This clinical trial explores the safety, efficacy, and effects on functional imaging of cG250 monoclonal antibody (mAb) administered intravenously weekly in combination with daily oral sunitinib, in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
This study explores the safety, efficacy and effects on functional imaging of the combination of cG250 and sunitinib in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). When kidney cancer has spread beyond the kidney, it is usually not possible to cure it with surgery. Other treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy are also of limited value. Kidney cancers often rely on certain proteins for their growth, particularly proteins that affect the ways that blood vessels grow into the cancer. Ingrowth of blood vessels supplies cancer cells with oxygen and nutrition; without the blood vessels, cancer deposits can not grow in size. When growth of the blood vessels is blocked, established cancers may stop growing or may shrink. This has been shown to work for some drugs that target this process in kidney cancers. One of these drugs is called sunitinib. A protein, called G250, is also thought to be important in helping kidney cancers to grow. G250 is found on the cell surface of many kidney cancers. One possible method of interfering with the function of G250 is to target G250 with an antibody known as cG250. Clinical trials with cG250 have shown it to be safe, to home in on kidney cancer cells, and to persist in the blood and the cancer tissue for a long period of time. The main purpose of this study is to explore whether the combination of sunitinib and cG250 is safe in patients with advanced kidney cancer. The study will also assess whether this combination is able to cause kidney cancer to shrink; will determine where cG250 travels within the body, whether the immune system reacts to the cG250 and whether sunitinib affects that; and whether the combination affects how kidney cancers grow or how blood flows within the tumour. Eligible patients will receive cG250 10 mg/m² by weekly intravenous infusion for five weeks, followed by a two-week break (one cycle). The first and fifth dose will be trace-labeled with a radioactive substance (124I-cG250) detectable by a special scan called a Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) to allow studies of the distribution of cG250. Sunitinib 50 mg by daily oral dose will also be given for 4 weeks (commencing on day 8 of the first treatment cycle), followed by a two-week break. Up to two cycles of treatment will be given. If a second cycle is given, cG250 will be given as four weekly doses and daily sunitinib will start on the same day. No 124I-cG250 will be administered after the first treatment cycle. The extent of the kidney cancer will be assessed by Computed tomography (CT) at baseline and at the end of each treatment cycle. Safety assessments (physical examination, blood tests, gated cardiac blood pool scan, ECG-heart trace) will be performed at the beginning of each treatment cycle, repeated throughout the cycle and end of study. A number of blood tests and PET scans will be done in the first cycle to show how and in what amounts the 124I-cG250 distributes in the body. Other PET scans (18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose fluorodeoxyglucose {\[18\]F-FDG}) and 15O-water {\[15\]O-H2O}) will be performed to allow assessment of tumour growth and blood flow. Blood tests will also show whether the immune system recognises the infused cG250 by making an antibody against it. A total of 14 patients were expected to be recruited; 8 were consented and 6 received study treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
8
First Cycle: cG250 10 mg/m² intravenous infusion, weekly for five weeks, followed by a two-week break. 1st \& 5th dose will be trace-labeled with a radioactive substance detectable on a PET scanner (124I-cG250). Second cycle (investigator discretion): cG250 10 mg/m² intravenous infusion, weekly for four weeks followed by a two-week break. No 124I-cG250 will be used in the 2nd cycle. Up to 2 cycles available.
First Cycle: Sunitinib 50 mg orally daily for 4 weeks (starts 8th day of 1st treatment cycle), followed by a two-week period off sunitinib. Second cycle (investigator discretion): Sunitinib 50 mg orally daily for 4 weeks (starts on 1st day of 2nd treatment cycle), followed by a two-week period off sunitinib. Up to 2 cycles available on-study.
Austin Health (Ludwig Institute Oncology Unit)
Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Number of Patients With Adverse Events (AEs), Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) or Adverse Events Leading to Discontinuation.
Toxicity was graded in accordance with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 3.0. Adverse events (AEs) were reported based on clinical laboratory tests, vital sign, weight measurements, physical examinations, and performance status evaluations. Pre-existing symptoms were collected from the signing of informed consent until the first dose of study drug. Adverse events were collected from the first dose of study drug through the end of study assessment. Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT): any of the following events occurring within 30 days of study drug administration related to cG250 or sunitinib. Grade 2 or greater allergic reaction. Grade 3 toxicity. Exceptions are: fever; asymptomatic hyperglycemia; hypophosphatemia; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea that resolve with medical therapy; leukopenia or thrombocytopenia that revert to baseline within three weeks of occurrence, or lymphopenia only. Any Grade 4 toxicity.
Time frame: up to 14 weeks
Number of Patients With Tumour Response Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST).
Tumor responses were evaluated using appropriate imaging and categorized according to RECIST at Screening (within 4 weeks of the first dose of study treatment), and after cycles 1 and 2 of study treatment. Per RECIST, target lesions are categorized as follows: complete response (CR): disappearance of all target lesions; partial response (PR): ≥ 30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; progressive disease (PD): ≥ 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; stable disease (SD): small changes that do not meet above criteria (Therasse et al 2000).
Time frame: up to 14 weeks
Number of Patients With Tumor Metabolic Response as Assessed by Serial 18F-FDG-PET Scans.
18F-FDG-PET was performed at pre-study, between days 15-22 and at the end of cycle 1. At baseline, visual grading of the intensity of FDG uptake was scored. On follow-up PET scans, the greatest baseline maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of the reference lesion with the greatest baseline value and presence/absence of new sites of disease were recorded. Tumour metabolic response was calculated using the SUVmax and was categorized according to the EORTC guidelines (Young et al 1999). Complete metabolic remission (CMR) is the disappearance of tracer uptake in the target lesion and no new lesions; Partial metabolic remission (PMR) is a 20% or more decrease in the tracer uptake in the target lesion and no new lesions; Tumor progression was defined as a greater than 20% increase in FDG uptake or the appearance of new tumour lesions. Stable metabolic disease (SMD) was classified as no significant change in uptake.
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Time frame: 7 weeks
Whole Body Clearance as Measured by Mean Biological Half-life (T1/2) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250.
Biological half-life is the clearance of the 124I from the whole body. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed at 1 - 4 hours post infusion, and at two other time points over the ensuing one-week period. Quantitative uptakes of 124I-cG250 were assessed in one selected reference tumour lesion identified by 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET imaging. Tumour volume of Interest (VOI) was delineated around the whole tumour mass on the consecutive transverse slices of FDG-PET/CT images at which the tumours were most clearly identified. Whole body clearance of 124I-cG250 was calculated from the whole body PET volumetric images, obtained at the multiple imaging time points after infusion. VOIs were delineated to encompass the whole body regions in the images, and for the whole-body VOI at each time point, the total counts per minute was normalized to the first imaging time point on Day 1.
Time frame: 7 weeks
Whole Body Clearance as Measured by Mean Effective Half-life (T1/2) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250.
Effective half-life is the time it takes the radiolabel to be reduced by 50%. This takes into account the biological elimination and the radioactive decay of the 124I. PET imaging studies were performed at 1 - 4 hours post infusion, and at two other time points over the ensuing one-week period. Quantitative uptakes of 124I-cG250 were assessed in one selected reference tumour lesion identified by 18F-FDG-PET imaging. Tumour volume of Interest (VOI) was delineated around the whole tumour mass on the consecutive transverse slices of FDG-PET/CT images at which the tumours were most clearly identified. Whole body clearance of 124I-cG250 was calculated from the whole body PET volumetric images, obtained at the multiple imaging time points after infusion. VOIs were delineated to encompass the whole body regions in the images, and for the whole-body VOI at each time point, the total counts per minute was normalized to the first imaging time point on Day 1.
Time frame: 7 weeks
Number of Patients With 124I-cG250 Tumor Uptake After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250.
PET imaging studies were performed at 1 - 4 hours post infusion, and at two other time points over the ensuing one-week period. Quantitative uptakes of 124I-cG250 were assessed in one selected reference tumour lesion identified by 18F-FDG-PET imaging. Tumour volume of Interest (VOI) was delineated around the whole tumour mass on the consecutive transverse slices of FDG-PET/CT images at which the tumours were most clearly identified. Uptakes of 124I-cG250 were assessed in one selected reference tumour lesion identified by 18F-FDG-PET imaging.
Time frame: 7 weeks
Serum Pharmacokinetics as Measured by Mean Initial Half-life (T½ α) and Mean Terminal Half-life (T½ β) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250 as Measured by Blood 124I Radioactivity and After the First Dose as Measured by ELISA.
Blood samples were taken prior to 124I-cG250 infusion and 5 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post 124I-cG250 infusion. The pharmacokinetics of 124I-cG250 were calculated using gamma scintillation counting and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Time frame: 7 weeks
Serum Pharmacokinetics as Measured by Mean Volume of Central Compartment (V1) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250 as Measured by Blood 124I Radioactivity and After the First Dose as Measured by ELISA.
Blood samples were taken prior to 124I-cG250 infusion and 5 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post 124I-cG250 infusion. The pharmacokinetics of 124I-cG250 were calculated using gamma scintillation counting and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Time frame: 7 weeks
Serum Pharmacokinetics as Measured by Mean Area Under the Concentration Curve Extrapolated to Infinite Time (AUC) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250 as Measured by Blood 124I Radioactivity and After the First Dose as Measured by ELISA.
Blood samples were taken prior to 124I-cG250 infusion and 5 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post 124I-cG250 infusion. The pharmacokinetics of 124I-cG250 were calculated using gamma scintillation counting and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Time frame: 7 weeks
Serum Pharmacokinetics as Measured by Mean Total Serum Clearance (CL) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250 as Measured by Blood 124I Radioactivity and After the First Dose as Measured by ELISA.
Blood samples were taken prior to 124I-cG250 infusion and 5 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post 124I-cG250 infusion. The pharmacokinetics of 124I-cG250 were calculated using gamma scintillation counting and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Time frame: 7 weeks
Serum Pharmacokinetics as Measured by Mean Maximum Serum Concentration (Cmax) After the First and Fifth Infusions of 124I-cG250 as Measured by Blood 124I Radioactivity and After the First Dose as Measured by ELISA.
Blood samples were taken prior to 124I-cG250 infusion and 5 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post 124I-cG250 infusion. The pharmacokinetics of 124I-cG250 were calculated using gamma scintillation counting and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Time frame: 7 weeks
Number of Patients With Decreases in Tumour Blood Flow on Week 3 Versus Baseline.
15O-H2O PET scans were performed up to 14 days prior to treatment and between days 15-22 in the first treatment cycle only. Approximately 750 megabecquerel (MBq) of 15O-H2O were administered intravenously and data was acquired dynamically over 5-10 minutes. The PET scan field of view was of an anatomical region containing a least one reference tumour lesion. Quantitation of blood flow within tumour was performed, and expressed in mL/mg/min. Follow-up 15O-H2O PET scan quantitated blood flow within the same reference lesion(s), allowing direct comparison of any change in quantitative tumour blood flow in response to treatment to be measured.
Time frame: 7 weeks
Number of Patients With Human Anti-chimeric Antibodies (HACA)
Blood samples (5 mL/sample) were drawn prior to each cG250 or 124I-cG250 infusion during cycle 1 and also at the End of Study visit. If a second cycle of treatment was administered, HACA was performed at the End of Study visit. The immunochemical measurement of anti-cG250 antibodies in human serum was performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples with values greater than the limit of quantitation (16 ng/mL) were considered HACA positive. Samples at or below that level were reported as negative.
Time frame: 7 - 14 weeks