Abstract B09: GSK-3β blockade with 9-ING-41 in pancreas cancer: The 1801 phase 1/2 study
Authors: Carneiro Benedito A. , Dhawan Malika , Borden Brittany , Cavalcante Ludimila , Safran Howard , Ugolkov Andrey , Mazar Andrew P. , Billadeau Daniel D. , Giles Francis J. , Munster Pamela 
Published: March 2020

Background: We have previously identified Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) nuclear accumulation as a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and demonstrated the antitumor effects of GSK-3β tool compound inhibitors in vivo (Ougolkov, Clin Cancer Res 2006). 9-ING-41 (Actuate Therapeutics Inc), a first-in-class, small-molecule potent selective GSK-3β inhibitor, has significant preclinical antitumor activity in PDAC. 9-ING-41 is synergistic with gemcitabine (GEM) in significantly reducing PDAC cell proliferation via impairment of ATR/Chk1 DNA damage response (Ding, Clin Cancer Res 2019). These data provided the rationale for inclusion of patients with PDAC in the 1801 phase 1/2 study evaluating 9-ING-41 alone and in combination with chemotherapy, including GEM and GEM plus nab-paclitaxel.

Methods: Parts 1 and 2 of the 1801 phase 1/2 study evaluate the safety and tolerability of 9-ING-41 in patients with refractory malignancies. Part 1 establishes the recommended phase 2 study dose (RP2D) for 9-ING-41 monotherapy, while Part 2 assesses 9-ING-41 in combination with chemotherapies. For Part 1, patients received twice-weekly IV infusions of 9-ING-41 (21-day cycle). Based on prior treatment, Part 2 for those with PDAC consists of 9-ING-41 plus GEM (1000 to 1250 mg/m2 days 1 and 8; 21-day cycle) or 9-ING-41 plus GEM and nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m2). Part 3 (Simon 2-stage phase 2 at the RP2D) will assess clinical benefit in patients with refractory PDAC treated with 9-ING-41-based combinations at the RP2D established in Part 2. Response is defined by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) criteria in evaluable lesions. The study is opening in 25 sites globally and will accrue approximately 300 patients.

Results: To date, the study has accrued 34 patients with advanced solid tumors (n=33) or hematologic malignancies (n=1). Four dose levels (1, 2, 3.3, and 5 mg/kg) have been completed without dose-limiting toxicities (DLT). Part 2 of the study evaluating combination of 9-ING-41 with chemotherapy agents has been activated. Six patients with advanced PDAC have enrolled. One patient has completed 5 cycles of treatment with 9-ING-41 (1mg/kg) with stable disease (SD) as the best response. Another patient with SD as the best response has completed 6 cycles and now is joining the arm combining 9-ING-41 with GEM after disease progression. Four additional patients are awaiting first response assessment with enrollment ongoing. 9-ING-41-attributable AE to date are Grade 1 transient visual changes (color perception).

Conclusions: 9-ING-41 is well tolerated. Preclinical data support the inclusion of patients with advanced PDAC on clinical studies of 9-ING-41.

Citation Format: Benedito A. Carneiro, Malika Dhawan, Brittany Borden, Ludimila Cavalcante, Howard Safran, Andrey Ugolkov, Andrew P. Mazar, Daniel D. Billadeau, Francis J. Giles, Pamela Munster. GSK-3β blockade with 9-ING-41 in pancreas cancer: The 1801 phase 1/2 study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr B09.