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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

A Combined 3D Tissue Engineered In Vitro/In Silico Lung Tumor Model for Predicting Drug Effectiveness in Specific Mutational Backgrounds
Published on: April 6, 2016
Efficacy and safety exposure-response analyses of entrectinib in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors
Francois Mercier1, Nassim Djebli2, Mario González-Sales3
1Roche Innovation Center, Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Basel, Switzerland. francois.mercier@roche.com.
Purpose:
Entrectinib is an anti-cancer agent that inhibits TRKA/B/C, ROS1, and ALK. Secondary pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure parameters for entrectinib derived from a previously described population PK model were used to characterize exposure-response relationships in patients treated with entrectinib.
Methods:
Data were pooled from Phase 1 and 2 studies of entrectinib (600-800 mg/day in adults, 250-750 mg/m2/day in children) in 293 patients with NTRK-, ROS1-, or ALK-positive, locally advanced or metastatic tumors. Efficacy was evaluated by the changes in sum of target lesion diameters and best overall response defined by RECIST1.1. A longitudinal nonlinear mixed-effect model described the relationship between entrectinib exposure and tumor size data in patients with ROS1-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors. The relationship between exposure and treatment-emergent (TEAEs) or serious (SAEs) adverse events was assessed by logistic regression in all patients for whom secondary PK parameter estimates were derived.
Results:
Among the 89 patients with evaluable efficacy data included in the exposure-efficacy analysis, 73% (65/89) achieved a complete or partial response. Entrectinib exposure distribution was similar in responders and non-responders. Model-described tumor shrinkage rates were 8-12 times greater than growth rates in both ROS-1-positive NSCLC patients and NTRK fusion-positive solid tumor patients, with no relationship between exposure and these rates. The probability of experiencing a Grade ≥ 3 TEAE or SAE increased with exposure, primarily at doses > 600 mg/day.
Conclusion:
These analyses supported that entrectinib at 600 mg/day provides an acceptable benefit-risk ratio in adults with NTRK-, ROS1-, or ALK-positive tumors, considered as rare disease.
Insights
Entrectinib shows efficacy in treating NTRK-, ROS1-, or ALK-positive cancers. Higher doses may increase adverse events, but 600 mg/day offers a good benefit-risk balance for rare tumors.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Oncology
- Clinical Trial Analysis
Background:
- Entrectinib is a targeted therapy inhibiting TRKA/B/C, ROS1, and ALK kinases.
- Understanding exposure-response relationships is crucial for optimizing cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the exposure-response relationships of entrectinib in patients with specific genetic alterations.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of entrectinib based on pharmacokinetic parameters.
Main Methods:
- Pooled data from Phase 1/2 entrectinib studies in 293 patients with NTRK-, ROS1-, or ALK-positive advanced/metastatic tumors.
- Longitudinal nonlinear mixed-effect modeling for tumor size changes and logistic regression for adverse events.
- Analysis of secondary pharmacokinetic parameters to link exposure to efficacy and safety.
Main Results:
- 73% of 89 evaluable patients achieved a response; exposure was similar between responders and non-responders.
- Tumor shrinkage rates were significantly higher than growth rates, independent of entrectinib exposure.
- Increased probability of Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) at doses >600 mg/day.
Conclusions:
- Entrectinib at 600 mg/day demonstrates an acceptable benefit-risk ratio for adults with NTRK-, ROS1-, or ALK-positive tumors.
- The findings support the use of entrectinib in rare tumor types harboring these specific genetic alterations.
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