Phase 1 dose-escalation trial using convection-enhanced delivery of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma following external radiation therapy.
Authors: Souweidane Mark M. , Kramer Kim , Pandit-Taskar Neeta , Haque Sofia , Zanzonico Pat , Carrasquillo Jorge A. , Lyashchenko Serge K. , Thakur Sunitha B , Khakoo Yasmin , Donzelli Maria , Lewis Jason Stuart , Cheung Nai-Kong V. , Larson Steven M. , Nielsen John Roemer , Dunkel Ira J. 
Published: June 2021

2010 Background: The prognosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is dire with a median overall survival less than one-year. 124I-omburtamab is a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody that targets B7-H3 epitope. We evaluated the safety of administering escalating doses and volumes of 124I-omburtamab via convection-enhanced delivery (CED) in children with DIPG. Methods: MSKCC 11-011 trial is a standard 3+3 phase 1, open-label, dose escalation study in patients with non-progressive DIPG. CED of 124I-omburtamab was performed between 4-14 weeks post-external radiation therapy. Nine dose levels of a single injection of 124I-omburtamab (Y-mAbs Therapeutics, USA) (range 0.25 to 8.0 mCi; and volume of infusion (Vi) from 250 to 8,000 µl) have been evaluated so far. Patients were assessed weekly for 30 days. Results: 46 children were evaluable for primary and secondary endpoints. The median age at enrolment was 6.5 years (range 2-17). Two patients have experienced AEs CTCAE grade 3 that were categorized as dose limiting toxicities (DLTs), which led to inclusion of three more patients at both the 4 and 6 mCi dose levels. Eight patients have reported transient AEs of grade 3 considered related to 124I-omburtamab. The acute grade 3 AEs were generally indicative of nervous system effects due to volume intolerance or radiation injury, and included hemiparesis (n = 3), dysarthria (n = 3), ataxia (n = 3), dysphagia (n = 2), muscular weakness (n = 2) and gait disturbance (n = 1). There were no related AEs CTCAE grade 4 or 5. Estimations of distribution volumes based on T2-weighted imaging were linearly related to volume with a mean volume of distribution/volume of infusion ratio (Vd/Vi) between 3 and 3.5. The mean ratio of lesion-to-whole body absorbed dose was ̃1000. Median overall survival from diagnosis across all cohorts was 14.8 months (n = 46, 95% CI 11.5, 16.8) and the survival rate estimates (with 95% confidence intervals) at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were 0.63 (0.46;0.76); 0.13 (0.05;0.26); 0.08 (0.02;0.19); and 0.04 (0.00;0.16), respectively. Four patients have survived > 3 years; two remain alive at 46 and 96 months and two have died at 43 and 53 months, both with CNS disease outside of the treatment field and one with extra-CNS metastases. Conclusions: 124I-omburtamab via CED into the brain stem of children with DIPG and previously irradiated provides a possibility for improved treatment of DIPG. A dose of 8mCi and an infusion volume of 8,000 µl is considered safe and may provide a distribution volume large enough to cover tumor volumes up to 20 cm3. The median overall survival of all patients included in the trial appears to be increased with 3-4 months compared to historical control data from consortia trials. A phase 2 trial aiming at investigating the efficacy of radiolabeled omburtamab administered via CED is being planned. Clinical trial information: NCT01502917.