BACKGROUND: Everolimus, an oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, affects tumor growth by blocking growth factor stimulation, arresting cell cycle progression, and inhibiting angiogenesis. mTOR inhibitors and agents with primarily antiangiogenic activity have been shown to have efficacy in renal cell cancer (RCC). This phase 2 study assessed the efficacy of daily oral dosing with everolimus in patients with RCC. METHODS: Patients had confirmed predominantly clear cell RCC; had received ≤1 prior therapy; and had progressive, measurable metastatic disease. Everolimus was given at a dose of 10 mg daily orally without interruption (28‐day cycle), with dose modifications for toxicity (graded according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3.0). Patients were evaluated every 2 cycles (8 weeks) using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). RESULTS: Of 41 enrolled patients, 39 were treated and evaluable for safety, 37 of whom were evaluable for response (2 patients withdrew after the first week of therapy). Approximately 78% of the patients were male, the median age was 60 years, 93% had a Zubrod performance status of 0 to 1, and 83% had received prior therapy. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 11.2 months and the median overall survival was 22.1 months. Partial responses were observed in 5 (14%) patients, stable disease lasting ≥3 months was reported in 27 (73%) patients, and stable disease lasting ≥6 months was reported in 21 (57%) patients. Nausea (38% of patients), anorexia (38% of patients), diarrhea (31% of patients), stomatitis (31% of patients), pneumonitis (31% of patients), and rash (26% of patients) were common. Grade 3 of 4 adverse events included pneumonitis (18% of patients); transaminase elevations (10% of patients); thrombocytopenia, hyperglycemia, and alkaline phosphatase elevations (8% each of patients); and hyperlipidemia (5% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, everolimus demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity against metastatic RCC as indicated by a PFS ≥ 6 months for approximately 70% of patients. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.

Attenuated vaccinia virus, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) has been engineered to deliver the tumor antigen 5T4 (TroVax). MVA-5T4 has been evaluated in an open-label phase 2 trial in metastatic renal cell cancer patients in which the vaccine was administered alone or in combination with interferon-alpha-2b (IFN-alpha). The safety, immunologic, and clinical efficacy of MVA-5T4 with or without IFN-alpha was determined. Twenty-eight patients with metastatic renal cell cancer were treated with MVA-5T4 alone (13) or plus IFN-alpha (15). The 5T4-specific cellular and humoral responses were monitored throughout the study. Clinical responses were assessed by measuring changes in tumor burden by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan. MVA-5T4 was well tolerated with no serious adverse event attributed to vaccination. Of 23 intent-to-treat patients tested for immune responses postvaccination, 22 (96%) mounted 5T4-specific antibody and/or cellular responses. One patient treated with MVA-5T4 plus IFN-alpha showed a partial response for >7 months, whereas an additional 14 patients (7 receiving MVA-5T4 plus IFN and 7 receiving MVA-5T4 alone) showed periods of disease stabilization ranging from 1.73 to 9.60 months. Median progression free survival and overall survival for all intent-to-treat patients was 3.8 months (range: 1 to 11.47 mo) and 12.1 months (range: 1 to 27 mo), respectively. MVA-5T4 administered alone or in combination with IFN-alpha was well tolerated in all patients. Despite the high frequency of 5T4-specific immune responses, it is not possible to conclude that patients are receiving clinical benefit. The results are encouraging and warrant further investigation.

The attenuated vaccinia virus, modified vaccinia Ankara, has been engineered to deliver the tumor antigen 5T4 (TroVax). TroVax has been evaluated in an open-label phase 2 trial in hormone refractory prostate cancer patients in which the vaccine was administered either alone or in combination with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The comparative safety and immunologic and clinical efficacy of TroVax alone or in combination with GM-CSF was determined. Twenty-seven patients with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer were treated with TroVax alone (n=14) or TroVax+GM-CSF (n=13). 5T4-specific cellular and humoral responses were monitored throughout the study. Clinical responses were assessed by quantifying prostate-specific antigen concentrations and measuring changes in tumor burden by computer-assisted tomography scan. TroVax was well tolerated in all patients with no serious adverse events attributed to vaccination. Of 24 immunologically evaluable patients, all mounted 5T4-specific antibody responses. Periods of disease stabilization from 2 to >10 months were observed. Time to progression was significantly greater in patients who mounted 5T4-specific cellular responses compared with those who did not (5.6 vs. 2.3 mo, respectively). There were no objective clinical responses seen in this study. In this study, the combination of GM-CSF with TroVax showed similar clinical and immunologic responses to TroVax alone. The high frequency of 5T4-specific immune responses and relationship with enhanced time to progression is encouraging and warrants further investigation.