Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Study of Tasquinimod in Men With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE: Tasquinimod, a novel oral therapy targeting the tumor microenvironment, significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in a randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This phase III study was conducted to confirm the phase II results and to detect an overall survival (OS) benefit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Men with chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC and evidence of bone metastases were assigned (2:1) to receive tasquinimod once per day or placebo until progression or toxicity. The primary end point was radiographic PFS (rPFS; time from random assignment to radiologic progression or death) per Prostate Cancer Working Group 2 criteria and RECIST 1.1. The study had 99.9% power to detect an rPFS hazard ratio (HR) of 0.6 with a two-sided alpha error of .05 and 80% power to detect a target HR of 0.8 for OS, the key secondary end point. RESULTS: In all, 1,245 patients were randomly assigned to either tasquinimod (n = 832) or placebo (n = 413) between March 2011 and December 2012 at 241 sites in 37 countries. Baseline characteristics were balanced between groups: median age, 71 years; Karnofsky performance status ≥ 90%, 77.3%; and visceral metastases, 21.1%. Estimated median rPFS by central review was 7.0 months (95% CI, 5.8 to 8.2 months) with tasquinimod and 4.4 months (95% CI, 3.5 to 5.5 months) with placebo (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.75; P < .001). Median OS was 21.3 months (95% CI, 19.5 to 23.0 months) with tasquinimod and 24.0 months (95% CI, 21.4 to 26.9 months) with placebo (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.28; P = .25). Grade ≥ 3 adverse events were more frequent with tasquinimod (42.8% v 33.6%), the most common being anemia, fatigue, and cancer pain. CONCLUSION: In chemotherapy-naïve men with mCRPC, tasquinimod significantly improved rPFS compared with placebo. However, no OS benefit was observed

Trace metal budgets for forested catchments in Europe – Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu and Zn

Input/output budgets for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in the years 1997 monitored and determined for 14 small forest-covered catchments across Europe as part of the Integrated Monitoring program on the effects of long-range pollutants on ecosystems. Metal inputs were considered to derive from bulk deposition, throughfall and litterfall. Outputs were estimated from run-off values. Litterfall plus throughfall was taken as a measure of the total deposition of Pb and Hg (wet+dry) on the basis of evidence suggesting that, for these metals, internal circulation is negligible. The same is not true for Cd. Excluding a few sites with high discharge, between 74 and 94 % of the input Pb was retained within the catchments; significant Cd retention was also observed. High losses of Pb (>1.4 mgm (>0.15 mgm Central European sites with high water discharge. All other sites had outputs below or equal to 0.36 and 0.06 mgm Almost complete retention of Hg, 86 was reported in the Swedish sites. These high levels of metal retention were maintained even in the face of recent dramatic reductions in pollutant loads.–2011 were−2year−1) and Cd−2year−1) were observed in two mountainous−2year−1, respectively, for the two metals.–99 % of input

Updated activity and safety results of a phase II randomized discontinuation trial (RDT) of AV-951, a potent and selective VEGFR1, 2, and 3 kinase inhibitor, in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

5032 Background: AV-951 is a potent inhibitor of VEGFR-1, 2 &amp; 3 kinases (IC50 0.21, 0.16 and 0.24 nM respectively), and inhibits cKit and PDGFR at 10-times higher concentrations (IC50 1.63 and 1.72 nM respectively). In a phase II RDT of AV-951 (1.5 mg/day; 3 wks on, 1 wk off) in RCC, preliminary ORR at wk 16 was 28% (ASCO GU. 2008; abstract #283). Methods: Pts with locally advanced or metastatic RCC (any histology) and no prior VEGF-targeted therapy received AV-951 for 16 wks, after which further treatment was assigned based on response. Pts with ≥ 25% tumor shrinkage continued treatment with AV-951, while pts with &lt; 25% change from baseline were randomly assigned to receive AV-951 or placebo for 12 wks (double-blinded). The primary end points were (1) objective response rate (ORR) at 16 wks, (2) percentage of randomly assigned pts remaining progression free at 12 wks following randomization, (3) safety profile. Results: 272 pts were enrolled: 70% male, 93% white, median age 56 yrs. 53% pts were treatement naïve, 72% had undergone nephrectomy and 83% had RCC with clear cell component. With a median duration of treatment of 5 mo (range 0–12 mo), the investigator assessed ORR (CR+PR) is 27.2% (30% in clear cell RCC), SD 60.5% and Disease Control Rate (CR/PR + SD) 88%. 118 (43%) pts were randomized to AV-951 or placebo. The most common treatment-related AEs (all grades) were hypertension (HTN, 42%) and dysphonia (16%). Guidelines for management of HTN were provided to investigators, and 52% pts received anti-hypertensives. Minimal (all grades) diarrhea (9%), fatigue (8%), stomatitis (3%) and hand-foot syndrome (2%) were observed. Laboratory abnormalities (all grades) were notable for minimal neutropenia (8%) and elevations of AST (21%) and ALT (21%). AEs led to dose reduction in 4% and treatment discontinuation in 5.5% of pts. Conclusions: Interim results of this phase II study demonstrate that AV-951 is active in RCC. The AE profile of AV-951 is consistent with that of a selective VEGFR inhibitor, with minimal off-target toxicities. Updated results of ORR (including independent radiology assessment), safety, percentage of randomly assigned pts remaining progression free at 12 wks, and overall PFS will be presented. [Table: see text] </jats:p