2019 EHA: Preliminary Results of ASTX660, a Novel Non-Peptidomimetic cIAP1/2 and XIAP Antagonist, in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma and Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

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Background: ASTX660 is an oral, novel nonpeptidomimetic, small-molecule antagonist of cellular/X-linked inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAP1/2 and XIAP). ASTX660 is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human phase 1‒2 study in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors and lymphoma (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02503423). In the phase 1 part of the study, the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) was identified with a favorable safety profile and initial evidence of clinical activity in a pt with mycoses fungoides (Mita et al, presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference 2017, abs #A091).

AIMS: Herein we report preliminary efficacy and safety data from the relapsed/refractory (r/r) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) Phase 2 cohorts.

Methods: Pts receive treatment with ASXT660 at the RP2D 180mg/day on Days 1 to 7, and 15 to 22 in a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint is response rate as assessed by the investigator according to either the Lugano criteria (PTCL) or Global Assessment (CTCL). Adverse events (AEs) are assessed per CTCAE V4.03.

Results: As of 15 January 2019, 16 PTCL pts and 13 CTCL pts have received ASTX660. Pt characteristics: median (range) age: PTCL: 59 (39-81) years and CTCL: 57 (23-75) years; median prior therapies: PTCL: 3 (1-7) and CTCL: 3 (1-9). In the PTCL cohort the ORR is 28% (4/14); 2 pts have yet to reach their first assessment. Three responding pts remain on study drug for 7-10 months. Responses have been observed in pts with AITL and PTCL-NOS. In the CTCL cohort the global response is 25% (3/12); 1 pt has yet to reach their first assessment. Two responding pts remain on study drug for 4-6 months. Responses have been seen in pts with large cell transformation, sezary syndrome and visceral metastases. Among all pts, the most common related AEs of any grade (≥ 15%) were lipase elevation (38%), amylase elevation (34%), ALT elevation (28%), elevation (24%) and rash (24%). Related AEs ≥ Grade 3 occurring in ≥3 pts were rash (n=5) and lipase elevation (n=4). Accrual continues; updated efficacy and safety data will be presented at the meeting.

Conclusion: In ongoing Phase 2 cohorts ASTX660 has shown activity against PTCL and CTCL with manageable safety profile. These early data support continued development of ASXT660 for the treatment of r/r PTCL and CTCL. Correlative studies are aimed at identifying predictors of response.

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Preliminary Results of ASTX660, a Novel Non-Peptidomimetic cIAP1/2 and XIAP Antagonist, in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma and Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

2019 EHA: Characterization of a novel, potent small molecule MDM2 antagonist which activates wild-type p53 and induces apoptosis in AML

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Background: In the presence of various stress signals, p53 acts as a tumor suppressor by regulating the expression of a multitude of genes to elicit cellular responses such as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The activity of p53 is tightly regulated by MDM2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that acts as a primary inhibitor of p53 function by, for example, targeting p53 for proteasomal degradation. Early studies have demonstrated that blocking the MDM2-p53 interaction in tumors carrying wild-type p53 prevents p53 degradation and reactivates it. Small molecule MDM2 antagonists that inhibit the MDM2-p53 interaction, therefore, present a promising strategy for cancer therapy and a number of these compounds are in clinical development.
Aims: Herein, we describe the characterization of a novel, potent small molecule MDM2 antagonist in AML in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models and in patient-derived AML blast cells.
Methods: A panel of p53 wild-type AML cell lines was tested for reduction in cell proliferation using Alamar Blue assay following treatment with the compound. Induction of apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry using a fluorescent caspase-3 substrate or Annexin V. Target engagement was analyzed by Western Blotting and TaqMan qRT-PCR. The MV-4-11 mouse systemic model was used to test in vivo sensitivity to the compound. Primary AML blasts were isolated from patients using combinations of antibodies against CD34, CD33, CD45, and CD117.
Results: We have applied structure-based design to develop a novel, potent, orally bioavailable MDM2 antagonist. The compound exhibits EC50 <1 nM against the full-length MDM2 protein in a cell-free ELISA and increases p53 levels in a wide range of p53 wild-type cells (e.g. EC50=10 nM for p53 induction in SJSA-1 osteosarcoma cells).
When tested in a panel of p53 wild-type AML cell lines, the compound exerted a strong anti-proliferative effect with GI50 values of <30 nM being observed in 9 out of 11 cell lines. In contrast, the compound had little effect on p53 mutant KG-1 cells (GI50 >10 M). In addition, many of the p53 wild-type AML cell lines showed a strong induction of apoptosis in response to treatment with the compound. Activation of p53 was evident by an increase in the expression of p53 and that of its well-known transcriptional targets such as p21 and MDM2. Consistent with these findings, a detailed study of gene expression changes in MV-4-11 confirmed clear transcriptional activation of several p53 target genes (CDKN1A, MDM2, BBC3, FAS, GADD45, BAX) 2-6 hours after addition of the compound.
In accordance with its potent activity in vitro, the compound displayed significant in vivo efficacy in the MV-4-11 mouse systemic model of AML. Here, QDx14 oral dosing at well tolerated doses demonstrated a clear reduction in tumor burden. Furthermore, p53 activation by the compound triggered apoptosis when tested in primary AML blast cells isolated from patients.
Summary/Conclusion: Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the compound exhibits potent activity against AML cells that retain wild-type p53, thus meriting further clinical investigations.

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Characterization of a novel, potent small molecule MDM2 antagonist which activates wild-type p53 and induces apoptosis in AML

2019 MDSF: Long Term Survival Results and Prognostic Factors Results of Higher Risk MDS and CMML treated with guadecitabine

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Long Term Survival Results and Prognostic Factors Results of Higher Risk MDS and CMML treated with guadecitabine

 

Abstract:

Background: Guadecitabine SC (SGI-110) is a dinucleotide next generation hypomethylating agent (HMA) resistant to degradation by cytidine deaminase resulting in extended in vivo exposure to its active metabolite decitabine.

 Methods: Int, or HR MDS, and CMML patients who were either treatment-naïve (TN) or relapsed/refractory (r/r) to other HMAs were randomized to either 60 mg/m2 or 90 mg/m2 QDx5 every 28 days.

 Results: We randomized 102 patients with a median follow up of 3.2 years: 53 to 60 mg/m2 and 49 patients to 90 mg/m2 QDx5. Of those, 53 patients were TN and 49 patients were r/r MDS/CMML. Median age was 71 and 72 years for TN MDS and r/r respectively. Most baseline patient characteristics were well balanced between the 2 treatment dose groups except that more CMML patients were randomized to the 60 mg/m2 group (28%) vs. 14% in the 90 mg/m2 group, and more patients with baseline BM blasts >5% were in the 90 mg/m2 group (67%) vs. 38% in the 60 mg/m2 group. Most patients were RBC transfusion-dependent at baseline (57%). In the r/r MDS cohort, most patients (77%) received ≥6 months of prior HMA treatment.

In the TN MDS cohort the median Overall Survival (OS) was 23.4 months (25.7 months for 60 mg/m2 dose group and 18.6 months for 90 mg/m2 dose group). In the r/r MDS cohort, the median OS was 11.7 months. No statistically significant difference in response or OS was observed between the 2 dose groups. In the overall population of 102 TN and r/r MDS patients there were no major differences in OS based on DNMT3A or TET2 mutation status while patients with TP53 mutations had worse median OS (7.4 months) compared to those without TP53 mutations (22.6 months). Other baseline prognostic factors associated with worse OS were BM blasts >5%; RBC transfusion-dependence; IPSS High Risk; and ECOG Performance Status of 2 or higher.

Conclusions: The median OS of 23.4 months (25.7 months for the 60 mg/m2 dose group) in TN MDS, and 11.7 months in r/r MDS signals a promising clinical activity of guadecitabine in the treatment of higher risk MDS/CMML. A phase 3 trial (ASTRAL-3) of guadecitabine vs Physician Treatment Choice in r/r MDS and CMML patients previously treated with other HMAs is actively enrolling (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02907359).

2018 EBF: Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of cedazuridine (E7727), epimer of cedazuridine and decitabine in THU-stabilized K2EDTA human Plasma

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Summary

Abstract:

Cedazuridine is a novel cytidine deaminase inhibitor that inhibits the in vivo metabolic degradation of decitabine when administered orally in combination with decitabine (known as ASTX727) in clinical trials. Cedazuridine inhibits degradation of decitabine by inhibiting cytidine deaminase in the gut and liver thereby increasing oral bioavailability of decitabine. To support clinical trial pharmacokinetic studies for ASTX727, a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of decitabine and cedazuridine, as well as the epimer of cedazuridine, in human plasma was developed and validated. Decitabine is known for its instability in human plasma over time as well as a previously observed chromatographic interference in certain subjects that was inseparable using reverse-phase chromatography. To stabilize decitabine, tetrahydrouridine (THU) was mixed with the human plasma samples. Chromatographic interference was resolved using normal phase chromatography. In-house synthesized stable-label internal standards for all three analytes were employed to ensure assay robustness. Stability of cedazuridine and cedazuridine-epimer were carefully evaluated and extensive experiments were conducted to ensure no inter-conversion occurs. As a result, a 3-in-1 method (single sample extraction) for the quantitation of cedazuridine, cedazuridine epimer and decitabine has been developed and fully validated. Protein precipitation (PPT) was used to extract all analytes from THU-stabilized human plasma samples. The analytes were separated on two different HPLC columns (reverse phase for cedazuridine and cedazuridine epimer and normal phase for decitabine). The method has been applied for clinical studies to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cedazuridine, cedazuridine-epimer and decitabine in human.

 

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2018 ASTX727 Poster presented at EBF

2019 MDSF: Development of an oral hypomethylating agent (HMA) as a fixed dose combination (FDC) of decitabine and CDA inhibitor cedazuridine

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Summary:

Background: Hypomethylating agents azacitidine and decitabine are not readily bioavailable orally due to their degradation in the gut and liver by CDA. We developed a selective, potent, and safe CDA inhibitor cedazuridine. The combination of cedazuridine with decitabine delivered orally as an FDC tablet is developed to achieve an equivalent AUC exposure to IV decitabine.

Methods: A phase 1-2 study was conducted in 124 patients eligible to receive IV decitabine. The phase 1 dose escalation (n=44 patients) established a recommended dose for both oral decitabine (35 mg), and cedazuridine (100 mg) likely to achieve a decitabine AUC exposure equivalent to decitabine IV at 20 mg/m2. The phase 2 (n=80 patients) was conducted using a randomized cross-over design comparing IV decitabine to oral ASTX727 to confirm intra-patient decitabine AUC exposure equivalence between standard IV decitabine and the selected ASTX727 FDC doses (35/100 mg decitabine/cedazuridine).

Results: In the phase 2 patients were randomized to either decitabine IV 20 mg/m2/d x5 or oral ASTX727 (decitabine/cedazuridine 35/100 mg/d) x5 Q 28 days in Cycle 1 and crossed over to the other arm in Cycle 2. All patients continued to receive oral ASTX727 from Cycle 3 onwards until progression or treatment discontinuation for other reasons. The median age was 69.7 years, median weight was 82.7 Kg (range 40-122), and median BSA was 1.99 m2 (range 1.3-2.4). The MDS-IPSS status of the patients was Int-1 in 44%, Int-2 in 24%, and HR in 11%, with 21% having CMML. No differences were observed between the 2 randomized arms. The decitabine AUC0-t (h*ng/mL) 5-Day geometric mean estimate was 745 from decitabine IV and 727 from the oral FDC tablet resulting in an oral/IV AUC ratio of 97.6% (80% CI of 80, 118%). Hypomethylating activity as measured by LINE-1 demethylation, and safety were comparable between decitabine IV and oral ASTX727 in the first 2 randomized cycles. Of note is the absence of grade 3 or higher GI AEs related to ASTX727. Overall response rate in the phase 2 population was 65% including 18% CR by the IWG 2006 MDS response criteria

Conclusions: ASTX727 FDC oral tablet at the selected doses (35/100 mg decitabine/cedazuridine) with no body weight or BSA adjustment achieved an equivalent decitabine AUC exposure to IV decitabine 20 mg/m2 over the 5-day cycle. LINE-1 demethylation and safety in the 2 randomized cycles were comparable and overall response rate was consistent with expected decitabine IV clinical response

 

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2019_ASTX727_Poster_MDSF_abst_MDSF19-0166_Garcia-Manero-Final

Ferraris et al., “Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of Fluorinated Tetrahydrouridine Derivatives as Inhibitors of Cytidine Deaminase.” Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2014

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Abstract:

Several 2′-fluorinated tetrahydrouridine derivatives were synthesized as inhibitors of cytidine deaminase (CDA). (4R)-2′-Deoxy-2′,2′-difluoro-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrouridine (7a) showed enhanced acid stability over tetrahydrouridine (THU) 5 at its N-glycosyl bond. As a result, compound 7a showed an improved oral pharmacokinetic profile with a higher and more reproducible plasma exposure in rhesus monkeys compared to 5. Co-administration of 7a with decitabine, a CDA substrate, boosted the plasma levels of decitabine in rhesus monkeys. These results demonstrate that compound 7a can serve as an acid-stable alternative to 5 as a pharmacoenhancer of drugs subject to CDA-mediated metabolism.

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Ferraris et al., “Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of Fluorinated Tetrahydrouridine Derivatives as Inhibitors of Cytidine Deaminase.” J.MedChem. ,2014, 57 (6), pp 2582–2588 DOI: 10.1021/jm401856k

 

 

2018 ASH: Long term results of a randomized phase 2 dose-response study of guadecitabine, a novel subcutaneous (SC) hypomethylating agent (HMA), in 102 patients with Intermediate or High Risk Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)

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Long term results of a randomized phase 2 dose-response study of guadecitabine, a novel subcutaneous (SC) hypomethylating agent (HMA), in 102 patients with Intermediate or High Risk Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)</>

Background: Guadecitabine SC (SGI-110) is a dinucleotide next generation HMA resistant to degradation by cytidine deaminase resulting in extended in vivo exposure to its active metabolite decitabine. A Phase 1 established 60 mg/m2 QDx5 as the biologically effective dose (BED), and 90 mg/m2 QDx5 as the Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in MDS patients given in 28-day cycles (Issa et al, 2015, Lancet Oncology). Phase 2 is conducted to evaluate dose response between the BED and MTD in both untreated MDS patients, and patients previously treated with other HMAs.

 Methods: Int, or HR MDS, and CMML patients who were either treatment-naïve (TN) or relapsed/refractory to other HMAs (r/r) were randomized to either 60 mg/m2 or 90 mg/m2 QDx5 every 28 days. Efficacy was evaluated by the clinical responses of CR, PR, marrow CR (mCR), and Hematological Improvement (HI) based on the International Working Group Criteria 2006, as well as transfusion-independence, and overall survival (OS). Adverse events (AEs) were graded by the CTCAE v4 criteria.

 Results: The study completed target enrolment with 102 patients: 53 r/r MDS, and 49 TN MDS. Fifty three patients were randomized to 60 mg/m2 and 49 patients to 90 mg/m2 QDx5 with a median follow up of 3.2 years (IQR 2.8-3.5 years). Median age was 72 and 71 years for r/r and TN MDS respectively. Most baseline patient characteristics were well balanced between the 2 treatment dose groups except that more CMML patients were randomized to the 60 mg/m2 group (28%) vs. 14% in the 90 mg/m2 group, and more patients with baseline BM blasts >5% were in the 90 mg/m2 group (67%) vs. 38% in the 60 mg/m2 group. Most patients were RBC transfusion-dependent at baseline (57%). In the r/r MDS cohort, most patients (58%) received their last HMA treatment <3 month before enrolment, and most of them received ≥6 months of prior HMA treatment (77%).

Median number of treatment cycles was 5 for both r/r and TN MDS (range 1-37 in r/r MDS and 1-49 in TN MDS). In the TN MDS cohort CR was achieved in 11 (22%) of patients with no major difference between the 2 dose groups (19% in the 60 mg/m2 group vs 27% in the 90 mg/m2 group). Overall CR+mCR was achieved in 18 patients (37%) in TN MDS patients and median OS was 23.4 months. In the r/r MDS cohort, CR was achieved in 4% of patients in each of the 2 dose groups. Overall CR+mCR in the r/r MDS cohort was achieved in 17 patients (32%), with a median duration of response of 7.9 months, and median OS of 11.7 months. No significant difference in response or OS between the 2 dose groups was observed. In patients who were RBC transfusion-dependent at baseline, transfusion independence for at least 8 weeks was achieved in 42% of TN MDS, and 15% in r/r MDS patients. In the overall population of 102 TN and r/r MDS patients there were no major differences in OS based on DNMT3A or TET2 mutation status while patients with TP53 mutations had worse median OS (7.4 months) compared to those without TP53 mutations (22.6 months). Other baseline prognostic factors for worse OS were BM blasts >5%; RBC transfusion-dependence; IPSS High Risk; and ECOG Performance Status of >1.

Overall incidence of Grade ≥3 AEs regardless of relationship to treatment was reported in 83 vs. 96% for 60 and 90 mg/m2 dose groups respectively. There was a slightly higher but non-significant difference in Grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia (57 vs 41.5%); neutropenia (51 vs 39.6%); febrile neutropenia (43% vs 32%); and pneumonia (32.7 vs. 26.4%) for the 90 mg/m2 compared to 60 mg/m2 dose group. Early 30, 60, and 90-day all-cause mortality was observed in 0, 3.7%, and 5.7% in the 60 mg/m2 dose group respectively; and in 2%, 4%, and 12% in the 90 mg/m2 dose group respectively.

Conclusions: Guadecitabine at both dose groups is a well-tolerated novel HMA with clinical activity in the treatment of both TN and r/r Int and HR MDS, and CMML patients. In TN MDS patient CR rate of 22% and median OS of 23.4 months compare well with first generation HMA efficacy (Fenaux et al, 2009, Lancet Oncology). Activity in r/r MDS who previously failed prior HMAs is particularly promising (CR+mCR in 32% of patients with median duration of response and overall survival of almost 8 and 12 months respectively). A phase 3 trial (ASTRAL-3) of guadecitabine vs Physician Treatment Choice in r/r MDS and CMML patients previously treated with azacitidine or decitabine is actively enrolling (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02907359).

2018: ASTX660, a Novel Non-peptidomimetic Antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, Potently Induces TNFα-Dependent Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines and Inhibits Tumor Growth.

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Abstract

Because of their roles in the evasion of apoptosis, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) are considered attractive targets for anticancer therapy. Antagonists of these proteins have the potential to switch prosurvival signaling pathways in cancer cells toward cell death. Various SMAC-peptidomimetics with inherent cIAP selectivity have been tested clinically and demonstrated minimal single-agent efficacy. ASTX660 is a potent, non-peptidomimetic antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, discovered using fragment-based drug design. The antagonism of XIAP and cIAP1 by ASTX660 was demonstrated on purified proteins, cells, and in vivo in xenograft models. The compound binds to the isolated BIR3 domains of both XIAP and cIAP1 with nanomolar potencies. In cells and xenograft tissue, direct antagonism of XIAP was demonstrated by measuring its displacement from caspase-9 or SMAC. Compound-induced proteasomal degradation of cIAP1 and 2, resulting in downstream effects of NIK stabilization and activation of noncanonical NF-κB signaling, demonstrated cIAP1/2 antagonism. Treatment with ASTX660 led to TNFα-dependent induction of apoptosis in various cancer cell lines in vitro, whereas dosing in mice bearing breast and melanoma tumor xenografts inhibited tumor growth. ASTX660 is currently being tested in a phase I–II clinical trial (NCT02503423), and we propose that its antagonism of cIAP1/2 and XIAP may offer improved efficacy over first-generation antagonists that are more cIAP1/2 selective. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(7); 1–11. ©2018 AACR.

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Ward et al. “ASTX660, a Novel Non-peptidomimetic Antagonist of cIAP1/2 and XIAP, Potently Induces TNFα-Dependent Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines and Inhibits Tumor Growth.” Mol Cancer Ther. June 14, 2018, doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-17-0848

2018 AACR: A novel ERK1/2 inhibitor has potent activity in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer models

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Summary
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) molecular profiling is a key factor in treatment selection. Although, patients with NSCLC tumors harboring EGFR or ALK mutations can benefit from personalized therapies, there are currently no approved targeted therapies for KRAS mutant tumors which occur in 25% to 30% of patients with NSCLC. The constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway in these tumors provides a rationale for targeting effectors such as MEK1/2 (MEK) or ERK1/2 (ERK). Inhibitor of MEK kinase have been tested clinically in KRAS-mutant NSCLC but results have been disappointing, possibly because compensatory signalling such as the reactivation of ERK is triggered following the inhibition of MEK, leading to cancer cell survival. Therefore, targeting ERK directly represents an attractive therapeutic approach. As previously described, we have developed a novel, potent and selective ERK inhibitor identified by fragment-based drug discovery which has potent activity in vitro and in vivo. Here, we demonstrate the activity of this lead compound in KRAS-mutant NSCLC models.
Our novel ERK inhibitor was tested in a panel of 440 human cancer cell lines of which the KRAS NSCLC population was identified as particularly sensitive. 62% of the KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines tested, exhibited antiproliferative IC50s ranging from 1 nM to 500 nM. This lead compound also inhibited ERK downstream signalling in KRAS NSCLC models both in vitro and in vivo. Indeed, the phosphorylation level of the ERK substrate, RSK, was strongly decreased in HCC-44 and Calu-6 xenograft tumors 2h after the oral administration of the lead compound at 50 mg/kg. Levels of pRSK remained below those of untreated tumors for up to 16h in HCC-44 tumors and 24h in Calu-6 tumors. We also confirmed that, the ERK inhibitor conferred a decrease in phosphorylation of ERK itself in both models. The inhibition of ERK signalling corresponded to significant anti-tumour activity in these models with a daily oral administration of 50 mg/kg compound leading to significant tumor regression in subcutaneous models of HCC-44 (18.3% T/C) and Calu-6 (8.9% T/C) xenograft tumors.
This work demonstrates the in vitro and in vivo activity of a novel, highly potent, selective ERK inhibitor in models of KRAS-mutant NSCLC. These data support the further optimisation of this series of compounds for clinical development.

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A novel ERK1/2 inhibitor has potent activity in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer models

2017 ASH: Predictors of Response and Survival in 206 AML Patients Treated with Guadecitabine in a Phase 2 Study

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Summary
Background: Guadecitabine is a next generation hypomethylating agent (HMA) resistant to degradation by cytidine deaminase which results in prolonged in vivo exposure to the active metabolite decitabine. We conducted a prospective phase 2 study testing different schedules of guadecitabine in 206 AML patients. We present here the results of multiple logistic regression, and Cox regression analyses of predictors of composite Complete Response or CRc (CR+CRp+CRi) and overall survival (OS).

Methods: Multiple logistic regression analysis of response (CRc), and Cox regression analysis of OS were conducted with inclusion of the following baseline variables: disease state (relapsed/refractory (r/r) vs. treatment naïve (TN) AML); guadecitabine schedule (10day vs. 5day); age (<75 vs. ≥75); ECOG PS (01 vs. ≥2); Cytogenetics (others vs. poor risk); baseline BM blasts (≤40% vs. >40%); baseline Peripheral blood (PB) blasts (≤30% vs. >30%); baseline WBCs count (<20,000/μL vs. ≥20,000/μL); Flt3 ITD, NPM, and TP53 mutations (each present vs. not detected). Cutoff values for blasts % for BM and PB were chosen based on the median or mean values respectively, and cutoff value for WBCs count was chosen as a common cutoff used for proliferative AML. Backward elimination method with alpha =0.05 was used to reach the final models.

Results: We treated 206 AML patients (103 patients each for TN or r/r AML); 101 with 5day schedule and 105 with 10day schedule. There were 91 patients (44%) ≥75 y; 53 (26%) with ECOG PS≥2; 85 (41%) with poor risk cytogenetics; 99 (48%) with baseline BM blasts >40%; 65 (32%) with baseline PB blasts >30%; 20 (9.7%) with WBCs ≥20,000/μL. Flt3, NPM, and TP53 mutations were present in 8%, 9%, and 4% of patients respectively. The final logistic regression model indicated that patients with ECOG PS 01 and those with baseline PB blasts ≤ 30% have twofold higher odds of response than those with ECOG PS ≥2 and PB blasts >30% (Odds ratio 2.18; and 2.03 respectively; p<0.05 for both). Patients with TN AML had fivefold higher odds of response to guadecitabine than r/r AML (Odds ratio of response for r/r AML 0.22; p <0.0001). The final Cox regression model showed that both ECOG PS 01 and PB blasts ≤30% retained their significance for OS (HR 0.69 with p=0.03; and 0.61 with p=0.004 respectively). However disease state (r/r AML vs TN AML) lost significance for OS while cytogenetics risk level (others vs poor risk) became significant with a HR for OS of 0.68, p=0.016.

Summary/Conclusions: In a prospective series of AML patients treated with guadecitabine in a phase 2 study, better ECOG PS 01 and lower baseline PB blasts ≤30% were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of response and a longer OS. Patients with TN AML had significantly higher likelihood of response than those with r/r AML but this was not a significant factor for OS when other factors are present in the model such as ECOG PS, cytogenetics risk and PB blasts. On the other hand, the presence of poor risk cytogenetics did not alter the likelihood of response to guadecitabine but still had shorter survival compared to patients with other cytogenetics risk levels. Other variables such as age, baseline BM blasts %, and baseline WBCs count did not significantly impact response or OS in AML patients treated with guadecitabine when all other factors are present in the models. The analysis of genetic mutations was limited by the small number of patients where these mutations were present. The analysis of the treatment schedule is limited by the different effect of the schedule on r/r AML compared to TN AML where the 10day schedule did better than the 5day schedule in r/r AML but not in TN AML patients.

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Predictors of Response and Survival in 206 AML Patients Treated with Guadecitabine in a Phase 2 Study