FLO +/- Pazopanib as First-line Treatment in Advanced Gastric Cancer

The prognosis of advanced gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of the gastro-esophageal (GE) junction is poor. Even with modern chemotherapy the median survival ranges around 8-10 months.

Inhibition of neoangiogenesis seems to be a very promising approach in gastric cancer.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) acts as one of the most potent stimulating agents of angiogenesis, and several strategies targeting the VEGF signaling pathway have been developed, including anti-VEGF antibodies, soluble receptors binding directly to VEGF ligand, anti-VEGF receptor (VEGFR) antibodies and VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The breakthrough in the clinical development of anti-angiogenic therapy against colorectal cancer came in 2003 with a large prospective, randomized clinical trial of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against VEGF. Anti-angiogenic therapy has introduced a highly effective, completely new mode of action in this area and is the new standard of care in advanced colorectal cancer.

The concept of VEGF inhibition is also very promising in gastric cancer. Bevacizumab was investigated in combination with irinotecan and cisplatin in a phase-II trial, including 47 patients with gastric and GE-junction carcinoma. Bevacizumab could safely be given and could improve time to tumor progression by 75% compared to historical controls. Several phase-II trials confirm the tolerability and promising efficacy of bevacizumab in gastric cancer (Bevacizumab + Docetaxel/Oxaliplatin; FOLFOX + Bevacizumab; Docetaxel/Cisplatin/Irinotecan + Bevacizumab). These results were so promising that randomized phase-III trials in the 1st-line and perioperative setting are under way (AVAGAST-trial: Cisplatin /Capecitabine +/- bevacizumab 1st line ; MAGIC-B-trial : ECX +/- bevacizumab perioperative).

Tyrosin kinase inhibitors which inhibit VEGF receptors and EGFR are also investigated in gastric cancer with promising efficacy. Pazopanib, an orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor, selectively inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR)-1, -2 and -3, c-kit and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R), which results in inhibition of angiogenesis in tumors in which these receptors are upregulated. Pazopanib has the advantage of being an orally available anti-angiogenesis component.

Pazopanib shows promising activity in phase-II trials in renal cell cancer, breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma and non small cell lung cancer. A phase-III trial of pazopanib in renal cell cancer (NCT00334282) is completed and resulted in the approval of Pazopanib for this disease. A phase-III trial in soft tissue sarcoma (NCT00753688) is currently performed.

In phase-I trials, pazopanib was investigated in combination with FOLFOX and Capecitabine/Oxaliplatin. FOLFOX could be administered in full dose with 800 mg pazopanib. In Cape/Ox, capecitabine had to be reduced to 850mg/m² bd.

5-FU- and oxaliplatin-based regimens are one of the established treatment standards for 1st-line therapy in metastatic gastric cancer. The efficacy of 5-FU, leukovorin and oxaliplatin (FLO) compared to 5-FU, cisplatin could be confirmed in a randomized phase-III trial of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO). FLO has a favorable toxicity profile. In Germany, FLO is a widely used combination for advanced gastric cancer and is a recommended regimen in the new German S3-guidelines 2011.

The investigators therefore want to examine FLO + pazopanib.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects must provide written informed consent prior to performance of study-specific procedures or assessments, and must be willing to comply with treatment and follow up.
* Age ≥ 18 years.
* Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the stomach or the gastroesophageal junction with either metastatic or locally advanced disease, incurable by operation.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of \< or = 2
* At least one unidimensional, measurable tumor parameter (according to RECIST 1.1)
* No preceding cytotoxic therapy (neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment allowed if finished \> 6 months before inclusion)
* Adequate organ system function.
* Men and women must perform an adequate contraception.
* Female subjects who are lactating should discontinue nursing prior to the first dose of study drug and should refrain from nursing throughout the treatment period and for 14 days following the last dose of study drug.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior malignancy, except for curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin and in situ carcinoma of the cervix.
* Overexpression of HER-2, defined as IHC 3+ or IHC 2+ and FISH positive.
* Known hypersensitivity against 5-FU, leukovorin, oxaliplatin or other platinum compounds or pazopanib.
* History or clinical evidence of central nervous system (CNS) metastases or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
* Clinically significant gastrointestinal abnormalities that may increase the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding or the absorption of investigational product
* Presence of uncontrolled infection.
* Corrected QT interval (QTc) \> 480 ms using Bazett's formula.
* History of any one or more of the following cardiovascular conditions within the past 6 months: cardiac angioplasty or stenting, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, symptomatic peripheral vascular disease, NYHA III or IV congestive heart failure.
* Poorly controlled hypertension.
* History of cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attack (TIA), pulmonary embolism or untreated deep venous thrombosis (DVT) within the past 6 months.
* Prior major surgery or trauma within 28 days prior to first dose of study drug and/or presence of any non-healing wound, fracture, or ulcer.
* Evidence of active bleeding or bleeding diathesis.
* Known endobronchial lesions and/or lesions infiltrating major pulmonary vessels.
* Hemoptysis in excess of 2.5 ml within 8 weeks of first dose of study drug.
* Any serious and/or unstable pre-existing medical, psychiatric, or other condition that could interfere with subject's safety, provision of informed consent, or compliance to study procedures.
* Unable or unwilling to discontinue use of prohibited medications for at least 14 days or five half-lives of a drug (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of study drug and for the duration of the study.
* Treatment with any of the following anti-cancer therapies: radiation therapy, surgery or tumor embolization within 14 days prior to the first dose of pazopanib OR chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biologic therapy, investigational therapy or hormonal therapy within 14 days or five half-lives of a drug (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of pazopanib. A neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy must be finished at least 6 month before study entry.
* Any ongoing toxicity from prior anti-cancer therapy that is \>Grade 1 and/or that is progressing in severity, except alopecia.
* Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea.
* Peripheral polyneuropathy \> NCI Grade.
* Pregnant or lactating women.
* Men or women who are planning a pregnancy within the next six months.
* Participation in another clinical trial with investigational agents within the last 30 days prior to study start.
* The patient is a colleague or employed by the study investigator or by an involved institution including the sponsor of the study.
* Patient is detained in a psychiatric unit or imprisoned.