Prexasertib, a cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor, in BRCA mutant recurrent high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC): A proof-of-concept single arm phase II study.

Abstract

6038 Background: Preclinical data suggest cell cycle checkpoint inhibition induces greater cell death in BRCA mutant HGSOC by causing replication stress and dysregulation of DNA damage responses. We hypothesized that prexasertib, a cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) inhibitor, would be active in BRCA mutated HGSOC patients. Methods: We conducted a single center, two-stage phase II study of prexasertib (105mg/m2 IV every 2 weeks) in HGSOC patients with known germline or somatic BRCA mutations. The primary endpoint was RECIST response rate (RR). Progression-free survival (PFS) and safety (CTCAE v4) were secondary endpoints. Baseline research biopsies and blood samples were collected for exploratory biomarker endpoints. Results: Between February 2015 and July 2019, 22 heavily pretreated (median 5 prior systemic therapies [1-12]) women with BRCA mutant HGSOC (median age 58.7 [44-74.8]) received at least one dose of prexasertib. 13 (59%) patients were secondary platinum-resistant (median 8 [3-12] prior therapies) and 9 (41%) maintained platinum-sensitivity (median 4 [1-5] prior therapies). All but one received prior PARP inhibitor (PARPi) either in combination (10 [48%]) or as monotherapy (11 [52%]), with a median 5 month [mo; 1-29] PARPi-free interval prior to study entry. There was one complete response (41+mo, platinum-sensitive, no prior PARPi) and one partial response (9+mo, platinum-sensitive, 13.5mo PARPi-free interval) yielding an 11% RR (2/18 evaluable). No response was seen in platinum-resistant patients with prior PARPi. Median duration on study treatment was 4mo [1-9] among 21 patients with prior PARPi and 4mo [1.5-9] among 17 evaluable patients with prior PARPi. Common (>10%) grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (82%), leukopenia (64%), and thrombocytopenia (14%); only one patient had grade 3 febrile neutropenia. 16 of 18 (89%) patients with grade 3/4 neutropenia received prophylactic growth factors for subsequent treatments. Conclusions: Prexasertib is tolerable and has modest activity in heavily pretreated BRCA mutant HGSOC patients. Further evaluation of predictive biomarkers for exceptional responders is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT02203513.