emd1214063 and Brain-Neoplasms

Primary analysis of VISION showed tepotinib had durable clinical activity in patients with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We present updated outcomes for clinically relevant subgroups.. This phase II, open-label, multi-cohort study of 500 mg (450 mg active moiety) tepotinib in patients with METex14 skipping NSCLC assessed efficacy and safety in predefined subgroups according to age, prior therapies (chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors), and brain metastases. An ad hoc retrospective analysis using Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) criteria assessed intracranial activity.. 152 patients were evaluable for efficacy (median age: 73.1). Overall, objective response rate (ORR) was 44.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 36.7-53.0]. Patients aged <75 (n = 84) and ≥75 (n = 68) had ORRs of 48.8% (95% CI: 37.7-60.0) and 39.7% (95% CI: 28.0-52.3), respectively. Treatment-naïve (n = 69) versus previously treated (n = 83) patients showed consistent efficacy [ORR (95% CI): 44.9% (32.9-57.4) vs. 44.6% (33.7-55.9); median duration of response (95% CI): 10.8 (6.9-not estimable) vs. 11.1 (9.5-18.5) months]. Of 15 patients analyzed by RANO-BM (12 received prior radiotherapy), 13 achieved intracranial disease control; 5 of 7 patients with measurable brain metastases had partial intracranial responses. Of 255 patients evaluable for safety, 64 (25.1%) experienced grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE), leading to discontinuation in 27 patients (10.6%). Rates of adverse events (AE) were broadly consistent irrespective of prior therapies.. Tepotinib showed meaningful activity across subgroups by age, prior therapies, and brain metastases, with a manageable safety profile and few treatment discontinuations. See related commentary by Rosner and Spira, p. 1055.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Brain Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cohort Studies; Exons; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Piperidines; Pyridazines; Pyrimidines; Retrospective Studies

Central nervous system-penetrant therapies with intracranial efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases are urgently needed. We report preclinical studies investigating brain penetration and intracranial activity of the MET inhibitor tepotinib. After intravenous infusion of tepotinib in Wistar rats (n = 3), mean (±standard deviation) total tepotinib concentration was 2.87-fold higher in brain (505 ± 22 ng/g) than plasma (177 ± 20 ng/mL). In equilibrium dialysis experiments performed in triplicate, mean tepotinib unbound fraction was 0.35% at 0.3 and 3.0 µM tepotinib in rat brain tissue, and 4.0% at 0.3 and 1.0 µM tepotinib in rat plasma. The calculated unbound brain-to-plasma ratio was 0.25, indicating brain penetration sufficient for intracranial target inhibition. Of 20 screened subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from lung cancer brain metastases (n = 1), two NSCLC brain metastases models (LU5349 and LU5406) were sensitive to the suboptimal dose of tepotinib of 30 mg/kg/qd (tumor volume change [%TV]: -12% and -88%, respectively). Molecular profiling (nCounter®; NanoString) revealed high-level MET amplification in both tumors (mean MET gene copy number: 11.2 and 24.2, respectively). Tepotinib sensitivity was confirmed for both subcutaneous models at a clinically relevant dose (125 mg/kg/qd; n = 5). LU5349 and LU5406 were orthotopically implanted into brains of mice and monitored by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tepotinib 125 mg/kg/qd induced pronounced tumor regression, including complete or near-complete regressions, compared with vehicle in both orthotopic models (n = 10; median %TV: LU5349, -84%; LU5406, -63%). Intracranial antitumor activity of tepotinib did not appear to correlate with blood-brain barrier leakiness assessed in T1-weighted gadolinium contrast-enhanced MRI.

Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Heterografts; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Piperidines; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; Pyridazines; Pyrimidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

In May 2020 and February 2021, capmatinib and tepotinib, respectively were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma harboring mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping alterations. Herein, we present a case of intolerable peripheral edema caused by tepotinib, in which MET inhibitor could be continued by switching to capmatinib. Peripheral edema has been identified as one of the most common adverse events in capmatinib and tepotinib; however, there is no unified management for this adverse event. This is the first report that two MET inhibitors have different effects on the development of peripheral edema, and that the MET inhibitors can be continued by switching these drugs.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzamides; Brain Neoplasms; Edema; Extremities; Humans; Imidazoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Piperidines; Pyridazines; Pyrimidines; Triazines

Alterations in c-MET, a tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the MET gene, have been reported in approximately 3% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases and carry important treatment implications. The best studied genetic alterations are exon 14 skipping and gene amplification; however, gene rearrangement has also been described, and multiple fusion partners have been reported. Recently, in METex14-mutated NSCLC, multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as crizotinib and cabozantinib, as well as MET-selective TKIs, such as tepotinib and capmatinib, have demonstrated durable responses. In this study, we present the case of a 41-year-old woman with advanced NSCLC harboring an HLA-DRB1-MET gene fusion. The patient was offered successively two different MET multikinase inhibitors, crizotinib and cabozantinib, and the selective inhibitor tepotinib. Each time, including under tepotinib, the patient experienced rapid and complete responses associated with a tremendous improvement in her physical function. KEY POINTS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with non-small cell lung cancer harboring an HLA-DRB1-MET gene fusion demonstrating a clinical response to multiple MET inhibitors, including tepotinib. This finding illustrates the efficacy and rationale to targeting MET regardless of fusion partner and gives insight to pooling of patients with different MET fusion products in trials assessing safety and efficacy of novel molecules.

Topics: Adult; Brain Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Female; Gene Fusion; HLA-DRB1 Chains; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Piperidines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; Pyridazines; Pyrimidines

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have transformed the standard of care in lung cancer. A number of TKIs have been discovered that specifically target oncogenes, including MET receptor tyrosine kinase. Second-generation MET TKIs are showing improved efficacy over first-generation TKIs. Herein, we report a case of a patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harboring a

Topics: Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Aged; B7-H1 Antigen; Brain Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Exons; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Piperidines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; Pyridazines; Pyrimidines