imetelstat and Lung-Neoplasms

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in the proliferation and in the metastatic spread of tumour cells. Several agents with anti-angiogenic activity have been tested in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Motesanib (AMG 706) is a promising anti-angiogenic multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which has been investigated as a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, in several types of cancer.. We have reviewed the literature, and we have presented the results of clinical trials that have investigated the administration of motesanib in advanced NSCLC patients.. Encouraging results have been described with the administration of motesanib as first-line treatment in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in Asian patients with non-squamous advanced NSCLC. Further studies are needed in order to identify the predictive biomarkers of response and to select patients who may benefit from this anti-angiogenic treatment.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Indoles; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. The main regulators of the process are the signaling cascades of VEGF-, PDGF- and FGF receptors. Inhibition of these pathways holds potential therapeutic benefit not only for cancer patients, but also for the treatment of other diseases. This paper summarizes the experimental and clinical results of studies available so far on the multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib (BIBF 1120). According to these studies, nintedanib effectively inhibits VEGFR-, PDGFR- and FGFR signalization and thus the proliferation and survival of cell types which highly express these receptors (i.e. endothelial and smooth muscle cells and pericytes). In vitro studies and in vivo xenograft experiments have provided promising results. In the clinical setting, BIBF 1120 seems to be effective and well tolerated in various tumor types, such as lung, prostate, colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as in gynecological tumors. The main adverse events are gastrointestinal toxicities and the reversible elevation of liver enzyme levels. Nintedanib might also be combined with paclitaxel, carboplatin, pemetrexed and docetaxel. There are several ongoing clinical trials testing the efficacy of BIBF 1120.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Axitinib; Benzenesulfonates; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Clinical Trials as Topic; Colorectal Neoplasms; Digestive System; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Indazoles; Indoles; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Neoplasms; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Phenylurea Compounds; Phthalazines; Piperidines; Prostatic Neoplasms; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Pyridines; Pyrimidines; Quinazolines; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Signal Transduction; Sorafenib; Sulfonamides; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Benefits from conventional chemotherapy in NSCLC have plateaued. Accordingly, sizeable efforts have gone into developing novel therapies. Tumor angiogenesis mediated principally by VEGF has emerged as an alluring target because of its vital role in tumor growth, sustenance and metastasis. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) trial E4599 showed significant improvement in overall survival with addition of bevacizumab, a VEGF monoclonal antibody, to cytotoxic chemotherapy in metastatic NSCLC. A number of compounds targeting tumor angiogenesis have since gone into preclinical and clinical testing. The multifaceted nature of cancer has led to development of multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MTKIs) that target several pathways concomitantly. Motesanib, an orally administered potent small molecule, targets VEGFR 1 - 3, PDGFR and KIT. Oral bioavailability and preliminary evidence of activity make this compound an appealing choice for additional investigations.. This review summarizes the background of angiogenesis and rationale for targeting the VEGF pathway in NSCLC. The authors also review recent clinical trial data evaluating motesanib.. VEGF is a validated target in NSCLC. In early trials motesanib has shown promising activity in NSCLC with tolerable toxicity profile. A Phase III trial with motesanib in combination with chemotherapy is ongoing.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Availability; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most active fields of research in oncology, with many drugs under clinical development. Most of these drugs offer novel mechanisms of action compared with drugs currently used in clinical practice.. In this article, results recently obtained with most promising new drugs for advanced NSCLC are briefly described.. Most of the new drugs are currently being tested without a biomarker-driven selection, due to inadequate knowledge of predictive factors. A few drugs are tested in biologically selected samples of NSCLC patients. The results obtained with crizotinib in patients with ALK gene rearrangement are a good example of the speed with which biological discoveries can be translated to clinical testing.. Emerging clinical and molecular data demonstrate that NSCLC is a family of related but distinct diseases. Some drugs tested in unselected population will probably obtain an incremental benefit compared to the current standard, but this will not substantially change the unfavorable prognosis of NSCLC patients. By contrast, unprecedented and much more cost-effective results can be obtained when targeted agents are administered following appropriate biomarker-driven patient selection.

Topics: Afatinib; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Discovery; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Quinazolines; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Despite developments in conventional (chemo)radiotherapy and surgery, survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains poor. Treatments with targeted molecular drugs offer novel therapeutic strategies. Bevacizumab, a recombinant anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody, is the antiangiogenic drug at the most advanced stage of development in the therapy of NSCLC. However, a number of questions and future challenges relating to the use of bevacizumab in NSCLC remain. Furthermore, novel agents targeting the pre-existing NSCLC vasculature (i.e. vascular disrupting agents, VDAs) or multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors have emerged as unique drug classes delivering promising results in several preclinical and clinical studies. Herein, we review the most recent data using these novel targeted agents either alone or in combination with chemotherapy in NSCLC.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Axitinib; Benzenesulfonates; Bevacizumab; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Imidazoles; Indazoles; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Phenylurea Compounds; Piperidines; Pyridines; Quinazolines; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Sorafenib; Sulfonamides; Xanthones

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hong Kong; Humans; Indoles; Japan; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Staging; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Republic of Korea; Survival Rate; Treatment Outcome

Continuation or 'switch' maintenance therapy is commonly used in patients with advancd non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we evaluated the efficacy of the telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat, as switch maintenance therapy in patients with advanced NSCLC.. The primary end point of this open-label, randomized phase II study was progression-free survival (PFS). Patients with non-progressive, advanced NSCLC after platinum-based doublet (first-line) chemotherapy (with or without bevacizumab), any histology, with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1 were eligible. Randomization was 2 : 1 in favor of imetelstat, administered at 9.4 mg/kg on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle, or observation. Telomere length (TL) biomarker exploratory analysis was carried out in tumor tissue by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and telomerase fluorescence in situ hybridization.. Of 116 patients enrolled, 114 were evaluable. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were more frequent with imetelstat. Median PFS was 2.8 and 2.6 months for imetelstat-treated versus control [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.844; 95% CI 0.54-1.31; P = 0.446]. Median survival time favored imetelstat (14.3 versus 11.5 months), although not significantly (HR = 0.68; 95% CI 0.41-1.12; P = 0.129). Exploratory analysis demonstrated a trend toward longer median PFS (HR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.14-1.3; P = 0.124) and overall survival (OS; HR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.11-1.46; P = 0.155) in imetelstat-treated patients with short TL, but no improvement in median PFS and OS in patients with long TL (HR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.39-1.88; and HR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.2-1.28; P = 0.145).. Maintenance imetelstat failed to improve PFS in advanced NSCLC patients responding to first-line therapy. There was a trend toward a improvement in median PFS and OS in patients with short TL. Short TL as a predictive biomarker will require further investigation for the clinical development of imetelstat.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Disease-Free Survival; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Indoles; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lung Neoplasms; Maintenance Chemotherapy; Male; Middle Aged; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Proportional Hazards Models; Telomerase; Telomere

This preplanned subset analysis of the phase III MONET1 study aimed to determine whether motesanib combined with carboplatin/paclitaxel (C/P) would result in improved overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy alone, in a subset of Asian patients with nonsquamous nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).. Patients with nonsquamous NSCLC (stage IIIB/IV or recurrent) and no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease were randomized to IV carboplatin (AUC, 6 mg/ml min) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m2) for up to six 3-week cycles, plus either oral motesanib 125 mg q.d. or placebo. Primary end point was OS; secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety.. Two hundred twenty-seven Asian patients from MONET1 were included in this descriptive analysis. Median OS was 20.9 months in the motesanib plus C/P arm and 14.5 months in the placebo plus C/P arm (P=0.0223); median PFS was 7.0 and 5.3 months, respectively, (P=0.0004); and ORR was 62% and 27%, respectively, (P<0.0001). Grade≥3 adverse events were more common in the motesanib plus C/P arm versus placebo plus C/P (79% versus 61%).. In this preplanned subset analysis of Asian patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, motesanib plus C/P significantly improved OS, PFS, and ORR versus placebo plus C/P.. NCT00460317.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asian People; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Diarrhea; Disease-Free Survival; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Proportional Hazards Models; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

The phase 3 MONET1 study evaluated motesanib (a small-molecule inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors) plus carboplatin/paclitaxel versus placebo plus carboplatin/paclitaxel as first-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Treatment and enrollment of patients with squamous histology were permanently discontinued following higher early mortality and gross hemoptysis in those with squamous NSCLC who received motesanib. Enrollment of patients with nonsquamous histology was temporarily halted, but resumed following a protocol amendment (Scagliotti et al. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30:2829-2836). Herein, we report data from the squamous cohort.. Patients with stage IIIB/IV or recurrent squamous NSCLC (without prior systemic therapy for advanced disease) received up to six 3-week cycles of chemotherapy (carboplatin, area under the curve 6 mg/mL•min/paclitaxel, 200 mg/m) and were randomized 1:1 to receive motesanib 125 mg (Arm A) or placebo (Arm B) once daily. The primary end point was overall survival.. Three-hundred and sixty patients with squamous NSCLC were randomized (Arm A, n = 182; Arm B, n = 178) between July 2007 and November 2008. Twenty-three patients (13%) in Arm A and 10 (6%) in Arm B had fatal adverse events within the first 60 days of treatment. Among these, six patients in Arm A, but none in Arm B, had fatal bleeding events. At final analysis, serious adverse events had occurred in 47% of patients in Arm A and 29% of patients in Arm B. Median overall survival was similar in Arms A and B (11.1 versus 10.7 months).. Motesanib plus carboplatin/paclitaxel had unacceptable toxicity compared with carboplatin/paclitaxel alone in patients with advanced squamous NSCLC.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Disease-Free Survival; Double-Blind Method; Early Termination of Clinical Trials; Female; Hemoptysis; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Survival Rate

We sought to develop placental growth factor as a predictive pharmacodynamic biomarker for motesanib efficacy as first-line therapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer.. Placental growth factor was evaluated at baseline and study week 4 (after 3 weeks treatment) in an exploratory analysis of data from a randomized phase 2 study of motesanib 125 mg once daily plus carboplatin/paclitaxel and in a prespecified analysis of data from a randomized, double-blind phase 3 study of motesanib 125 mg once daily plus carboplatin/paclitaxel vs placebo plus carboplatin/paclitaxel (MONET1). Associations between fold-change from baseline in placental growth factor and overall survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models.. In the phase 2 study, serum placental growth factor increased from baseline a mean 2.8-fold at study week 4. Patients with ≥2.2-fold change from baseline in placental growth factor (n = 18) had significantly longer overall survival than those with <2.2-fold change (n = 19; 22.9 vs 7.9 months; hazard ratio, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.12-0.74; P = 0.009). Consequently, placental growth factor was investigated as a pharmacodynamic biomarker in the phase 3 MONET1 study. There was no association between log-transformed placental growth factor fold-change from baseline to week 4 (continuous variable) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.79-1.22; P = 0.868). MONET1 did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival. Likewise, median overall survival was similar among patients with ≥2.0-fold change in placental growth factor (n = 229) compared with <2.0-fold change (n = 127; 14.8 vs 13.8 months; hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.67-1.15, P = 0.340).. Our results illustrate the challenges of successfully translating phase 2 biomarker results into phase 3 studies.. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00460317, NCT00369070.

Topics: Aged; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Area Under Curve; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Disease-Free Survival; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Placebo Effect; Placenta Growth Factor; Pregnancy Proteins; Proportional Hazards Models; ROC Curve; Survival Rate

We evaluated whether motesanib (a selective oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2, and 3; platelet-derived growth factor receptor; and Kit) combined with carboplatin/paclitaxel improved overall survival (OS) versus chemotherapy alone in patients with nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in the subset of patients with adenocarcinoma.. Patients with stage IIIB/IV or recurrent nonsquamous NSCLC (no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease) were randomly assigned 1:1 to carboplatin (area under the curve, 6 mg/ml · min) and paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2)) intravenously for up to six 3-week cycles plus either motesanib 125 mg (arm A) or placebo (arm B) once daily orally. OS was the primary end point. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), adverse events (AEs), and association between placental growth factor (PLGF) change and OS.. A total of 1,090 patients with nonsquamous NSCLC were randomly assigned (arms A/B, n = 541 of 549); of those, 890 had adenocarcinoma (n = 448 of 442). Median OS in arms A and B was 13.0 and 11.0 months, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.04; P = .14); median OS for the adenocarcinoma subset was 13.5 and 11.0 months, respectively (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.03; P = .11). In descriptive analyses (arms A v B), median PFS was 5.6 months versus 5.4 months (P = < .001); ORR was 40% versus 26% (P < .001). There was no association between PLGF change and OS in arm A. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 AEs (arms A and B, 73% and 59%, respectively) and grade 5 AEs (14% and 9%, respectively) was higher with motesanib treatment.. Motesanib plus carboplatin/paclitaxel did not significantly improve OS over carboplatin/paclitaxel alone in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC or in the adenocarcinoma subset.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Young Adult

Simulations were performed for carboplatin/paclitaxel (C/P) plus motesanib or bevacizumab vs. C/P as first-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a published drug-disease model. With 700 patients in each arm, simulated hazard ratios for motesanib (0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-1.1) and bevacizumab (0.89; 95% CI, 0.73-1.1) agreed with results from the respective phase III studies but did not discriminate between failed and successful studies. The current model may require further enhancement to improve its utility for predicting phase III outcomes.

Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bevacizumab; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Computer Simulation; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Models, Biological; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Proportional Hazards Models; Survival Rate

This phase II study estimated the difference in objective response rate (ORR) among patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving paclitaxel-carboplatin (CP) plus motesanib or bevacizumab.. Chemotherapy-naive patients (N = 186) were randomized 1:1:1 to receive CP plus motesanib 125 mg once daily (qd) (arm A), motesanib 75 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) 5 days on/2 days off (arm B), or bevacizumab 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks (q3w) (arm C). The primary end point was ORR (per RECIST). Other end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), motesanib pharmacokinetics, and adverse events (AEs).. ORRs in the three arms were as follows: arm A, 30% (95% confidence interval 18% to 43%); arm B, 23% (13% to 36%); and arm C, 37% (25% to 50%). Median PFS in arm A was 7.7 months, arm B 5.8 months, and arm C 8.3 months; median OS for arm A was 14.0 months, arm B 12.8 months, and arm C 14.0 months. Incidence of AEs was greater in arms A and B than in arm C. More grade 5 AEs not attributable to disease progression occurred in arm B (n = 10) than in arms A (n = 4) and C (n = 4). Motesanib plasma C(max) and C(min) values were consistent with its pharmacokinetic properties observed in previous studies.. The efficacy of 125 mg qd motesanib or bevacizumab plus CP was estimated to be comparable. Toxicity was higher but manageable in both motesanib arms. Efficacy and tolerability of motesanib 125 mg qd plus CP in advanced nonsquamous NSCLC are being further investigated in a phase III study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bevacizumab; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Survival Rate

Motesanib is a small-molecule antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, 2, and 3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and Kit. This phase 1b study assessed the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and pharmacokinetics, and explored the objective response of motesanib plus carboplatin/paclitaxel and/or the fully human anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody panitumumab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).. Patients with unresectable NSCLC received sequentially escalating doses of motesanib [50, 125 mg once daily; 75 mg twice daily] orally continuously plus carboplatin/paclitaxel (arm A; first line) or panitumumab (arm B; first and second line) once every 21-day cycle or 125 mg once daily plus carboplatin/paclitaxel and panitumumab (arm C; first line).. Forty-five patients received motesanib. Three dose-limiting toxicities occurred: grade 4 pulmonary embolism (n = 1; arm A, 50 mg once daily) and grade 3 deep vein thrombosis (n = 2; arm A, 125 mg once daily; arm C). The MTD was 125 mg once daily. Common motesanib-related adverse events were fatigue (60% of patients), diarrhea (53%), hypertension, (38%), anorexia (27%), and nausea (22%). Three cases of cholecystitis occurred but only in the 75-mg twice-daily schedule, which was subsequently discontinued. At 125 mg once daily, motesanib pharmacokinetics were not markedly changed with carboplatin/paclitaxel coadministration; however, exposure to paclitaxel was moderately increased. The objective response rates were 17%, 0%, and 17% in arms A, B, and C, respectively.. Treatment with motesanib was tolerable when combined with carboplatin/paclitaxel and/or panitumumab, with little effect on motesanib pharmacokinetics at the 125-mg once daily dose level. This dose is being investigated in an ongoing phase 3 study in NSCLC.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Female; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Paclitaxel; Panitumumab; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Telomerase was evaluated as a therapeutic oncotarget by studying the efficacy of the telomerase inhibitor imetelstat in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines to determine the range of response phenotypes and identify potential biomarkers of response. A panel of 63 NSCLC cell lines was studied for telomere length and imetelstat efficacy in inhibiting colony formation and no correlation was found with patient characteristics, tumor histology, and oncogenotypes. While there was no overall correlation between imetelstat efficacy with initial telomere length (ranging from 1.5 to 20 kb), the quartile of NSCLC lines with the shortest telomeres was more sensitive than the quartile with the longest telomeres. Continuous long-term treatment with imetelstat resulted in sustained telomerase inhibition, progressive telomere shortening and eventual growth inhibition in a telomere-length dependent manner. Cessation of imetelstat therapy before growth inhibition was followed by telomere regrowth. Likewise, in vivo imetelstat treatment caused tumor xenograft growth inhibition in a telomere-length dependent manner. We conclude from these preclinical studies of telomerase as an oncotarget tested by imetelstat response that imetelstat has efficacy across the entire oncogenotype spectrum of NSCLC, continuous therapy is necessary to prevent telomere regrowth, and short telomeres appears to be the best treatment biomarker.

Topics: A549 Cells; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Genotype; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, SCID; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Phenotype; Telomerase; Telomere; Telomere Homeostasis; Telomere Shortening; Time Factors; Tumor Burden; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Gallbladder toxicity was reported in most motesanib studies with varying frequency and at variable times after initiation of treatment.. A 44-year-old man was admitted due to severe epigastric pain. The patient was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer 9 months ago and received 6 cycles of chemotherapy with motesanib, paclitaxel, and carboplatin. Ultrasonography showed a large amount of sludge within gallbladder. Computed tomography scan demonstrated diffuse dilatation of biliary tree with distended gallbladder without evidence of stone and mild pancreatic swelling. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed yellowish viscous mucoid plug impacting ampullary orifice and dilated bile duct with amorphous filling defect at distal half of common duct. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed to prevent biliary obstruction and recurrent pancreatitis after removal of mucoid material.. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of obstructive cholangitis and acute pancreatitis associated with sludge formation during motesanib therapy. Endoscopic sphincterotomy appears to be useful to treat and prevent biliary obstruction caused by motesanib-induced biliary sludge.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Bile; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cholangitis; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Pancreatitis; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

The motesanib phase III MONET1 study failed to show improvement in overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer, but a subpopulation of Asian patients had a favorable outcome. We performed exploratory modeling and simulations based on MONET1 data to support further development of motesanib in Asian patients. A model-based estimate of time to tumor growth was the best of tested tumor size response metrics in a multivariate OS model (P < 0.00001) to capture treatment effect (hazard ratio, HR) in Asian patients. Significant independent prognostic factors for OS were baseline tumor size (P < 0.0001), smoking history (P < 0.0001), and ethnicity (P < 0.00001). The model successfully predicted OS distributions and HR in the full population and in Asian patients. Simulations indicated that a phase III study in 500 Asian patients would exceed 80% power to confirm superior efficacy of motesanib combination therapy (expected HR: 0.74), suggesting that motesanib combination therapy may benefit Asian patients.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asian People; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Computer Simulation; Female; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Models, Biological; Multivariate Analysis; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Prognosis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Smoking; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Telomerase is a cellular ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase that plays a crucial role in telomere maintenance. This enzyme is expressed in approximately 90% of human tumors, but not in the majority of normal somatic cells. imetelstat sodium (GRN163L), is a 13-mer oligonucleotide N3'→P5' thio-phosphoramidate lipid conjugate, which represents the latest generation of telomerase inhibitors targeting the template region of the human functional telomerase RNA (hTR) subunit. In preclinical trials, this compound has been found to inhibit telomerase activity in multiple cancer cell lines, as well as in vivo xenograft mouse models. Currently, GRN163L is being investigated in several clinical trials, including a phase II human non‑small cell lung cancer clinical trial, in a maintenance setting following standard doublet chemotherapy. In addition to the inhibition of telomerase activity in cancer cell lines, GRN163L causes morphological cell rounding changes, independent of hTR expression or telomere length. This leads to the loss of cell adhesion properties; however, the mechanism underlying this effect is not yet fully understood. In the present study, we observed that GRN163L treatment leads to the loss of adhesion in A549 lung cancer cells, due to decreased E-cadherin expression, leading to the disruption of the cytoskeleton through the alteration of actin, tubulin and intermediate filament organization. Consequently, the less adherent cancer cells initially cease to proliferate and are arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, accompanied by decreased matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression. These effects of GRN163L are independent of its telomerase catalytic activity and may increase the therapeutic efficacy of GRN163L by decreasing the adhesion, proliferation and metastatic potential of cancer cells in vivo.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cytoskeleton; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Mice; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Telomerase; Telomere Homeostasis

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Female; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is categorized into various histologic subtypes that play an important role in prognosis and treatment outcome. We investigated the antitumor activity of motesanib, a selective antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) 1, 2, and 3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and Kit, alone and combined with chemotherapy in five human NSCLC xenograft models (A549, Calu-6, NCI-H358, NCI-H1299, and NCI-H1650) containing diverse genetic mutations.. Motesanib as a single agent dose-dependently inhibited tumor xenograft growth compared with vehicle in all five of the models (P < 0.05). When combined with cisplatin, motesanib significantly inhibited the growth of Calu-6, NCI-H358, and NCI-H1650 tumor xenografts compared with either single agent alone (P < 0.05). Similarly, the combination of motesanib plus docetaxel significantly inhibited the growth of A549 and Calu-6 tumor xenografts compared with either single agent alone (P < 0.05). In NCI-H358 and NCI-H1650 xenografts, motesanib with and without cisplatin significantly decreased tumor blood vessel area (P < 0.05 vs vehicle) as assessed by anti-CD31 staining. Motesanib alone or in combination with chemotherapy had no effect on tumor cell proliferation in vitro.. These data demonstrate that motesanib had antitumor activity against five different human NSCLC xenograft models containing diverse genetic mutations, and that it had enhanced activity when combined with cisplatin or docetaxel. These effects appeared to be mediated primarily by antiangiogenic mechanisms.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cisplatin; Docetaxel; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Indoles; Lung Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Nude; Mutation; Niacinamide; Oligonucleotides; Taxoids; Tumor Burden; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays