Phase 2 trial of cabozantinib in children and young adults with refractory sarcomas, Wilms tumor, and rare tumors: Children's Oncology Group Study (ADVL1622).
Authors: Akshintala Srivandana , Widemann Brigitte C. , Barkauskas Donald A. , Hall David , Reid Joel M. , Voss Stephan D. , Kim AeRang , Fox Elizabeth , Weigel Brenda 
Published: June 2021

10010

Background: Cabozantinib is an inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) including MET, VEGFR2, RET, and AXL. Preclinical and clinical data support these RTKs as potential therapeutic targets; Safety, tolerability, and responses were demonstrated in a COG phase 1 trial. We conducted a multi-center open label phase 2 trial to determine the activity of cabozantinib in select pediatric solid tumors (NCT02867592). Methods: Patients age 2-30 years old with selected relapsed or refractory cancer that was measurable (RECISTv.1.1) were eligible. Using a Simon minimax design, patients were enrolled to six strata: Osteosarcoma (OS), Ewing sarcoma (EWS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS), Wilms tumor (WT), and rare tumor (a non-statistical stratum including tumors of specific histologies or molecular features). Cabozantinib (40 mg/m2/day) was administered on a continuous schedule (1 cycle = 28 days). For the OS stratum, activity was determined based on objective response rate (ORR, complete response (CR) + Partial response (PR)) or disease control success defined as at least stable disease (SD) for ≥ 4 months. For all other strata, the primary endpoint was ORR. Pharmacokinetics were performed in patients < 19 years. Results: Between May 2017- Oct 2020, 109 patients enrolled (105 eligible, 104 evaluable for response and toxicity). Median age was 15.8 (range 5.6-27.1) years; 55 were male. In the OS stratum, 10/29 (34%) patients had central review confirmed disease control ≥ 4 months (2 PR, 8 SD), exceeding the protocol-defined criteria for activity of cabozantinib in OS. Median duration of therapy was 3 cycles (range 1-28+). In EWS, RMS, NRSTS, and WT strata (n = 13 evaluable patients each) no PR or CR were observed. In the rare tumor stratum (n = 23), 1/4 patients with renal cell carcinoma, 1/1 patients with RET fusion positive papillary thyroid cancer had a PR, and 1 patient with medullary thyroid cancer had a delayed PR. SD ≥ 6 cycles was seen in patients with EWS (n = 2), NRSTS (n = 5), WT (n = 3), and hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1). At data cutoff (12/31/2020), 430 treatment cycles were administered; two patients remain on therapy. Cycle 1 and later cycle dose limiting toxicities (DLT) were seen in 20 (19%) and 39 (38%) patients, respectively. Common DLT were elevated liver enzymes, bilirubin, and lipase, hyponatremia, weight loss, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, wound dehiscence, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and pneumothorax. Day 1 pharmacokinetics (mean ± SD, n = 16) demonstrated a maximum plasma concentration of 556 ± 376 ng/ml, half-life 106 ± 102 hours, and area under the curve (AUC0-24h) 8093 ± 4368 ng•h/mL. Conclusions: Cabozantinib is active in patients with relapsed refractory OS and deserves further study in this disease. PRs were also seen in select carcinomas. Activity is limited in other sarcomas and WT. Clinical trial information: NCT02867592.