Efficacy and safety of axitinib (AG-013736; AG) in patients (pts) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A phase II trial

Abstract

7507 Background: A correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), microvessel density, and prognosis has been reported in pts with NSCLC. AG is a small molecule inhibitor of the receptor tyrosine kinases, with picomolar potency against VEGFR 1, 2 and 3 and nanomolar potency against PDGFR-β and KIT. This is an open-label, multicenter phase II study examining the efficacy and safety of AG in pts with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Pts with stage IIIB or metastatic NSCLC received AG 5 mg BID. Eligibility criteria included measurable disease and ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. A Simon 2-stage minimax design was used with 18 pts in the first stage plus an additional 14 in the second stage if 1/18 pts responded. The primary endpoint was response rate (RR) according to RECIST. Results: A total of 32 pts were enrolled: median age was 66 yrs (39–80); histologies were adenocarcinoma (75%), squamous cell carcinoma (9%), and not otherwise specified (16%); 56% male/44% female; 72% received prior chemotherapy, 47% prior surgery, 47% prior radiotherapy, 9% investigational therapy, 3% immunotherapy, and 13% were treatment-naïve. Mean duration of treatment was 93 days (1–271). Three (9.4%) investigator confirmed responses were reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2, 25. Median duration of response was 9.4 months (mo). Median survival was 12.8 mo (95% CI: 9.9 mo, undefined) and progression-free survival was 5.8 mo (95% CI: 3.8 mo, 10.2 mo). 26 (81%) pts discontinued treatment: lack of efficacy 19 pts (59%), adverse events 5 pts (16%), death 1 pt (3%), and withdrawal of consent 1 pt (3%). Grade 3/4 toxicities (=5%) were fatigue (22%), diarrhea (6%), hypertension (6%) and hyponatremia (6%). Conclusions: AG demonstrates single- agent activity in pts with advanced NSCLC. Therapy is well tolerated with manageable toxicity in this population. Further investigation in this setting is warranted. [Table: see text]