A Phase II Study of PF-03446962 in Patients with Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. CCTG Trial IND.207

Paul Wheatley-Price1, Quincy Chu2, Maria Bonomi3

  • 1Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre/Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Insights

This study found that PF-03446962, an investigational drug targeting angiogenesis, did not show efficacy as a second-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The drug was well-tolerated but failed to meet response criteria in patients with advanced MPM.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Medical Research
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) lacks approved second-line systemic therapies.
  • Targeting angiogenesis, a process crucial for tumor growth, is a potential therapeutic strategy.
  • Activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) is expressed in tumor vasculature and is a target for PF-03446962.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PF-03446962 as a second-line treatment for patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).
  • To assess the response rate of PF-03446962 in patients with MPM progressing after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter, open-label, single-arm, two-stage phase II study was conducted.
  • Seventeen patients with advanced MPM and disease progression after platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled.
  • Patients received PF-03446962 as a single agent.

Main Results:

  • No partial or complete responses were observed in the 17 enrolled patients.
  • The study did not meet the prespecified response criterion to advance to the second stage.
  • PF-03446962 was generally well-tolerated, with limited grade 3 or higher nonhematological toxicities (hypertension, fatigue) and lymphopenia.

Conclusions:

  • PF-03446962 demonstrated a lack of efficacy as a single agent in treating advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.
  • Despite a favorable safety profile, the investigational drug failed to meet primary efficacy endpoints.
  • Further investigation of PF-03446962 for MPM is not planned based on these findings.

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