Phase II study of everolimus in refractory testicular germ cell tumors

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) represent a highly curable disease; however, a small proportion of patients develop disease recurrence. Loss of the tumor-suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog marks the transition from intratubular germ cell neoplasia to invasive GCT and is correlated with disease progression. Inactivation of phosphatase and tensin homolog is associated with deregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and increased mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and toxicity of a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, everolimus, in patients with refractory TGCTs.

From December 2011 to February 2015, 15 patients with refractory GCTs were enrolled in the phase II study. All patients were pretreated with at least 2 cisplatin-based therapies; 4 tumors (26.7%) were absolutely refractory to cisplatin and 9 patients (60.0%) had visceral nonpulmonary metastases. Everolimus was administered at a dose of 10mg daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was the objective response rate, according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.

No objective response was observed, but 6 patients (40.0%) achieved 12-week progression-free survival. During a median follow-up period of 3.6 months (range: 1-35.1mo), all patients experienced disease progression and 11 patients (80.0%) died. Median progression-free survival was 1.7 months (95% CI: 1.1-4.0mo) and median overall survival was 3.6 months (95% CI: 2.0-11.0mo).

This study failed to achieve its primary end point and our data suggest limited efficacy of everolimus against unselected heavily pretreated refractory TGCTs.

Everolimus showed limited efficacy in unselected heavily pretreated refractory TGCTs. Prolonged disease stabilization could be achieved in selected patients.