Phase II randomised discontinuation trial of cabozantinib in patients with advanced solid tumours

Patrick Schöffski1, Michael Gordon2, David C Smith3

  • 1Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|October 24, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cabozantinib showed anticancer activity in advanced cancers, particularly ovarian and castration-resistant prostate cancers. Further trials are ongoing due to promising results, despite early trial termination.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Cabozantinib is a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting MET, VEGFR, AXL, and RET.
  • Exploration of cabozantinib's anticancer potential across diverse tumor types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of cabozantinib in patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cancers.
  • To assess objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) in a randomized discontinuation trial.

Main Methods:

  • Phase II randomized discontinuation trial involving 526 patients across nine tumor types.
  • Cabozantinib (100 mg daily) administered; patients with stable disease at week 12 randomized to cabozantinib or placebo.
  • Primary endpoints: ORR at week 12 and PFS during the randomized phase.

Main Results:

  • Highest ORR in ovarian cancer (21.7%). Significant PFS benefit in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) (median 5.5 vs. 1.4 months).
  • Disease control rates exceeded 40% in CRPC, ovarian cancer, melanoma, metastatic breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.
  • Median duration of response varied from 3.3 to 11.2 months. Common Grade III-IV AEs included fatigue, diarrhea, and hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Cabozantinib demonstrated clinical antitumour activity in specific cancer types, notably CRPC and ovarian cancer.
  • Early trial termination due to promising results led to expansion cohorts and initiation of Phase III trials in CRPC and HCC.
  • Interpretation of efficacy was impacted by the early termination of the randomized phase.

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.8K
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
5.1K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.0K
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
10.9K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.2K
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
10.2K