A phase I study of GC33 in Japanese patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Abstract

235 Background: Glypican-3 (GPC3) belongs to a family of cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans and is specifically expressed in HCC. In this phase I study, we examined the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of GC33, a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody against GPC3, in Japanese patients (pts) with advanced HCC. Methods: This study was a 3+3 design for dose escalation to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of GC33 given intravenously at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg weekly. Key eligibility criteria included histological or cytological confirmation of HCC, ECOG PS ≤ 1, Child-Pugh A or B, adequate organ function, and tumor tissues available for GPC3 immunohistochemistry. Results: Thirteen pts were enrolled at 3 dose levels: median age=65 years (range 48-78), M/F=12/1, ECOG PS 0/1=9/4, HBV/HCV=4/8, liver cirrhosis +/-=8/5, Child-Pugh A (5-6)/B (7) =10/3. All pts received prior systemic therapy including sorafenib. Treatment was well tolerated at all dose levels without DLT, and MTD was not reached. The most common AEs were lymphocyte count decrease (77%), Natural Killer cell count decrease (77%), C-reactive protein increase (69%) and pyrexia (62%). Grade 3 AEs (≥ 2 pts) were lymphocyte count decrease (23%), blood pressure increase (23%) and platelet count decrease (15%). Infusion reactions were seen in 62% of pts and medically manageable. Anti-GC33 antibody was not detected in any of the patients. PK analysis of GC33 showed a half-life of 4 to 7 days and dose proportional for AUC after the first dose. Trough concentrations reached a steady state after 4 to 6 doses. Twelve out of 13 biopsied tumor specimens showed immunoreactivity with mouse GC33 antibody. There was no CR or PR, but 7 SD and 3 of them had SD for more than 5 months before progression (all with GPC3 expression). Conclusions: GC33 was well-tolerated up to 20 mg/kg weekly in Japanese HCC pts with Child-Pugh A or B liver cirrhosis and potentially beneficial to GPC3+ HCC. A randomized phase II study of GC33 monotherapy as 2nd line therapy in advanced HCC pts is currently ongoing. Clinical trial information: JapicCTI-101255.