Abstract 3454
Background
The clinical benefit of combined treatment with BRAF- and MEK-inhibitors (BRAFi; MEKi) in BRAFV600 mutant (BRAFm) melanoma is limited due to resistance after 6-14 months, associated with emerging secondary mutations. Withholding of treatment leads to reversible hyperactivation of the MAPK pathway, causing transient growth arrest and increase in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in preclinical studies. Treatment of BRAFi/MEKi resistant melanoma cells with vorinostat leads to a further increase in ROS, effectively killing BRAFi resistant cells. In vivo, switch from BRAFi to vorinostat in BRAFi resistant BRAFm melanoma resulted in a decline in tumor volume. Six patients with resistant BRAFm melanoma were treated with vorinostat 360 mg QD continuously. These patients revealed regression of mutant clones and progression of BRAFi sensitive clones. Tumor biopsies showed newly developed secondary MAPK pathway mutations, e.g. NRASQ61H and KRASG12C amplifications at start and a complete absence of these resistant mutations after two weeks of vorinostat. Based on these findings we postulate that BRAFi resistant BRAFm melanoma cells can be eliminated by a short treatment with vorinostat due to killing of tumor cells harboring a secondary mutation in the MAPK pathway. In vitro experiments confirmed this hypothesis.
Trial design
This is a proof of concept study to determine the efficacy of sequential treatment with vorinostat and BRAFi/MEKi in BRAFi resistant BRAFm melanoma. Patients with age ≥ 18 years, WHO performance 0-2 and progression on BRAFi/MEKi are eligible. 26 evaluable patients with resistant BRAFm melanoma will be treated with vorinostat 360 mg continuously for 2 weeks and thereafter switch back to BRAFi/MEKi. The primary aim is to demonstrate ≥ 30% anti-tumor response of progressive lesions according to RECIST 1.1 upon sequenced treatment with vorinostat and BRAFi/MEKi. Secondary endpoints are to demonstrate that emerging resistant clones with a secondary mutation in the MAPK pathway can be detected by ctDNA analysis and purged by short term treatment with vorinostat. Blood and tumor biopsies will be taken for pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and pharmacogenetic exploratory analyses.
Clinical trial identification
NCT02836548.
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The Netherlands Cancer Institute.
Funding
Oncode.
Disclosure
J.H.M. Schellens: Shareholder / Stockholder / Stock options, and patent holder on oral taxenes: Modra Pharmaceutical. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1541 - TERT gene fusions characterize a subset of metastatic Leydig cell tumors
Presenter: Bozo Kruslin
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5389 - Two-weekly accelerated BEP (aBEP) regimen as induction chemotherapy (CT) in intermediate and poor prognosis patients (pts) with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT): final results of phase II trial.
Presenter: Alexey Tryakin
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2934 - Differential expression of circulating miR375 and miR371 to detect teratoma and viable germ cell malignancy
Presenter: Lucia Nappi
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3585 - Prognosis of anaemia in disseminated testicular germ cell tumours. On behalf of the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group (SGCCG)
Presenter: Esmeralda Garcia Torralba
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2254 - The Effects Of Primary Testicular Tumor Localization On Prognosis In Patients With Nonseminomatous Testis Cancer
Presenter: Birol Yildiz
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4505 - Initial Results of a Phase II study of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Metastatic Adrenal Tumors.
Presenter: Matthew Campbell
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3369 - NEMIO: a randomized phase II trial evaluating efficacy and safety of dose dense MVAC (ddMVAC) + durvalumab +/- tremelimumab as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with bladder muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma
Presenter: Constance Thibault
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2075 - KEYNOTE-866: Phase 3 Study of Perioperative Pembrolizumab (pembro) or Placebo (pbo) in Combination With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Cisplatin (cis)-Eligible Patients (pts) With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC)
Presenter: Arlene Siefker-Radtke
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4824 - KEYNOTE-905: A Phase 3 Study of Cystectomy Plus Perioperative Pembrolizumab Versus Cystectomy Alone in Cisplatin (cis)-Ineligible Patients (pts) With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC)
Presenter: Matthew Galsky
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2253 - Phase 3 LEAP-011 trial: First-Line Pembrolizumab With Lenvatinib in Patients With Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Ineligible to Receive Platinum-Based Chemotherapy
Presenter: Yohann Loriot
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract