A phase I study of temsirolimus as novel therapeutic drug for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Abstract

e15048 Background: The oncogenic PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is frequently activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Preliminary studies on mTOR inhibitors such as temsirolimus show promising results but there is limited data on the dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) in chronic liver disease, a co-morbidities commonly occurring in HCC pts. This phase I study aims to determine DLTs and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of temsirolimus in advanced HCC. Methods: Patient (Pt) eligibilitie criteria include unresectable disease, ECOG <= 2, adequate organ functions. Temsirolimus was given i.v. in 250ml NS over 30 min on day 1, 8, and 15 every 3 weeks; dose levels were: 20 (level I), 25 (level II) and 30 mg (level III). DLTs are defined as grade 4 hematological toxicity or grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicity during cycle 1 (according to NCI CTC v3), or treatment delay >2 weeks. The MTD is defined as the dose below which > 2 of 3 or > 2 of 6 patients experiencing DLT. After determination of the MTD, additional pts to make up to 10 patients were treated at this dose to further define toxicity. The study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00321594). Results: 19 pts were entered; level I (n=3), level II (n=10), and level III (n=6). 2 of the 6 pts in level 3 developed DLT; 1 developed grade 3 syncope and 1 had treatment delay for >2 weeks due to prolonged neutropenia. In cycle 1, grade 3/4/5 toxicities included: raised ALP 2/0/0, oral mucositis 2/0/0, neutropenia 1/0/0, syncope 1/0/0, dehydration 1/0/0 and dysphagia 1/0/0. A total of 77 cycles were administered; overall grade 3/4/5 toxicities: raised ALT 2/0/0, raised ALP 2/0/0, raised bilirubin 2/0/0, cough 1/0/0, dehydration 1/0/0, dysphagia 1/0/0, dyspnea 1/0/0, abdominal distension 1/0/0, anemia 1/0/0, hemorrhoids 1/0/0, hyperglycemia 1/0/0, hypokalemia 2/0/0, hyponatremia 1/0/0, infection 5/0/0 (1 dental, 2 pulmonary, upper airway 2), oral mucositis 2/0/0, neutropenia 1/0/0, thrombocytopenia 2/0/0, pleural effusion 1/0/0, pneumonitis 1/0/0, syncope 1/0/0. Clinical benefit rate (PR, CR or SD ≥12 weeks) was 36.8% (7 of 19 pts had confirmed SD). Conclusions: At the MTD of 25 mg weekly every 3 weeks, temsirolimus is well tolerated with no DLTs. Clinical trial information: NCT00321594.