A phase I study of cantuzumab mertansine administered as a single intravenous infusion once weekly in patients with advanced solid tumors

Purpose: The purpose is to determine the maximum-tolerated dose, assess the toxicities, characterize the pharmacokinetic behavior, and seek preliminary evidence of biological activity of cantuzumab mertansine when administered as a weekly i.v. infusion without interruption.

Experimental design: Patients with incurable solid tumors that expressed the target antigen for cantuzumab mertansine, CanAg, were treated with doses of cantuzumab mertansine ranging from 40 to 138 mg/m(2). The maximum-tolerated dose was defined as the highest dose at which no more than 1 of 6 patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity. Plasma concentrations of cantuzumab mertansine and total humanized antibody were determined, and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (to the last measured concentration) was calculated.

Results: Thirty-nine patients received a total of 280 weekly doses of cantuzumab mertansine. Acute, transient elevation of the hepatic transaminases and reversible fatigue were identified as the dose-limiting toxicities at the highest dose level. The maximum-tolerated dose was determined to be 115 mg/m(2)/week. Evidence of clinical activity was noted in 3 patients. Pharmacokinetic analyses revealed that the pharmacokinetic variability was moderate, without evidence of dose dependency. Furthermore, the drug had a long terminal half-life ( approximately 40 h).

Conclusions: This study identified a safe and tolerable dose of the novel immunoconjugate prodrug cantuzumab mertansine. The evidence of antitumor activity suggests that additional clinical development is warranted, with a focus on tumors that express high levels of CanAg and which are known to be sensitive to antimicrotubule agents.