Search

Background Depatuxizumab mafodotin (Depatux-M) is a tumor-specific antibody–drug conjugate consisting of an antibody (ABT-806) directed against activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the toxin monomethylauristatin-F. We investigated Depatux-M in combination with temozolomide or as a single agent in a randomized controlled phase II trial in recurrent EGFR amplified glioblastoma. Methods Eligible were patients with centrally confirmed EGFR amplified glioblastoma at first recurrence after chemo-irradiation with temozolomide. Patients were randomized to either Depatux-M 1.25 mg/kg every 2 weeks intravenously, or this treatment combined with temozolomide 150–200 mg/m2 day 1–5 every 4 weeks, or either lomustine or temozolomide. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival. Results Two hundred sixty patients were randomized. In the primary efficacy analysis with 199 events (median follow-up 15.0 mo), the hazard ratio (HR) for the combination arm compared with the control arm was 0.71 (95% CI = 0.50, 1.02; P = 0.062). The efficacy of Depatux-M monotherapy was comparable to that of the control arm (HR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.73, 1.48; P = 0.83). The most frequent toxicity in Depatux-M treated patients was a reversible corneal epitheliopathy, occurring as grades 3–4 adverse events in 25–30% of patients. In the long-term follow-up analysis with median follow-up of 28.7 months, the HR for the comparison of the combination arm versus the control arm was 0.66 (95% CI = 0.48, 0.93). Conclusion This trial suggests a possible role for the use of Depatux-M in combination with temozolomide in EGFR amplified recurrent glioblastoma, especially in patients relapsing well after the end of first-line adjuvant temozolomide treatment. (NCT02343406)

The cancer burden is rising globally, exerting significant strain on populations and health systems at all income levels. In May 2017, world governments made a commitment to further invest in cancer control as a public health priority, passing the World Health Assembly Resolution 70.12 on cancer prevention and control within an integrated approach. In this manuscript, the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology Leadership Generation Programme participants propose a strategic framework that is in line with the 2017 WHO Cancer Resolution and consistent with the principle of universal health coverage, which ensures access to optimal cancer care for all people because health is a basic human right. The time for action is now to reduce barriers and provide the highest possible quality cancer care to everyone regardless of circumstance, precondition or geographic location. The national actions and the policy recommendations in this paper set forth the vision of its authors for the future of global cancer control at the national level, where the WHO Cancer Resolution must be implemented if we are to reduce the cancer burden, avoid unnecessary suffering and save as many lives as possible.

Background: Depatux-M (ABT-414) is an antibody-drug-conjugate consisting of an antibody (ABT-806) bound to the toxin monomethylauristatin-F. A randomized phase II trial on EGFR-amplified recurrent glioblastomas (GBMs) showed an improvement (p=0.06 in the primary analysis, p=0.024 in follow-up analysis) in overall survival in the Depatux-M+TMZ arm when compared to the control arm (CCNU or TMZ). In this study, we performed targeted next generation sequencing and correlated molecular features with response to treatment in order to better identify patients that benefit from the combination. Material and Methods: DNA and RNA was isolated from samples, collected at initial diagnosis, and selected for regions with highest tumor content. Target selection was done using the Trusight 170 gene panel (Illumina) which interrogates somatic variants and copy number, RNA levels and fusion genes in a set of known cancer genes. Variant calling was done using the Illumina Basespace sequence hub. For this trial, patients were eligible with centrally confirmed EGFR amplification, defined as EGFR/CEP 7 (centromere) ratio ≥ 2 in 15% of cells (FISH). Results: DNA and RNA data were generated from 233 and 234 samples respectively (of the 260 study patients). High-copy gene amplification was detected in EGFR (n=202), MDM2 (n=20), MDM4 (n=22), CDK4 (n=24) and CDK6 (n=5) which correlated with high expression levels. With this assay, 17 tumors did not show EGFR copy number (cn) aberrations (cn < 2.8), a further 14 showed copy number changes consistent with trisomy only (2.8< cn < 4). Most EGFR amplified tumors also had additional genetic changes in the EGFR locus including point mutations (111/202), splice variants (132/202, the most common being EGFRvIII n=96) or fusion genes (13/202). Twenty-one samples did not contain additional genetic changes and expressed only EGFRwt. Response (OS) to treatment was not correlated to EGFR gene expression or amplification levels though, since EGFR amplification was a pre-requisite for inclusion, the majority of cases expressed high levels of EGFR (not shown). Preliminary analysis suggests that subjects with EGFR amplification but without EGFRvIII expression had a trend towards superior clinical benefit from Depatux-M +TMZ (median survival 14.3 v. 8.9 and 8.1 months in the Depatux-M +TMZ, TMZ|CCNU and Depatux M arms respectively; HR 0.56, P=0.047 v. Depatux M monotherapy and HR 0.54, P=0.055 v. TMZ|CCNU ). Conclusion: Depatux-M in combination with TMZ showed a trend towards improved OS in EGFR amplified recurrent glioblastoma. This trend may be greater for subjects with an absence of EGFRvIII expression. Citation Format: Pim J. French, Johan M. Kros, Iris de Heer, Marica Eoli, Juan Manuel Sepulvada, Annemiek Walenkamp, Jean-Sebastian Frenel, Alba Brandes, Paul Clement, Michael Weller, Peter Ansell, Jim Looman, Earle Bain, Lisa Roberts-Rapp, Marie Morfouace, Thierry Gorlia, Vassilis Golfinopoulos, Martin van den Bent. Patients with EGFR amplification but without EGFRvIII expression have improved benefit compared to those with EGFRvIII expression in samples of the INTELLANCE2/EORTC1410 randomized phase II trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4886.

BACKGROUND: Depatux-M is an antibody-drug-conjugate consisting of an antibody (ABT-806) specific to the activated conformation of EGFR bound to the toxin monomethylauristatin-F. In the primary analysis on EORTC 1410 we reported a trend (p = 0.06) towards improved overall survival (OS) in patients with EGFR-amplified (amp) recurrent glioblastoma treated with Depatux-M in combination with temozolomide. METHODS: Eligible were patients with centrally confirmed EGFRamp glioblastoma at 1st recurrence after temozolomide chemo-irradiation. Patients were randomized to either a) Depatux-M 1.0 mg/kg every 2 weeks intravenously, or b) the same treatment combined with temozolomide 150–200 mg/m2 day 1–5 every 4 weeks, or c) either lomustine or temozolomide (TMZ/LOM) depending on the time of relapse. Primary endpoint was OS. Pharmacokinetic sampling was part of the study design, all samples were used to calculate the Depatux-M average concentration during course 1 (CavgC1). The level of EGFRamp was re-analysed using next generation sequencing. RESULTS: In February 2018, an updated OS comparison performed after 220 observed deaths of Depatux-M in combination with TMZ versus TMZ/LOM using log-rank test and cox models stratified by stratification factors at randomization showed a HR of 0.68 (95%CI [0.48, 0.95]; p = 0.024) and 1-year OS rates of 40% versus 28%. In multivariate analysis CavgC1 was a significant predictor for OS (HR 0.96, 95% CI [0.93, 0.98], p = 0.0013). In Depatux-M treated patients, EGFR status (high vs low level amplification) did not correlate with OS. At the meeting the follow-up from Aug 2018 will be presented, obtained more than 24 months after the end of accrual. CONCLUSION: This updated OS analysis of Depatux-M in combination with temozolomide confirmed the OS improvement in EGFRamp recurrent glioblastoma. In Depatux-M treated patients, higher drug levels during course 1 were associated with improved OS, but high levels of EGFR amplification at first diagnosis were not.