Eisai Inc.

BackgroundLenvatinib is an oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1–3, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1–4, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha, RET, and KIT. This phase 2, single-arm, open-label multicenter study evaluated lenvatinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsPatients with histologically/clinically confirmed advanced HCC who did not qualify for surgical resection or local therapies received lenvatinib at a dosage of 12 mg once daily (QD) in 28-day cycles. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to progression (TTP) per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1; secondary efficacy endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS).ResultsBetween July 2010 and June 2011, 46 patients received lenvatinib at sites across Japan and Korea. The median TTP, as determined by independent radiological review, was 7.4 months [95 % confidence interval (CI): 5.5–9.4]. Seventeen patients (37 %) had partial response and 19 patients (41 %) had stable disease (ORR: 37 %; DCR: 78 %). Median OS was 18.7 months (95 % CI: 12.7–25.1). The most common any-grade adverse events (AEs) were hypertension (76 %), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (65 %), decreased appetite (61 %), and proteinuria (61 %). Dose reductions and discontinuations due to AEs occurred in 34 (74 %) and 10 patients (22 %), respectively. Median body weight was lower in patients with an early (<30 days) dose withdrawal or reduction than in those without.ConclusionsLenvatinib 12-mg QD showed clinical activity and acceptable toxicity profiles in patients with advanced HCC, but early dose modification was necessary in patients with lower body weight. Further development of lenvatinib in HCC should consider dose modification by body weight.Trial registration ID www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00946153.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00535-016-1263-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background A phase 3, multinational, randomized, noninferiority trial (REFLECT) compared the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) and sorafenib (SOR) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). LEN had an effect on overall survival (OS) compared to SOR, statistically confirmed by non-inferiority [OS: median = 13.6 months vs. 12.3 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-1.06], and demonstrated statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and the objective response rate (ORR) in the overall population. The results of a subset analysis that evaluated the efficacy and safety of LEN and SOR in the Japanese population are reported. Methods The intent-to-treat population enrolled in Japan was analyzed. Results Of 954 patients in the overall population, 168 Japanese patients were assigned to the LEN arm (N = 81) Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerable dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of lenvatinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Experimental Design: This multicenter, open-label, phase I, dose-escalation study included patients aged 20 to 80 years, refractory to standard therapy, and stratified by hepatic function measured using Child-Pugh (CP) scores: CP-A (score, 5-6) and CP-B (score, 7-8). Lenvatinib was administered continually once daily for 4-week cycles. MTD was defined as the maximum dose associated with 1 dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) occurring in cycle 1 among 6 patients.Results: In total, 20 patients (9 in CP-A and 11 in CP-B) were enrolled. The MTD was 12 and 8 mg once daily in CP-A and CP-B, respectively; DLTs included proteinuria, hepatic encephalopathy, and hyperbilirubinemia. The most common grade 3 toxicities included hypertension in CP-A and hyperbilirubinemia in CP-B. Lenvatinib plasma concentration at 24 hours after administration (C 24 h ) for 12 mg once daily was higher in patients with HCC than in patients with other solid tumors shown in a previous phase I study, but C 24 h for 25 mg once daily lenvatinib was comparable. After lenvatinib treatment, the number of circulating endothelial and c-Kit þ cells decreased and the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL10, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor increased (P < 0.05). Partial responses were observed in 3 patients and tumor shrinkage occurred in 14 patients. Conclusions: Lenvatinib (12 mg once daily) demonstrated preliminary efficacy with manageable toxicity and is the recommended dose for phase II studies in patients with HCC and CP-A.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for up to 90% of primary liver cancer occurrences worldwide. Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, was approved in radioiodine‐refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. In this phase 2 study (study 202), we aimed to identify the lenvatinib optimal dose for subjects with advanced HCC Child‐Pugh class A. Pooled data from phase 1 studies in healthy adults and in subjects with mixed tumor types, and from study 202 in subjects with HCC, were analyzed using a population pharmacokinetic approach. The relationship between treatment‐emergent adverse events leading to withdrawal or dose reduction during cycle 1 and lenvatinib exposure was explored by logistic regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to investigate the best cutoff values of lenvatinib exposure and body weight to identify a high‐risk group for early dose modification. The final pharmacokinetic model included body‐weight effects on apparent clearance and volume. The relationship between the lenvatinib area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) at steady state and body weight demonstrated an increase in AUC as body weight decreased in subjects with HCC. An exposure–response relationship was observed, with higher lenvatinib AUC and lower body weight resulting in earlier drug withdrawal or dose reduction. The best cutoff values for body weight and lenvatinib AUC were 57.8 kg and 2430 ng·h/mL, respectively, to predict the group at high risk for early drug withdrawal or dose reduction. We therefore recommend 12‐mg and 8‐mg starting doses for subjects ≥60 kg and <60 kg, respectively, in subjects with HCC Child‐Pugh class A.