2011 - Regorafenib in combination with Paclitaxel for beyond first-line treatment of advanced esophagogastric cancer (REPEAT): a phase Ib trial with expansion cohort

Background

Advanced esophagogastric cancer (EGC) has a dismal prognosis of less than one year. Survival has improved with second line therapies, such as the combination of the angiogenesis inhibitor Ramucirumab and Paclitaxel (PTX). Monotherapy with Regorafenib (Reg), a multikinase inhibitor of angiogenic, stromal, and oncogenic kinases, demonstrated an improved progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced gastric cancer. In the REPEAT trial, we assessed the tolerability of Reg in combination with PTX for beyond first-line treatment of patients (pts) with advanced EGC.

Methods

Pts with metastatic EGC who progressed after first-line treatment, received PTX 80 mg/m² i.v. on day 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle, and 120 mg Reg on day 1-21 of a 28-day cycle, as determined in phase Ib. Toxicity was assessed using CTCAE version 4, and Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) and PFS were done. In tumour biopsies, the effect of Reg on PTX uptake and Reg targets will be assessed, and the effect of Reg on PTX pharmacokinetics will be evaluated.

Results

Reg 120 mg on day 1-21 combined with PTX was well tolerated in the Ib phase (N = 14), and 33 pts were enrolled in the expansion cohort (total 47 pts, 81% received 120 mg). The majority of pts received treatment as second-line (60%); the remainder as third line or beyond. Most common grade 1/2 toxicities included fatigue (11%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (9%), diarrhea (5%), and alopecia (5%). Hypertension (10%), diarrhea (7%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (5%) were the most common grade 3/4 toxicities. Median number of cycles was 4 (IQR 2-6), with 5 pts still on treatment (median follow-up 6.9 months). Best responses achieved were partial response (26%), stable disease (51%), and progressive disease (15%), with 4 patients not evaluable. Reasons for treatment discontinuation were progression (n = 36), toxicity (n = 5), or patient decision (n = 1). Median PFS and median OS were 4.1 months and 7.8 months, respectively.

Conclusions

The combined treatment of Reg with PTX is tolerable and shows promising effects on survival in beyond first-line treatment of advanced EGC. PK analyses and biomarker analyses on biopsies of metastatic lesions are ongoing.

Clinical trial identification

2014-005433-31 Release date: 10th December 2014.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Bayer.

Disclosure

J. de Vos-Geelen: Non-remunerated activity/ies: BTG; Research grant / Funding (institution), Non-remunerated activity/ies, Outside submitted work: Servier; Advisory / Consultancy: Shire. M. van Oijen: Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Servier; Research grant / Funding (institution): Amgen; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Research grant / Funding (institution): Nordic. M. Bijlsma: Research grant / Funding (institution), Outside submitted work: Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution), Outside submitted work: Servier. H.W.M. van Laarhoven: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly/ImClone; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Nordic Group; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer Schering Pharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution): Janssen-Cilag; Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): Philips Healthcare; Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Sharp & Dohme. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.