Abstract PO4-18-07: A dose escalation and cohort expansion study of the CDK9 inhibitor KB-0742 in triple negative breast cancer and transcriptionally addicted relapsed or refractory solid tumors
Authors: Mita Monica , Mita Alain , Villalona-Calero Miguel , Federman Noah , Rasco Drew , Spigel David , Luo Jia , Cote Gregory , Cutler Richard , Kumar Pavan , MacKenzie Crystal , Lin Charles , DiMartino Jorge , Olek Elizabeth , Van Tine Brian 
Published: May 2024

Background: MYC deregulation is a hallmark of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and is associated with aggressive tumors and poor clinical outcomes. Although MYC remains undrugged, targeting of its cofactors has emerged as an attractive strategy to inhibit MYC oncogenic activity. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a critical regulator of oncogenic MYC expression and an important MYC cofactor. KB-0742 is an oral CDK9 inhibitor that demonstrates promising preclinical activity against TNBC.

In a real-world cohort, TNBCs have higher MYC expression and higher rates of MYC genomic amplification than other breast cancer subtypes. In primary patient-derived cell lines, KB-0742 treatment results in stronger cytotoxic effects in TNBC as compared to other subtypes. In patient-derived organoids and patient-derived xenografts, CDK9 inhibition by KB-0742 drives antiproliferative and anti-tumor growth effects, including in models that are resistant to standard of care. KB-0742 strongly downregulates MYC protein levels at doses that only partially inhibit CDK9 activity, suggesting a therapeutic window for tumor-specific activity (Saffran, D.C. et al, 2021). KB-0742 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1/2 dose escalation and cohort expansion study in patients with TNBC and other transcriptionally addicted tumors (NCT04718675).

Trial design: This phase 1/2 study includes two parts: dose escalation (part 1) and cohort expansion (part 2). Part 2 includes cohort A (solid tumors with high prevalence of MYC overexpression including TNBC, non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian) and cohort B (other transcriptionally addicted tumor types including sarcomas, adenoid cystic carcinoma, nut midline carcinoma and small cell lung cancer). KB-0742 is dosed orally once daily for 3 consecutive days, followed by 4 days, off on a weekly basis in 28-day cycles until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Eligibility criteria: Part 1 dose escalation is open to patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors. Part 2 is defined by tumor indications in cohorts A and B. Eligibly criteria include age &gt; 18 years (≥ 12 years old and with a body weight ≥ 40 kg part 2 for cohort B), acceptable organ function, and ECOG PS &lt; 2.

Specific aims: Primary objectives include evaluation of pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), safety, tolerability, preliminary anti-tumor activity, and identifying a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). PK measurements include Cmax, tmax, AUC0-last, accumulation ratio (Racc) and t1/2. Safety data will be evaluated per the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) v5.0. The Modified Continuous Reassessment Method (mCRM) (Goodman et al., Stat Med 1995) will guide dose escalation and MTD.

RP2D nomination is informed by PD in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using assays to evaluate phosphorylation of the CDK9 substrate serine 2 on the RNA Polymerase II C-terminal domain (pSER2) and CDK9-responsive gene expression.

Radiographic tumor response to KB-0742 in patients is assessed every other cycle starting from cycle two after treatment using RECIST 1.1 criteria.

Target accrual: Targeted total enrollment is 170 patients. For additional information, contact clinicaltrials@kronosbio.com

Citation Format: Monica Mita, Alain Mita, Miguel Villalona-Calero, Noah Federman, Drew Rasco, David Spigel, Jia Luo, Gregory Cote, Richard Cutler, Pavan Kumar, Crystal MacKenzie, Charles Lin, Jorge DiMartino, Elizabeth Olek, Brian Van Tine. A dose escalation and cohort expansion study of the CDK9 inhibitor KB-0742 in triple negative breast cancer and transcriptionally addicted relapsed or refractory solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-18-07.