A first-in-human phase I study of the oral Notch inhibitor, LY900009, in patients with advanced cancer

  • Eur J Cancer. 2016 Mar;56:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.11.021.
Shubham Pant  1 ,  Suzanne F Jones  2 ,  Carla D Kurkjian  1 ,  Jeffrey R Infante  3 ,  Kathleen N Moore  1 ,  Howard A Burris  3 ,  Donald S McMeekin  1 ,  Karim A Benhadji  4 ,  Bharvin K R Patel  4 ,  Martin J Frenzel  4 ,  Jonathan D Kursar  4 ,  Maciej J Zamek-Gliszczynski  4 ,  Eunice S M Yuen  5 ,  Edward M Chan  4 ,  Johanna C Bendell  6
Affiliations
  • 1. Stephenson Cancer Center University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, USA.
  • 2. Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, USA.
  • 3. Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN, USA; Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, USA.
  • 4. Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
  • 5. Eli Lilly and Company, Windlesham, Surrey, UK.
  • 6. Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN, USA; Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 26798966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.11.021
Abstract

Background: Notch signalling regulates stem cell development and survival and is deregulated in multiple malignancies. LY900009 is a small molecule inhibitor of Notch signalling via selective inhibition of the γ-secretase protein. We report the first-in-human phase I trial of LY900009.

Methods: Dose escalation (Part A) was performed in cohorts of three advanced Cancer patients using a modified continual reassessment method and dose confirmation (Part B) was performed in ovarian Cancer patients. LY900009 was taken orally thrice weekly (every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) during a 28-d cycle. The primary objective determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD); secondary end-points included toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumour activity.

Results: Thirty-five patients received LY900009 at dose levels ranging from 2-60 mg. Study drug-related adverse events were diarrhoea (46%), vomiting (34%), anorexia (31%), nausea (31%), and fatigue (23%). At 30 mg, a dose-limiting toxicity (grade III mucosal inflammation) was observed. LY900009 absorption was rapid, with median tmax at 1-4 h post-dose. LY900009 inhibited plasma levels of Amyloid-β peptide in a dose-dependent manner with 80-90% inhibition observed in the 30- to 60-mg cohorts. No responses were seen, but five patients had stable disease. Two patients (5.7%) with leiomyosarcoma and ovarian Cancer received four cycles of therapy. One patient (15 mg) showed markedly increased glandular Mucin consistent with pharmacologic inhibition of the Notch pathway.

Conclusions: The recommended MTD schedule for future studies was 30 mg thrice weekly, which exceeds the target inhibition level observed in preclinical models to promote tumour regression in humans.

Keywords
Advanced cancer; Gamma secretase; LY900009; Notch.
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