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Phase 1 dose escalation and pharmacokinetic evaluation of oral gemcitabine prodrug (LY2334737) in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors

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Abstract

Purpose

This Phase 1 study aimed to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose of LY2334737, an oral gemcitabine prodrug, when combined with standard dose docetaxel treatment in patients with advanced solid tumors. Pharmacokinetics (PK) and antitumor activity were additionally evaluated.

Methods

Patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors received escalating doses of LY2334737 once daily (QD) for 14 days, followed by a 7-day drug-free period. Docetaxel was given at 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (q3w). Cycles were repeated until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity.

Results

Of 22 patients recruited, all Caucasian, 7 received an LY2334737 dose of 10 mg/day, 10 received 20 mg/day, 5 received 30 mg/day. Nineteen patients discontinued due to PD, 2 due to adverse events, 1 due to investigator decision. Dose-limiting toxicities: 2× febrile neutropenia (G3), 2× fatigue (1× G2, 1× G3), 1× neutropenia (G4). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was identified to be 10 mg/day. Two patients achieved partial response, 10 patients stable disease. Enrollment was stopped after unexpected hepatic toxicities were observed with LY2334737 QD for 14 days per cycle in another study of Japanese patients. PK data were consistent with the first-in-man study of LY2334737 and did not reveal any drug–drug interaction between LY2334737 and docetaxel.

Conclusions

Combination of LY2334737 at doses up to 30 mg/day QD for 14 days per cycle with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 q3w resulted in an undesirable toxicity profile and a low MTD of 10 mg/day. Alternative treatment schedules of LY2334737 should be explored.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN. We would like to thank all patients for participating in the study. Karin Helsberg and Tanya Rackstraw, Trilogy Writing and Consulting, Frankfurt, Germany, provided medical writing support on behalf of Eli Lilly and Company.

Conflict of interest

KB, SC, and ERW are Eli Lilly employees, KB and ERW also own Lilly stock. RS, SM, MGM, EA, OA, MG, and AL have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Research Unit, Institut Català d’Oncologia-IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Ctra. Gran Vía, 08907 s/n., Barcelona, Spain

    Ramon Salazar, Marta Gil-Martín & Margarita Garcia

  2. Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lérida, Spain

    Serafin Morales, Elena Aguirre & Antonio Llombart

  3. Medical Oncology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Ana Oaknin

  4. Eli Lilly and Company, Neuilly Sur Seine, France

    Sophie Callies & Karim A. Benhadji

  5. Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Enaksha R. Wickremsinhe

Authors
  1. Ramon Salazar
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  2. Serafin Morales
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  3. Marta Gil-Martín
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  4. Elena Aguirre
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  5. Ana Oaknin
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  6. Margarita Garcia
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  7. Sophie Callies
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  8. Enaksha R. Wickremsinhe
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  9. Karim A. Benhadji
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  10. Antonio Llombart
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramon Salazar.

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Salazar, R., Morales, S., Gil-Martín, M. et al. Phase 1 dose escalation and pharmacokinetic evaluation of oral gemcitabine prodrug (LY2334737) in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 73, 1205–1215 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-014-2457-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-014-2457-1

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