Abstract
Purpose: Preclinical studies demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy of the combination of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor romidepsin plus erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models that were insensitive to erlotinib monotherapy. We therefore studied this combination in a phase 1 clinical trial in previously treated advanced NSCLC. Methods: Romidepsin (8 or 10mg/m2) was administered intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days in combination with erlotinib (150mg orally daily), with romidepsin monotherapy lead-in during Cycle 1. Correlative studies included peripheral blood mononuclear cell HDAC activity and histone acetylation status, and EGFR pathway activation status in skin biopsies. Results: A total of 17 patients were enrolled. Median number of prior lines of therapy was 3 (range 1-5). No cases had a sensitizing EGFR mutation. The most common related adverse events were nausea, vomiting, and fatigue (each 82%), diarrhea (65%), anorexia (53%), and rash (41%). Dose-limiting nausea and vomiting occurred at the romidepsin 10mg/m2 level despite aggressive antiemetic prophylaxis and treatment. Among 10 evaluable patients, the best response was stable disease (n=7) and progressive disease (n=3). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.3 months (range 1.4-16.5 months). Prolonged PFS (>6 months) was noted in a KRAS mutant adenocarcinoma and a squamous cell cancer previously progressed on erlotinib monotherapy. Romidepsin monotherapy inhibited HDAC activity, increased histone acetylation status, and inhibited EGFR phosphorylation. Conclusions: Romidepsin 8mg/m2 plus erlotinib appears well tolerated, has evidence of disease control, and exhibits effects on relevant molecular targets in an unselected advanced NSCLC population.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 534-541 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Lung Cancer |
Volume | 90 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Clinical trial
- Epidermal growth factor receptor
- Epigenetics
- Erlotinib
- Histone deacetylase inhibitor
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Romidepsin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Cancer Research