Phase I/II study of MKC-1 and pemetrexed (PEM) as second-line therapy in patients (pts) with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
e19005 Background: MKC-1 is a novel oral cell cycle inhibitor with preclinical activity against NSCLC cell lines including multi-drug resistant lines, and single agent activity in NSCLC pts. Binding targets of MKC-1 include microtubules, members of the importin-β family and AKT-mTOR. This phase 1/2 study evaluated MKC-1 in combination with PEM as second-line therapy in pts with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Eligible pts had NSCLC previously treated with one regimen for metastatic disease or disease progression within one year following adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy. Phase 1 dose escalation used 3+3 design. Phase 2 pts were treated with MKC-1 at 75 mg/m2 given p.o. BID for 14 days along with PEM at 500 mg/m2 given i.v. on day 1 of each 21 day cycle. Following 4 cycles of combined treatment, single agent MKC-1 was continued as maintenance therapy. An interim analysis after 17 pts in phase 2 would allow accrual to continue provided one response was confirmed. Results: 27 pts were enrolled (8 in phase 1 and 19 in phase 2). Median age/PS for phase 2 is 64/1 and 89% had adenocarcinoma. Total # of treatment cycles to date for phase 2 pts is 95, with a median of 4 cycles. Of the 19 phase 2 pts, 18 were evaluable for tumor response. The best response was confirmed PR, noted in 3 pts. 5 additional pts (4 confirmed) had minor responses (>10% but <30% shrinkage). One additional pt continues on study with stable disease for >18 months. In phase 2 (n=19), all grade toxicities were anorexia (59%), fatigue (63%), nausea (58%), and dyspnea (48%). Grade 3/4 toxicities included fatigue (26%); neutropenia (22%); dyspnea, anorexia, AST and ALT elevation (11% each); nausea and constipation (5% each). 7 pts had at least one dose reduction of both PEM and MKC-1 and 3 additional pts had only MKC-1 reduced. Median PFS was 86 days with two pts continuing on study (treated for 530+ days and 140+ days, respectively). Conclusions: The phase 2 dose of MKC-1 (75 mg/m2 BID) and PEM (500 mg/m2) has been defined. The combination is well tolerated with 17% of patients achieving a confirmed PR thus far. A decision to proceed with additional accrual in this single arm study versus initiating a randomized phase 2 study of this combination is pending. [Table: see text]