Phase I trial of bevacizumab plus sunitinib in patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)
5099 Background: Bevacizumab, an intravenous monoclonal antibody against VEGF, and sunitinib, an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGF and PDGF receptors, both have activity in mRCC [NEJM 349:427–434; JAMA 295:2516–2524]. Combining bevacizumab and sunitinib may increase antitumor efficacy by maximizing inhibition of the VEGF pathway. The safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of sunitinib in combination with bevacizumab was assessed in this Phase I trial. Methods: Cohorts of 3–6 pts with mRCC received escalating doses of sunitinib (dose levels: 25, 37.5, and 50 mg po) daily for 4 weeks (wks) followed by 2 wks off with fixed- dose bevacizumab (10 mg/kg iv) every 2 wks continuously. Pre-determined dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) in the first 6-wk cycle included Grade (Gr) 4 neutropenia, ≥Gr 3 thrombocytopenia of ≥7 days, Gr 4 hypertension or proteinuria, and other Gr 3 non-hematologic toxicity of ≥7 days. Pts who came off study prior to completion of cycle 1 for any reason other than a DLT were replaced. Serum VEGF levels were measured before and during cycles 1 and 2. Results: 16 pts (11 male, 5 female, median age 57) were enrolled. Of 8 patients entered at the first dose level (sunitinib 25 mg, bevacizumab 10 mg/kg), 2 were replaced; 1 never received treatment and 1 did not complete cycle 1 due to rapid progression of disease (PD). No DLTs occurred in the remaining 6 evaluable pts in this cohort. At the 2nd dose level (n =6, sunitinib 37.5 mg, bevacizumab 10 mg/kg), 1 pt receiving low molecular weight heparin had a DLT of Gr 4 hemorrhage. 2 pts have enrolled in the 3rd dose level (sunitinib 50 mg, bevacizumab 10 mg/kg) but are not yet evaluable for toxicity or response. Gr 3/4 toxicities over all cycles included Gr 3 hypertension (n=4), Gr 3 proteinuria (n=2), Gr 3 abdominal pain (n=2), Gr 4 hemorrhage (n=1), and Gr 3 hand/foot syndrome (n=1). 13 pts were evaluated for best response–4 had partial responses, 7 had stable disease, and 2 had PD. Serum VEGF levels decreased during cycle 1 in all pts. Conclusions: The combination of sunitinib and bevacizumab in mRCC pts was tolerable at the first 2 dose levels. Once the MTD is identified, further testing of this combination in phase II trials may be indicated for mRCC as well as other malignancies. [Table: see text]