Study of Oral Lucitanib (E-3810), a Dual VEGFR-FGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients With Solid Tumors

Co-selective inhibition of VEGFRs and FGFR has the potential benefit of blocking the two most relevant players in tumor angiogenesis and simultaneously targeting proliferation in FGF-driven tumors. Lucitanib is a novel dual-targeted small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR1, 2, 3 and FGFR1 showing strong anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity in preclinical models at well-tolerated oral doses, with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. These properties make it an attractive candidate for development in humans.

This is an open-label, uncontrolled, non-randomized, PhaseI/IIa study and its primary objective is to determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of Lucitanib administered orally, once daily, on a continuous schedule over the initial 28-day cycle.

Secondary objectives are to determine the safety profile, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and antitumour activity of Lucitanib, given as a single agent to adult patients with advanced solid tumours.

The study consists of two phases, a dose escalation phase followed by a dose-expansion phase at the identified Recommended Dose (RD). Eligible patients have histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours, relapsed or refractory to standard therapy. For the dose expansion, patients should have tumours bearing FGFR1 or 11q 12-14 amplification, assessed by FISH or CGH array, or "sensitive" to antiangiogenic treatment. These latter are defined as patients who have relapsed after having experienced stable disease (lasting at least six months) or partial response with prior treatment with an approved antiangiogenic regimen or patients with tumour types known to be potentially responsive to antiangiogenic agents but without such pretreatment if no antiangiogenic agents were approved and/or available for that specific condition (e.g thyroid cancer, thymic carcinoma).

Serial safety assessments, including evaluation of symptoms, physical examination and blood and urine laboratory analyses are performed throughout the study. Cardiac functions and blood pressure are monitored in consultation with a cardiologist. PK parameters are determined on plasma samples collected during the first 4-week cycle and analyzed using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Correlative studies include: (i) quantitative assessment of the effects of E-3810 on tumor vasculature by DCE-MRI and DCE-US imaging; (ii) assay of angiogenesis biomarkers i.e. soluble VEGFR2, VEGFR1, VEGF, bFGF, Collagen IV, FGF23 and PIGF(by ELISA) and circulating endothelial and progenitors cells (CEC and CEP). Tumor response is based on imaging according to RECIST; circulating tumor cells (CTC) are measured by the immunomagnetic CellSearch method.

In patients with tumours bearing FGFR1 amplifications the efficacy of Lucitanib will be formally tested according to a phase IIa design (one-stage Flaming design, H0=0.05, H1=0,30, power 0,80.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years
2. Histologically or cytologically confirmed, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumour, relapsed or refractory to standard therapy.

   In addition, only for the dose-expansion phase:

   i) solid tumour bearingFGFR1 amplification and, if breast cancer, with at least one prior endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting if ER+, and at least one chemotherapy line otherwise or ii) solid tumour progressing after having experienced SD (lasting for at least six month) or PR as best response to prior treatment with an approved or investigational antiangiogenic drug (e.g.: sorafenib, sunitinib, bevacizumab) as a single agent or in a chemotherapy combination or iii) solid tumour potentially sensitive to antiangiogenic treatments provided no antiangiogenic agents are approved and\\or available for that specific condition.
3. Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
4. Full recovery (to Grade ≤ 1) from any prior surgical procedure(s) and from reversible side effects of prior therapy for cancer including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy
5. Adequate haematologic function (haemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL, absolute neutrophil count \[ANC\] ≥ 1500/mL, platelets ≥ 100,000/mL), adequate renal function (serum creatinine\< 1.5 mg/dL or creatinine clearance \> 40 mL/min), and adequate hepatic function (serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 x ULN)
6. Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 1
7. Negative serum pregnancy test at screening in women of childbearing potential
8. For men and women of child-bearing potential, use of a medically accepted method of contraception (abstinence, barrier method with spermicide, intrauterine device, or steroidal contraceptive for women and barrier method for men) for the duration of the study and for 60 days after participation in the study
9. Willingness and ability to give written informed consent and to comply with study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active central nervous system (CNS) metastases not controlled by prior surgery or radiotherapy and/or low dose steroids
2. Haematologic malignancies (including leukaemia of any form, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma)
3. Active second malignancy or history of another malignancy within 2 years, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers or carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the breast or cervix or controlled, superficial carcinoma of the bladder
4. Treatment with any anticancer agent within 3 weeks, including investigational agents, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biologic or hormonal therapy, surgery or radiation therapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, mitomycin or bevacizumab); luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist for prostate and mitotane for adrenal carcinoma are allowed.
5. Significant cardiovascular disease or condition, including:

   * Congestive heart failure requiring therapy
   * Ventricular and/or supra-ventricular arrhythmia requiring therapy
   * Severe conduction disturbance (including QTc interval prolongation \> 0.47 sec \[corrected\], history of severe arrhythmia, or history of familial arrhythmia \[e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome\])
   * Angina pectoris requiring therapy
   * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50% evaluated by cardiac ultrasound (ECHO) or Multi Gated Acquisition Scan (MUGA)
   * Uncontrolled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg with optimized antihypertensive therapy)
   * Myocardial infarction (MI) within 6 months prior to administration of the first dose
   * \> Class I cardiovascular disease according to the New York Heart Association's (NYHA) Functional Criteria
6. Ongoing treatment with Warfarin
7. Unavoidable concomitant treatment with any drug known for potential risk of causing Torsades de Pointes (see list in Appendix 4)
8. Significant gastrointestinal abnormalities, including ulcerative colitis, chronic diarrhoea associated with intestinal malabsorption, Crohn's disease, and/or prior surgical procedures affecting absorption or requirement for intravenous (IV) alimentation
9. Known pre-existing clinically significant disorder of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, thyroid and adrenal gland
10. Serious/active bacterial, viral or fungal infection (including known active human immunodeficiency virus \[HIV\] infection) requiring systemic treatment
11. Concurrent severe or uncontrolled medical disease or organ system dysfunction which, in the opinion of the Investigators, would limit life expectancy to \< 3 months, compromise the patient's safety, or interfere with evaluation of the safety of the investigational product
12. Psychiatric disorder or altered mental status that would preclude understanding of the informed consent process and/or completion of the necessary study procedures
13. Known hypersensitivity to gelatin or lactose monohydrate
14. Difficulty with swallowing
15. Pregnant or lactating women.