Development and analysis of patient derived xenograft mouse models in intravascular large B-cell lymphoma.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a distinct disease entity with the peculiar characteristic that tumor cells proliferate within vessels. Despite recent advances in understanding the disease from clinical aspects, the underlying pathogenesis remains unknown. Here we demonstrate analyses of IVLBCL biology using four xenograft mouse models established from primary IVLBCL samples. In all four models, the main characteristic of IVLBCL tumor cell proliferation within vessels was retained. Time-lapse engraftment analyses revealed that the tumor cells initially engrafted and proliferated in the sinusoids and vessels in the liver and then engrafted and proliferated in multiple organs. Intriguingly, serial passage of tumor cells from the adrenal gland of a transplanted mouse developed from primary patient bone marrow cells into a second mouse showed that the tumor cells mainly distributed into the adrenal gland in the second mouse, which implied the existence of clonal selection and/or evolution at engraftment of a specific organ. Gene expression profiling analyses demonstrated that the gene set associated with cell migration was enriched for normal peripheral blood B-cells, which indicated that inhibition of cell migration might be involved in IVLBCL pathogenesis. In conclusion, the mouse xenograft models described here are essential tools for uncovering IVLBCL biology.Leukemia accepted article preview online, 22 March 2016. doi:10.1038/leu.2016.67.

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Pivotal Phase III Trial of enzalutamide Initiated in Metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer(pdf 111KB)

On March 24, 2016 Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503) and Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) reported that the ARCHES (AR Inhibition with ChemoHormonal Therapy in Men with MEtastatic Castrate Sensitive Prostate Cancer) Phase III registrational trial, which will evaluate the efficacy and safety of enzalutamide with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus placebo with ADT in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients, has been initiated and the first patient has been randomized (Press release, Astellas, MAR 24, 2016, View Source [SID:1234509946]).

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Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 181,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, and 26,000 men will die of prostate cancer in the United States in 2016.i Androgen deprivation therapy, which reduces the levels of androgens (male hormones), is the standard of care for patients with mHSPC. The ARCHES trial will investigate whether the addition of enzalutamide to ADT may benefit this patient population compared to ADT alone.

"Dosing of the first patient in this trial demonstrates our ongoing commitment to continuing to investigate enzalutamide," said Claire Thom, Pharm D., senior vice president and oncology therapeutic area head, Astellas.

"This trial targets an important patient population as we advance the development of enzalutamide," said Mohammad Hirmand, M.D., interim chief medical officer, Medivation. "The initiation of this trial demonstrates our ongoing commitment to fully develop enzalutamide in this serious disease."

The global, Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which is being led by Astellas, will evaluate the efficacy and safety of enzalutamide with ADT versus placebo with ADT in patients with mHSPC. ARCHES will enroll approximately 1,100 patients with mHSPC at approximately 250 centers globally. The 2 primary endpoint of the trial is radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), defined as the time from randomization to the first objective evidence of radiographic disease progression as assessed by central review or death, whichever occurs first. The trial will evaluate enzalutamide at a dose of 160 mg to be taken orally once daily versus placebo, administered with ADT.

For more information about this trial, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov, trial identifier NCT02677896.

Enzalutamide is being developed through a collaboration between Astellas and Medivation. Enzalutamide, which is known by the brand name XTANDI, is not approved for use in patients with metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

About XTANDI XTANDI (enzalutamide) capsules is an androgen receptor inhibitor that blocks multiple steps in the androgen receptor signaling pathway within the tumor cell. In preclinical studies, enzalutamide has been shown to competitively inhibit androgen binding to androgen receptors, and inhibit androgen receptor nuclear translocation and interaction with DNA. The clinical significance of this MOA is unknown. XTANDI is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Important Safety Information

Contraindications XTANDI is not indicated for women and is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. XTANDI can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.

Warnings and Precautions

Seizure In Study 1, conducted in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who previously received docetaxel, seizure occurred in 0.9% of XTANDI patients and 0% of placebo patients. In Study 2, conducted in patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic CRPC, seizure occurred in 0.1% of XTANDI patients and 0.1% of placebo patients. There is no clinical trial experience re- administering XTANDI to patients who experienced a seizure, and limited safety data are available in patients with predisposing factors for seizure. Study 1 excluded the use of concomitant medications that may lower threshold; Study 2 permitted the use of these medications. Because of the risk of seizure associated with XTANDI use, patients should be advised of the risk of engaging in any activity during which sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to themselves or others. Permanently discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop a seizure during treatment.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) In post approval use, there have been reports of PRES in patients receiving XTANDI. PRES is a neurological disorder which can present with rapidly evolving symptoms including seizure, headache, lethargy, confusion, blindness, and other visual and neurological disturbances, with or without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires confirmation by brain imaging, preferably MRI. Discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop PRES.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) reported from two combined clinical studies that occurred more commonly (≥ 2% over placebo) in XTANDI patients were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, decreased appetite, constipation, arthralgia, diarrhea, hot flush, upper respiratory tract infection, peripheral edema, dyspnea, musculoskeletal pain, weight decreased, headache, hypertension, and dizziness/vertigo.

In Study 1, Grade 3 and higher adverse reactions were reported among 47% of XTANDI patients and 53% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 16% of XTANDI patients and 18% of placebo patients. In Study 2, Grade 3-4 adverse reactions were reported in 44% of XTANDI patients and 37% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 6% of both study groups.

Lab Abnormalities: Grade 1-4 neutropenia occurred in 15% of XTANDI patients (1% Grade 3-4) and 6% of placebo patients (0.5% Grade 3-4). Grade 1-4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 6% of XTANDI patients (0.3% Grade 3-4) and 5% of placebo patients (0.5% Grade 3-4). Grade 1-4 elevations in ALT occurred in 10% of 3 XTANDI patients (0.2% Grade 3-4) and 16% of placebo patients (0.2% Grade 3-4). Grade 1-4 elevations in bilirubin occurred in 3% of XTANDI patients (0.1% Grade 3-4) and 2% of placebo patients (no Grade 3-4).

Infections: In Study 1, 1% of XTANDI patients compared to 0.3% of placebo patients died from infections or sepsis. In Study 2, 1 patient in each treatment group (0.1%) had an infection resulting in death.

Falls (including fall-related injuries), occurred in 9% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients. Falls were not associated with loss of consciousness or seizure. Fall-related injuries were more severe in XTANDI patients, and included non-pathologic fractures, joint injuries, and hematomas.

Hypertension occurred in 11% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients. No patients experienced hypertensive crisis. Medical history of hypertension was balanced between arms. Hypertension led to study discontinuation in < 1% of all patients.

Drug Interactions

Effect of Other Drugs on XTANDI Avoid strong CYP2C8 inhibitors, as they can increase the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, reduce the dose of XTANDI. Avoid strong CYP3A4 inducers as they can decrease the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, increase the dose of XTANDI.

Effect of XTANDI on Other Drugs Avoid CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, as XTANDI may decrease the plasma exposures of these drugs. If XTANDI is coadministered with warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate), conduct additional INR monitoring.

For Full Prescribing Information for XTANDI (enzalutamide) capsules, please visit View Source

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1‐800‐FDA‐1088.

A first in man, dose-finding study of the mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor OSI-027 in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

The kinase activity of mTOR involves 2 multiprotein complexes, (mTORC1-mTORC2). Targeting mTORC1 with rapalogues induces compensatory feedback loops resulting in AKT/ERK activation, which may be abrogated by mTORC2 inhibition. A first-in-human trial evaluating tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the dual TORC1/TORC2 inhibitor OSI-027 was conducted.
Dose escalation was pursued for three schedules of administration (three consecutive days per week (S1), once a week (S2) and daily dosing (S3)), until dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) were identified. Expansion cohorts with paired tumour biopsies were initiated based on tolerability and pharmacodynamics.
One hundred and twenty eight patients with advanced cancer were enrolled. DLT consisted predominantly of fatigue, renal function disturbances and cardiac events. OSI-027 exposure was dose proportional, with Tmax within 4 h and a half-life of ∼14 h. Expansion cohorts were initiated for S1 and S2, as MTD for S3 was overall considered suboptimal. Target modulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were observed from 30 mg, but in tumour biopsies 120 mg QD were needed, which was a non-tolerable dose due to renal toxicity. No RECIST responses were recorded, with stable disease &amp;gt;6 months in six (5%) patients.
OSI-027 inhibits mTORC1/2 in patients with advanced tumour s in a dose-dependent manner but doses above the tolerable levels in S1 and S3 are required for a sustained biological effect in tumour biopsies.British Journal of Cancer advance online publication 22 March 2016. doi:10.1038/bjc.2016.59 www.bjcancer.com.

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Upfront bevacizumab may extend survival for glioblastoma patients who do not receive second-line therapy: an exploratory analysis of AVAglio.

In this post-hoc, exploratory analysis, we examined outcomes for patients enrolled in the AVAglio trial of front-line bevacizumab or placebo plus radiotherapy/temozolomide who received only a single line of therapy.
Patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma received protocol-defined treatment until progressive disease (PD). Co-primary endpoints were investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). After confirmed PD, patients were treated at the investigators’ discretion. PFS/OS were assessed in patients with a PFS event who did not receive post-PD therapy (Group 1) and patients with a PFS event who received post-PD therapy plus patients who did not have a PFS event at the final data cutoff (Group 2). Kaplan-Meier methodology was used. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model for known prognostic variables was generated.
Baseline characteristics were balanced. In patients with a PFS event who did not receive post-PD therapy (Group 1; n = 225 [24.4% of the intent-to-treat population]), the addition of bevacizumab to radiotherapy/temozolomide resulted in a 3.6-month extension in both median PFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.62, P = .0016) and median OS (HR: 0.67, P = .0102). Multivariate analyses supported this OS benefit (HR: 0.66). In the remaining patients (Group 2; n = 696), a 5.2-month PFS extension was observed in bevacizumab-treated patients (HR: 0.61, P &amp;lt; .0001); OS was comparable between the treatment arms (HR: 0.88, P = .1502). No significant differences in safety were observed between the 2 groups.
This exploratory analysis suggests that the addition of bevacizumab to standard glioblastoma treatment prolongs PFS and OS for patients with PD who receive only one line of therapy.
© The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

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ADAMTS proteases in vascular biology.

ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs) proteases comprise the most recently discovered branch of the extracellular metalloenzymes. Research during the last 15years, uncovered their association with a variety of physiological and pathological processes including blood coagulation, tissue repair, fertility, arthritis and cancer. Importantly, a frequent feature of ADAMTS enzymes relates to their effects on vascular-related phenomena, including angiogenesis. Their specific roles in vascular biology have been clarified by information on their expression profiles and substrate specificity. Through their catalytic activity, ADAMTS proteases modify rather than degrade extracellular proteins. They predominantly target proteoglycans and glycoproteins abundant in the basement membrane, therefore their broad contributions to the vasculature should not come as a surprise. Furthermore, in addition to their proteolytic functions, non-enzymatic roles for ADAMTS have also been identified expanding our understanding on the multiple activities of these enzymes in vascular-related processes.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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