Phase I study of OPB51602, a small molecule inhibitor of STAT3 phosphorylation, in patients with refractory solid malignancies.

Abstract

3002 Background: STAT3 is constitutively activated by growth signaling pathways in many malignancies; in many cell lines inhibition of STAT3 leads to cell death. OPB51602 is a small molecule inhibitor of STAT3 phosphorylation (Tyr705) and activation. Methods: A phase I study of OPB51602 administered for 2 weeks every 3 weeks was initiated to determine the maximum tolerable dose (MTD), evaluate pharmacokinetics (PK), and assess pharmacodynamics effects on STAT3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The starting dose was 2mg/day, and dose escalations to 5mg/d, 10mg/d, 20mg/d, were planned. Single dose PK was done on the first day of administration for 4 days. Dose escalation was based on the “3+3” design, MTD was defined as the dose with at least 2/6 dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) in the first cycle and toxicities were graded by NCICTCv4.0. Results: 32 patients (pt) were treated at doses of 2mg/d (n=7), 4mg/d (n=18), 5mg/d (n=7). The main toxicities observed included nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy and fatigue. 5 mg/d was the MTD, where cycle 1 DLTs of grade 3 diarrhea/dehydration and hyponatremia occurred in 1 patient respectively. One pt developed grade 3 peripheral neuropathy at 4mg/d cohort. PK showed maximal drug levels 2-3 hours after administration, bi-exponential decay, with mean oral clearance of 316.5 +/- 638.9 L/h and long terminal mean half-life of 61.8 +/- 15.9 h on day 17. STAT3 phosphorylation in PBMCs assessed in 6 pts receiving 4mg/d was reduced from 67.4 +/- 17.4% at baseline to 53.0 +/- 18.1% (p=0.001) after administration on day 1. Interestingly, reduction in tumor metabolism by PET CT on day 15 was observed in 4/8 pts receiving 4mg/d. A pt with heavily pretreated adenocarcinoma of lung at 5mg/d dose had partial response; another pt with metastatic endometrial cancer at 4mg/d dose experienced stable disease for 6 cycles. Conclusions: OPB51602 has an MTD of 5mg/d on this schedule, demonstrates inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, and evidence of clinical activity. Further proof of concept studies of OPB51602 are warranted.