Abstract 1934: The PLK1 inhibitor, onvansertib, is active as monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab in RAS wild-type colorectal cancer patient-derived xenografts
Authors: Ridinger Maya , Marie Preeti Kanikarla , Gao Fengqin , Liu Zhensheng , Maddalena Giulia , Menter David , Sorokin Alexey , Smeal Tod , Kopetz Scott 
Published: March 2024

Background: Cetuximab and panitumumab are monoclonal antibodies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), that provide clinical benefit to metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with RAS wild-type (RASWT) tumors. Unfortunately, intrinsic or acquired resistance to these therapies limits their clinical effectiveness, necessitating the development of more efficient therapeutic strategies. Onvansertib is an oral, small molecule, selective inhibitor of the PLK1 kinase, currently in clinical development for KRAS-mutant mCRC. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-tumor activity of onvansertib monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab in RASWT CRC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.

Methods: Twenty RASWT CRC PDXs were selected and engrafted in nude mice. Once tumors reached 200-350-mm3, mice were treated with vehicle, onvansertib (60mg/kg, QD), cetuximab (20mg/kg, BIW) or the combination for 18 days. PDX models were chosen based on their sensitivity to cetuximab, resulting in a selection of 7 cetuximab-sensitive (CetuxS) and 13 cetuximab-resistant (CetuxR) PDXs, including 7 with intrinsic resistance and 6 with acquired-resistance. Tumor volume change from baseline (TVC) was calculated as 100%x(Vt-Vo)/Vo and tumor growth inhibition (TGI) as 100%x(TVCcontrol-TVCtreated)/TVCcontrol. Tumor regression was defined as TVCD18&lt;0 and tumor stasis 0≤TVCD18&lt;100.

Results: Cetuximab sensitivity was confirmed in the selected models, cetuximab induced tumor regression in all the CetuxS PDXs, while no or limited activity was observed in the resistant models (median TGI=29%, IQR 16-61). Onvansertib exhibited potent anti-tumor activity in 17 (85%) PDXs, resulting in tumor regression (n=11) or tumor stasis (n=6). Onvansertib TGI at Day 18 was not significantly different in CetuxS PDXs (median TGI 102, IQR 76-103) compared to CetuxR PDXs (median TGI 108, IQR 74-124), supporting that onvansertib anti-tumor activity is independent of the sensitivity/resistance to cetuximab. The combination of onvansertib and cetuximab induced tumor regression in 18 (90%) PDXs. The combination showed significantly improved efficacy compared to individual therapies in some of the models.

Conclusions: Onvansertib monotherapy displayed potent anti-tumor activity in RASWT CRC PDX models, independently of their sensitivity to cetuximab. Additionally, onvansertib combined with cetuximab exhibited either comparable or superior anti-tumor activity than the monotherapies. Collectively, this data supports the clinical development of the PLK1 inhibitor onvansertib for RASWT mCRC.

Citation Format: Maya Ridinger, Preeti Kanikarla Marie, Fengqin Gao, Zhensheng Liu, Giulia Maddalena, David Menter, Alexey Sorokin, Tod Smeal, Scott Kopetz. The PLK1 inhibitor, onvansertib, is active as monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab in RAS wild-type colorectal cancer patient-derived xenografts [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1934.