PurposeAberrant Notch signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many human cancers. MK-0752 is a potent, oral inhibitor of γ-secretase, an enzyme required for Notch pathway activation. Safety, maximum-tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor efficacy were assessed in a phase I study of MK-0752.Patients and MethodsMK-0752 was administered in three different schedules to patients with advanced solid tumors. Hair follicles were collected at higher dose levels to assess a gene signature of Notch inhibition.ResultsOf 103 patients who received MK-0752, 21 patients received a continuous once-daily dosing at 450 and 600 mg; 17 were dosed on an intermittent schedule of 3 of 7 days at 450 and 600 mg; and 65 were dosed once per week at 600, 900, 1,200, 1,500, 1,800, 2,400, 3,200, and 4,200 mg. The most common drug-related toxicities were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. PKs (area under the concentration-time curve and maximum measured plasma concentration) increased in a less than dose proportional manner, with a half-life of approximately 15 hours. Significant inhibition of Notch signaling was observed with the 1,800- to 4,200-mg weekly dose levels, confirming target engagement at those doses. One objective complete response and an additional 10 patients with stable disease longer than 4 months were observed among patients with high-grade gliomas.ConclusionMK-0752 toxicity was schedule dependent. Weekly dosing was generally well tolerated and resulted in strong modulation of a Notch gene signature. Clinical benefit was observed, and rational combination trials are currently ongoing to maximize clinical benefit with this novel agent.

Summary Background Cediranib is a highly potent vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling inhibitor of all three VEGF receptors. This phase I, single-center, dose-finding study was designed primarily to investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of cediranib with various anticancer regimens in patients with advanced solid tumors. Experimental design Oral cediranib 20, 30, and/or 45 mg/day was given in combination with standard mFOLFOX6; docetaxel; irinotecan; irinotecan and cetuximab; or pemetrexed. The novel study design allowed simultaneous evaluation of the safety and PK of these regimens with cediranib in one study. Secondary assessments included a preliminary evaluation of efficacy. Results Fifty-nine patients received cediranib and were evaluable for safety. The most common adverse events across the study were fatigue and diarrhea (both n=52). The most common CTC grade≥3 adverse events were neutropenia (n=19) and fatigue (n=16). Cediranib did not appear to have a major effect on the PK profile of any chemotherapy agent tested. A preliminary assessment of efficacy showed that objective responses were achieved in some patients (n=6) who had previously progressed on similar regimens without cediranib. Conclusion In this group of heavily pretreated patients, the study design permitted simultaneous assessment of multiple treatment arms. Treatment with cediranib and the various anticancer regimens was generally well tolerated, with no apparent PK interaction and preliminary evidence of antitumor activity.

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