Abstract CT095: A Phase Ib/IIa study of the BET bromodomain inhibitor ZEN-3694 in combination with enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)
Authors: Aggarwal Rahul , Abida Wassim , Schweizer Michael , Pantuck Allan , Nanus David , Heath Elisabeth , Lakhotia Sanjay , Hansen Henrik , Silverman Michael , Bauman Lisa , Snyder Margo , Campeau Eric , Norek Karen , Attwell Sarah , O'Farrell Marie , Smith Steve , Wegge Philip , Jahagirdar Ravi , Alumkal Joshi 
Published: August 2019

Background: Abiraterone (ABI) and enzalutamide (ENZ) have significant activity in mCRPC yet demonstrate frequent cross-resistance limiting efficacy of sequential androgen receptor (AR) targeting. Bromodomain extra terminal (BET) inhibitors (BETi) down-regulate the expression of putative drivers of ABI/ENZ resistance. ZEN-3694 is an orally bioavailable, potent, and selective BETi with significant anti-tumor activity in ENZ-resistant pre-clinical models. The safety and efficacy of ZEN-3694 in combination with ENZ was evaluated in a phase 1b/2a study in mCRPC (NCT02711956).

Methods: Patients (pts) were required to have progressive mCRPC, prior resistance to ABI and/or ENZ, and no prior chemotherapy for mCRPC. A 3 plus 3 dose escalation schema was utilized, with a starting daily oral dose of ZEN-3694 36 mg plus ENZ 160 mg. Dose expansion was conducted in parallel cohorts at low and high-dose ZEN-3694 (48 and 96 mg daily, respectively). The primary objective was determination of maximally tolerated dose (MTD); key secondary endpoints included time to radiographic progression (TTP) and pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters. Pharmacodynamic (PD) markers included whole blood RNA expression of BETi targets including MYC, IL-8, CCR1, and IL1RN.

Results: 64 pts were enrolled. The median age and PSA at study entry was 70 (range 47 - 89) and 25.9 (range 0.1 - 1701.8), respectively. At study entry, 24 (37.5%) of pts were resistant to ABI, 29 (45.3%) were resistant to ENZ, and 11 (17.2%) to both. ZEN-3694 dose levels ranged from 36 mg to 144 mg daily without reaching a MTD. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) (any grade) included transient photophobia (66%), nausea (40%), fatigue (31%), decreased appetite (22%), and dysgeusia (16%). Grade ≥ 3 related AEs (N = 8) and dose-limiting toxicities (N = 1 at 96 mg dose level) were uncommon. No Grade ≥ 3 thrombocytopenia was observed. Exposure to ZEN-3694 increased with dose without significant drug-drug interaction with ENZ. PD analyses demonstrated exposure-dependent, up to 4-fold decrease in expression of BETi targets. RNA-Seq of paired tumor biopsies demonstrated suppression of BET-dependent genes. The overall median TTP was 44.4 weeks, and was similar in subgroups with prior ABI vs. ENZ resistance. Durable responses were observed, including 3 pts with disease primarily refractory to ABI on study treatment for 21.3 +, 20.8 +, and 17.3 months, respectively, with &gt; 90% decline in serum PSA. Early transitory serum PSA increases were associated with longer TTP.

Conclusions: ZEN-3694 demonstrates an acceptable safety and PK profile, robust target modulation, and encouraging disease stabilization in combination with ENZ in ABI/ENZ-refractory mCRPC. Analysis of paired metastatic tumor biopsies, circulating tumor cells and ctDNA is ongoing. Further investigation of the combination is warranted.

Citation Format: Rahul Aggarwal, Wassim Abida, Michael Schweizer, Allan Pantuck, David Nanus, Elisabeth Heath, Sanjay Lakhotia, Henrik Hansen, Michael Silverman, Lisa Bauman, Margo Snyder, Eric Campeau, Karen Norek, Sarah Attwell, Marie O'Farrell, Steve Smith, Philip Wegge, Ravi Jahagirdar, Joshi Alumkal. A Phase Ib/IIa study of the BET bromodomain inhibitor ZEN-3694 in combination with enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT095.