for almost 50%. For those PBT patients with detectable ctDNA, plasma cfDNA genomic analysis is a clinically viable option for identifying genomically driven therapy options.

An estimated 20%25 of all patients with cancer will develop brain metastases, with the majority of brain metastases occurring in those with lung, breast and colorectal cancers, melanoma or renal cell carcinoma. Brain metastases are thought to occur via seeding of circulating tumour cells into the brain microvasculature; within this unique microenvironment, tumour growth is promoted and the penetration of systemic medical therapies is limited. Development of brain metastases remains a substantial contributor to overall cancer mortality in patients with advanced-stage cancer because prognosis remains poor despite multimodal treatments and advances in systemic therapies, which include a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Thus, interest abounds in understanding the mechanisms that drive brain metastases so that they can be targeted with preventive therapeutic strategies and in understanding the molecular characteristics of brain metastases relative to the primary tumour so that they can inform targeted therapy selection. Increased molecular understanding of the disease will also drive continued development of novel immunotherapies and targeted therapies that have higher bioavailability beyond the blood-tumour barrier and drive advances in radiotherapies and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As these discoveries and innovations move from the realm of basic science to preclinical and clinical applications, future outcomes for patients with brain metastases are almost certain to improve.

BACKGROUND MDNA55 is an IL4R-targeted toxin in development for GBM, a universally fatal disease. IL4R is over-expressed in GBM, the tumor microenvironment, and high expression is associated with poor outcomes in GBM. METHOD MDNA55-05 is an open-label, single-arm study of MDNA55 delivered by CED as a single treatment in rGBM patients at 1st or 2nd recurrence with an aggressive form of GBM (de novo GBM, IDH wild-type, not-resectable at recurrence, ~ 50% expressing high levels of IL4R). Primary endpoint is mOS, secondary endpoint includes impact of IL4R status on mOS. A Synthetic Control Arm (SCA) served as an external comparator constructed from patient registries at neurosurgery centers under IRB-approved protocols. Propensity score weighting corrected for imbalances in baseline characteristics between the two groups. RESULTS MDNA55 showed an acceptable safety profile at doses up to 240μg. In all evaluable subjects (n=44) mOS was 11.6 and OS-12 was 46%. A sub-population (n=32) consisting of all IL4RHigh subjects + only IL4RLow subjects treated with high dose (median 180µg) showed most benefit: mOS is 15 months, OS-12 is 55%. Tumor control, assessed by mRANO criteria, was seen in 81% (26/32) of this sub-population, including those that had pseudo-progression (15/26). In these subjects, tumor control was associated with longer mPFS (4.7 months) and mOS (15.0 months) than those with progressive disease (mPFS 1.0 month, mOS 7.7 months). Comparison against the SCA demonstrated > 100% increase in mOS: 15.7 months vs 7.2 months (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.30, 0.91). CONCLUSIONS MDNA55 demonstrates improved survival and tumor control in this study design and has potential to benefit all rGBM patients treated at high dose irrespective of IL4R expression. There are no approved therapies for rGBM that can extend survival by 50%; the potential for MDNA55 to extend survival by > 100% is promising for this devastating disease.

2513 Background: MDNA55 is an engineered IL-4 fused to pseudomonas exotoxin A being developed for GBM, an aggressive, universally fatal disease. No curative therapy exists and 75% of patients are not eligible for resection at recurrence. MDNA55 targets IL4R overexpressed in GBM, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and high expression is associated with poor survival outcomes in GBM. A Ph 2b trial of MDNA55 was completed in rGBM using convection-enhanced delivery to bypass the BBB. Here we report results from the Ph 2b trial and comparison against a matched Synthetic Control Arm (SCA). Methods: MDNA55-05 is an open-label, single-arm study of intratumoral delivery of ≤ 240 μg MDNA55 as a single treatment via ≤ 4 catheters in de novo GBM without IDH1/2 mutation at 1st or 2nd recurrence not eligible for resection, tumors ≤ 4 cm, KPS ≥ 70. IL4R expression in GBM tissues was determined by H-Score using a validated IHC assay. 1o endpoint is median overall survival (mOS); 2o endpoint includes the impact of IL4R status on mOS. An eligibility-matched SCA was identified retrospectively from patient registries at major neurosurgery centers with access to GBM tumor tissue banks under IRB-approved protocols. Results: 44 subjects comprise the MDNA55 per protocol analysis population: median age 56 (35 - 77); median dose 177 mg (range 18 – 240 mg), 50% had KPS ≤ 80. No systemic toxicities observed, drug-related AEs were primarily neurological and characteristic of GBM, no deaths attributed to MDNA55. Median OS was 11.6 months (95% CI 7.9 – 15.2). When stratified by IL4R expression, mOS in IL4R High (n = 21) was 15 vs. 8.4 months in IL4R Low (n = 19); p = 0.2175. OS12 is 57% vs. 33%. When compared to the SCA (n = 81), MDNA55 subjects survived significantly longer: mOS 12.4 vs. 7.7 months; p = 0.0077. When comparing IL4R High groups, mOS in MDNA55 (n = 21) was 15.8 vs. 6.2 months in the SCA (n = 17); p = 0.0626. Subgroup analysis in unmethylated MGMT subjects also show better survival with MDNA55 (n = 23) than the SCA (n = 31); mOS 12.3 vs. 7.7 months (p = 0.0268), indicating that MDNA55 may be beneficial in patients resistant to temozolomide. Conclusions: MDNA55 subjects represent a difficult to treat population ( de novo GBM, IDH wild-type, not eligible for surgery at recurrence). Single treatment with MDNA55 prolongs survival by nearly 10 months in a subset of rGBM expressing high levels of IL4R when compared to a matched SCA, providing an unprecedented outcome for this highly lethal disease. Clinical trial information: NCT02858895 .