Phase I pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) study of the selective aurora A kinase (AAK) inhibitor MLN8054 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors

Abstract

2578 Background: MLN8054, a first-generation, selective AAK inhibitor, induces chromosome alignment and segregation defects during mitosis, leading to cell death (Hoar et al, MolCellBio 2007;27:4513). This phase I trial examined the safety, PK, and PD of MLN8054 administered orally to adult pts with advanced solid tumors. Methods: Pts received increasing oral doses of MLN8054 until dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in the first cycle was seen in ≥2 of 3–6 pts in a cohort. Two cohorts received 10 and 20 mg once daily (QD) on d1–5 and d8–12 of 28d cycles. Benzodiazepine-like adverse effects (somnolence) associated with chemical structure and presumably unrelated to AAK inhibition were observed with QD dosing in another Phase 1 study (Dees et al, EJC Suppl 2008;6[12]:91), so subsequent cohorts in this trial were treated with 25, 35, 45, 55, 60, 70, and 80 mg/d in four divided doses (QID) on d1–14, with the largest dose at night. To manage somnolence, methylphenidate 5–15 mg was permitted with daytime doses in the 45–80 mg cohorts. Results: 43 pts received MLN8054 (median 1 cycle [range 1–10]). Dose escalation stopped at 80 mg/d due to DLTs including G3 somnolence (n=1) and G3 transaminitis (n=1). G2 oral mucositis (n=1), which may signal target-related toxicity, was observed first at 80 mg/d, a dose considered to be above the MTD. In PK analyses, MLN8054 was absorbed rapidly (Tmax = 1–2h) and terminal half-life was 30–40h, presenting a linear exposure-dose profile. In PD analyses, MLN8054 at higher doses increased mitotic count in skin and tumor biopsies and reduced chromosome alignment and spindle bipolarity in the mitotic cells in tumor biopsies, outcomes consistent with AAK inhibition. Stable disease (range 4–9 cycles) was observed in 3 pts (colorectal, non-small cell lung, and melanoma). Conclusions: MLN8054 was absorbed rapidly with a long half-life; PD findings supported MLN8054 inhibition of AAK at higher doses. Dosing for 14d of a 28-d cycle was feasible, but off-target DLTs limited dose escalation before mechanism-based toxicity was seen. MLN8237, a second-generation AAK inhibitor designed with greater mechanistic potency and to minimize benzodiazepine effects, is now in clinical trials. [Table: see text]