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Aim: Radium-223, a targeted alpha therapy, is approved widely for the treatment of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, based on a pivotal phase 3 study in predominantly white patients. We investigated the efficacy and safety of radium-223 in Asian patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer and metastatic bone disease., Methods: This multicenter, prospective, single-arm, open-label phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the standard radium-223 regimen (55 kBq/kg every 4 weeks for six cycles) in patients from Asian countries. The primary endpoints were the safety and overall survival., Results: A total of 226 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of radium-223. Median overall survival was 14.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.2-17.4). Median time to total alkaline phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen progression were 7.5 (95% CI, 6.8-7.7) and 3.6 (95% CI, 3.1-3.7) months, respectively. Median skeletal-related event-free survival was 26.0 months (95% CI, 12.6-not reached). Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 103 (46%) of 226 patients, with anemia being the most common event (34 [15%] patients). Grade ≥3 drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 39 (17%) of 226 patients. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 65 (29%) of 226 patients. Seven (3%) patients had an adverse event leading to death; none were considered to be related to radium-223., Conclusion: The results of this study support the use of the standard radium-223 regimen for the treatment of Asian patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer and symptomatic bone metastases., (© 2020 The Authors. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: ERA 223 compared concurrent abiraterone acetate/prednisolone (AAP) plus radium-223 with AAP plus placebo in men with chemotherapy-naïve asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and bone metastases. We report data from a subgroup of Japanese patients in ERA 223., Methods: Patients were randomized to radium-223 (55 kBq/kg) or placebo once every 4 weeks (max. 6 cycles), and also received oral abiraterone acetate 1000 mg once daily plus prednisone/prednisolone 5 mg twice daily during and after radium-223/placebo treatment, until a symptomatic skeletal event (SSE). The primary endpoint was SSE-free survival (SSE-FS); overall survival (OS) was a secondary endpoint., Results: Of 806 patients randomized in ERA 223, 114 patients (57 per arm) were enrolled in Japan. SSE-FS was not improved significantly in the radium-223 arm [25.5 months, 95% CI 20.6-not estimated (NE)] compared with the placebo arm (28.7 months, 95% CI 19.7-NE) (HR = 0.907, 95% CI 0.501-1.642). OS and other secondary endpoints were not improved significantly in the radium-223 arm. The incidence of fracture was 23% and 11% in the radium-223 and placebo arms, respectively. The incidence of death was 32% and 36%, respectively., Conclusions: In the Japanese ERA 223 subgroup, concurrent treatment with AAP and radium-223 did not significantly improve SSE-FS and increased the incidence of fracture, similar to outcomes achieved in the overall population, while an increased incidence of death was not evident. The combination of radium-223 with AAP is not recommended in Japanese patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic mCRPC and bone metastases., Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical trial registration no: NCT02043678.

Background: Abiraterone acetate plus prednisone or prednisolone improves progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Radium-223 improves overall survival and delays the onset of symptomatic skeletal events in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and bone metastases. We assessed concurrent treatment with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone or prednisolone and radium-223 in such patients., Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial at 165 oncology and urology centres in 19 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, and had histologically confirmed, progressive, chemotherapy-naive, asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and bone metastases, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, life expectancy of at least 6 months, and adequate haematological, renal, and liver function. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) according to a permuted block design (block size 4) via interactive response technology to receive up to six intravenous injections of radium-223 (55 kBq/kg) or matching placebo once every 4 weeks. All patients were also scheduled to receive oral abiraterone acetate 1000 mg once daily plus oral prednisone or prednisolone 5 mg twice daily during and after radium-223 or placebo treatment. The primary endpoint was symptomatic skeletal event-free survival, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. Safety analyses were done in all patients who received at least one dose of any study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02043678. Enrolment has been completed, and follow-up is ongoing., Findings: Between March 30, 2014, and Aug 12, 2016, 806 patients were randomly assigned to receive radium-223 (n=401) or placebo (n=405) in addition to abiraterone acetate plus prednisone or prednisolone. The study was unblinded prematurely, on Nov 17, 2017, after more fractures and deaths were noted in the radium-223 group than in the placebo group (in an unplanned ad-hoc analysis), but all patients had completed radium-223 or placebo before this date. At the primary analysis (data cutoff Feb 15, 2018), 196 (49%) of 401 patients in radium-223 group had had at least one symptomatic skeletal event or died, compared with 190 (47%) of 405 patients in the placebo group (median follow-up 21·2 months [IQR 17·0-25·8]). Median symptomatic skeletal event-free survival was 22·3 months (95% CI 20·4-24·8) in the radium-223 group and 26·0 months (21·8-28·3) in the placebo group (hazard ratio 1·122 [95% CI 0·917-1·374]; p=0·2636). Fractures (any grade) occurred in 112 (29%) of 392 patients in the radium-223 group and 45 (11%) of 394 patients in the placebo group. The most common grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse events were hypertension (43 [11%] patients in the radium-223 group vs 52 [13%] patients in the placebo group), fractures (36 [9%] vs 12 [3%]) and increased alanine aminotransferase concentrations (34 [9%] vs 28 [7%]). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 160 (41%) patients in the radium-223 group and 155 (39%) in the placebo group. Treatment-related deaths occurred in two (1%) patients in the radium-223 group (acute myocardial infarction and interstitial lung disease) and one (<1%) in the placebo group (arrhythmia)., Interpretation: The addition of radium-223 to abiraterone acetate plus prednisone or prednisolone did not improve symptomatic skeletal event-free survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and bone metastases, and was associated with an increased frequency of bone fractures compared with placebo. Thus, we do not recommend use of this combination., Funding: Bayer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Refametinib, an oral MEK inhibitor, has demonstrated antitumor activity in combination with sorafenib in patients with RAS -mutated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two phase II studies evaluated the efficacy of refametinib monotherapy and refametinib plus sorafenib in patients with RAS -mutant unresectable or metastatic HCC. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients with RAS mutations of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) determined by beads, emulsion, amplification, and magnetics technology received twice-daily refametinib 50 mg ± sorafenib 400 mg. Potential biomarkers were assessed in ctDNA via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: Of 1,318 patients screened, 59 (4.4%) had a RAS mutation, of whom 16 received refametinib and 16 received refametinib plus sorafenib. With refametinib monotherapy, the objective response rate (ORR) was 0%, the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.3%, overall survival (OS) was 5.8 months, and progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months. With refametinib plus sorafenib, the ORR was 6.3%, the DCR was 43.8%, OS was 12.7 months, and PFS was 1.5 months. In both studies, time to progression was 2.8 months. Treatment-emergent toxicities included fatigue, hypertension, and acneiform rash. Twenty-seven patients had ctDNA samples available for NGS. The most frequently detected mutations were in TERT (63.0%), TP53 (48.1%), and β-catenin ( CTNNB1 ; 37.0%). Conclusions: Prospective testing for RAS family mutations using ctDNA was a feasible, noninvasive approach for large-scale mutational testing in patients with HCC. A median OS of 12.7 months with refametinib plus sorafenib in this small population of RAS -mutant patients may indicate a synergistic effect between sorafenib and refametinib-this preliminary finding should be further explored. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4650-61. ©2018 AACR ., (©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Purpose: To assess the safety and tolerability of the small-molecule allosteric MEK inhibitor refametinib combined with sorafenib, in patients with advanced solid malignancies., Experimental Design: This phase I dose-escalation study included an expansion phase at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Patients received refametinib/sorafenib twice daily for 28 days, from a dose of refametinib 5 mg plus sorafenib 200 mg to a dose of refametinib 50 mg plus sorafenib 400 mg. Plasma levels of refametinib, refametinib metabolite M17, and sorafenib were measured for pharmacokinetic assessments. Tumors were biopsied at the MTD for analysis of MEK pathway mutations and ERK phosphorylation., Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the dose-escalation cohort. The MTD was refametinib 50 mg twice daily plus sorafenib 400 mg twice daily. The most common treatment-related toxicities were diarrhea and fatigue. Refametinib was readily absorbed following oral administration (plasma half-life of ∼16 hours at the MTD), and pharmacokinetic parameters displayed near-dose proportionality, with less than 2-fold accumulation after multiple dosing. Another 30 patients were enrolled in the MTD cohort; 19 had hepatocellular carcinoma. The combination was associated with significantly reduced ERK phosphorylation in 5 out of 6 patients biopsied, with the greatest reductions in those with KRAS or BRAF mutations. Disease was stabilized in approximately half of patients, and 1 patient with colorectal cancer achieved a partial response at the MTD lasting approximately 1 year., Conclusions: In this phase I study, refametinib plus sorafenib was well tolerated, with good oral absorption, near-dose proportionality, and target inhibition in a range of tumor types. Clin Cancer Res; 22(10); 2368-76. ©2015 AACR., (©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Purpose: There is an unmet need for treatment options in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib is currently the only approved systemic treatment for HCC. Refametinib, an oral, allosteric MEK inhibitor, has demonstrated antitumor activity in combination with sorafenib in vitro and in vivo. A phase II study evaluated efficacy and safety of refametinib plus sorafenib in Asian patients with HCC (NCT01204177)., Experimental Design: Eligible patients received twice-daily refametinib 50 mg plus twice-daily sorafenib 200 mg (morning)/400 mg (evening), with dose escalation to sorafenib 400 mg twice daily from cycle 2 if no grade ≥ 2 hand-foot skin reaction, fatigue, or gastrointestinal toxicity occurred. Primary efficacy endpoint: disease control rate. Secondary endpoints: time to progression, overall survival, pharmacokinetic assessment, biomarker analysis, safety, and tolerability., Results: Of 95 enrolled patients, 70 received study treatment. Most patients had liver cirrhosis (82.9%) and hepatitis B viral infection (75.7%). Disease control rate was 44.8% (primary efficacy analysis; n = 58). Median time to progression was 122 days, median overall survival was 290 days (n = 70). Best clinical responders had RAS mutations; majority of poor responders had wild-type RAS. Most frequent drug-related adverse events were diarrhea, rash, aspartate aminotransferase elevation, vomiting, and nausea. Dose modifications due to adverse events were necessary in almost all patients., Conclusions: Refametinib plus sorafenib showed antitumor activity in patients with HCC and was tolerated at reduced doses by most patients. Frequent dose modifications due to grade 3 adverse events may have contributed to limited treatment effect. Patients with RAS mutations appear to benefit from refametinib/sorafenib combination., (©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Aims: To assess the utility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI parameters in the demonstration of early antiangiogenic effects and as prognostic biomarkers in second-line treatment of advanced-stage non-small-cell lung cancer with vatalanib., Patients & Methods: The transfer constant (K(trans)) and the initial area under the contrast concentration-time curve at 60 s (AUC60) were assessed in 46 patients. Changes were compared with response evaluation from computed tomography imaging and Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors guidelines., Results: Statistically significant mean reductions in K(trans) (38.4%; p < 0.0001) and AUC60 (24.9%; p < 0.0001) were found at day 2. After 12 weeks, 16 patients (35%) demonstrated stable disease and 30 (65%) demonstrated progressive disease. No statistically significant differences in day 2 K(trans) and AUC60 reductions between stable disease and progressive disease patients were found., Conclusion: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in vascular parameters of non-small-cell lung cancer, but does not predict patient outcome.

Systemic treatment of metastatic melanoma is of low efficacy, and new therapeutic strategies are needed. Histone deacetylase inhibitors are supposed to restore the expression of tumor suppressor genes and induce tumor cell differentiation, growth arrest, and apoptosis. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the histone deacetylase inhibitor pyridylmethyl-N-{4-[(2-aminophenyl)-carbamoyl]-benzyl}-carbamate (MS-275) in patients with pretreated metastatic melanoma. Patients with unresectable AJCC stage IV melanoma refractory to at least one earlier systemic therapy were randomized to receive MS-275 3 mg biweekly (days 1+15, arm A) or 7 mg weekly (days 1+8+15, arm B), in 4-week cycles. The primary study endpoint was objective tumor response, secondary endpoints were safety and time-to-progression. On the basis of Simon's two-stage design, the study initially allowed an entry of 14 patients per arm; if there was at least one responder, additional 33 patients were to be enrolled. Among 28 patients enrolled, no objective response was detected. Four (29%) patients in arm A and three (21%) patients in arm B showed disease stabilizations. Median time-to-progression was comparable in both arms with 55.5 versus 51.5 days, respectively; median overall survival was 8.84 months. Toxicity was mild to moderate with nausea (39%) and hypophosphatemia (29%) as the most frequently reported events. No treatment-related serious adverse events occurred. Single-agent treatment with MS-275 was well-tolerated and showed long-term tumor stabilizations, but no objective responses in pretreated metastatic melanoma. Further evaluation of MS-275 in combination schedules is warranted.