TAS-116, an oral HSP90 inhibitor, in combination with nivolumab in patients with colorectal cancer and other solid tumors: An open-label, dose-finding, and expansion phase Ib trial (EPOC1704).

Abstract

4044 Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) potentially induce the resistance of anti-PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors (A-PD1). TAS-116, a novel HSP90 inhibitor, enhanced antitumor immunity via reducing Tregs in vitro and in vivo. Combination of TAS-116 plus A-PD1 showed a superior tumor growth suppression compared with either treatment alone in vivo. Based on the above, we investigated safety and efficacy of TAS-116 in combination with nivolumab in patients with solid tumors. Methods: Enrolled patients received TAS-116 plus nivolumab in a dose-finding part to estimate the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Additional patients were enrolled in a dose-expansion part. TAS-116 monotherapy (orally once daily, 80mg on level 1, 120mg on level 2, and 160mg on level 3) was administrated for 2 weeks followed by the combination with nivolumab (intravenously every 2 weeks, 3 mg/kg). The primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) during the first cycle (4 weeks). PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) and tumor mutation burden (TMB) were assessed. We also conducted biomarker research using paired samples from repeated tumor biopsies and blood collections. Results: A total of 44 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC, n = 29), gastric cancer (GC, n = 8), sarcoma (n = 5), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, n = 1) and melanoma (n = 1) after standard of cares were enrolled. One patient had MSI-H CRC, but all other patients had MSS tumors. No DLTs were observed at all levels and TAS-116 160 mg was determined as RP2D. The common grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse included AST/ALT increased (7%), creatinine increased (5%) and platelet count decreased (5%). Objective tumor response was observed in 6 patients including 4 MSS CRC, 1 MSI-H CRC and 1 sarcoma, resulting in objective response rate (ORR) of 16% in MSS CRC without prior A-PD-1. PD-L1 CPS and TMB could be evaluated in 18 and 17 MSS CRC without prior A-PD-1, respectively. ORR was 27% in patients with CPS ≥1 and 0% in patients with CPS < 1. ORR was 33% with TMB-high (median as the cut-off) and 12% with TMB-low. Analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes before treatment and after TAS-116 monotherapy demonstrated reduction of FoxP3hiCD45RA−Tregs fraction in the tumor microenvironment. Conclusions: The combination of TAS-116 160mg plus nivolumab had manageable safety profiles and anti-tumor activity especially for MSS CRC patients, which warrants further investigations in a large cohort. Clinical trial information: UMIN000032801 .