Phase I/II Trial of AXL1717 in the Treatment of Recurrent Malignant Astrocytomas (AXL1717)

Phase I/II Clinical Trial of the Safety, Tolerability, and Anti-tumor Efficacy of the IGF-1R Inhibitor, AXL1717 (Picropodophyllin), in the Treatment of Recurrent Malignant Astrocytomas

This is a single-center, open-label, non-randomized, Phase I/IIa study to investigate the safety, tolerability, and antitumor efficacy of AXL1717 (picropodophyllin as active agent formulated in an oral suspension; PPP) in patients with recurrent malignant astrocytomas (glioblastoma, gliosarcoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, and anaplastic ependymoma). Patients will be treated for up to 5 cycles. A treatment cycle is defined as 28 days+7 days rest (28+7 days during cycle 1 to 4, and 28 days during cycle 5). The following cycle will not be started until the treatment continuation criteria are fulfilled. Concomitant supportive therapies will be allowed.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Glioblastoma; Gliosarcoma; Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma; Anaplastic Astrocytoma; Anaplastic Ependymoma; Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: AXL1717

Detailed Description

AXL1717, as a ready-to-use suspension of picropodophyllin for oral administration, will be distributed in bottles for single use at a concentration of 25 mg/mL. Fixed doses will be used, i.e. there are no adjustments for weight or body surface. There will be no randomization or blinding in the study.

The trial will be divided in two phases. In the first phase, 10-20 patients will be enrolled and treated with 300-520 mg BID of AXL1717 for 28 days. The primary endpoint of the first phase is to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of AXL1717 in patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma and to assess the safety and toxicity of AXL1717 in this patient population. The study has a 3+3 design and the first cohort will be treated with 400 mg AXL1717 BID for 28 days repeated in up to 5 cycles. If dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) such as neutropenia occurs, dosing will be interrupted and the individual patient will, following normalization, be restarted on the same or a lower dose level according to standardized procedure. If two or three of the first 3 patients on a specific dose level experience a DLT during the first 28 days of treatment with AXL1717, the following patients will be treated with a lower dose level. If one DLT occurs during the first 28 days of dosing in the first 3 three patients another 3 patients will be treated with the same dose level. If 2 of the 6 patients display DLT, the next patients will be treated with a lower dose level. The highest dose level without DLT or with maximally one DLT out of 6 patients will be the RPTD. All assessments with respect to dose adjustments for subsequent cohorts will be done during the first 28 days of treatment. Non-progressing patients may be treated for a total of five 28-day cycles (24 weeks).

In the second phase, 12 patients will be enrolled and treated with the identified RP2D of AXL1717 for 28 days repeated in five cycles. The primary endpoints of phase II is to assess the proportion of patients who are progression-free at 24 weeks and to assess safety, tolerability, and adverse event profile of AXL1717.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • Rush University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion criteria

1. Be informed of the nature of the study and have provided written informed consent
2. At least 18 years of age
3. ECOG performance of 0, 1, or 2, or KPS (Karnofsky performance status) ≥ 60.
4. Pathological verification of a WHO grade 4 astrocytoma (glioblastoma or gliosarcoma), or WHO Grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, or anaplastic ependymoma.
5. Documented recurrent glioblastoma, gliosarcoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, or anaplastic ependymoma after at least one failed treatment of chemotherapy and radiation
6. Expected survival of at least 3 months
7. At least 2-weeks from cytoreductive surgery, if performed, 4-weeks from bevacizumab or other chemotherapy (6-weeks if prior chemotherapy was nitrosourea) and 12-weeks from completion of radiotherapy.
8. Ability to undergo MRI scanning without and with imaging dye on a periodic basis as defined in the protocol
9. Preserved major organ functions, i.e: Blood leukocyte count ≥ 3.0 x 109/L Blood absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L Blood platelet count ≥ 100 x109/L Blood hemoglobin ≥ 100 g/L (transfusions are allowed) Plasma total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 times the upper institutional limit (ULN) of the ‖normal‖ (i.e. reference) range Plasma AST (aspartate aminotransferase) or ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper institutional limit (ULN) of the ‖normal‖ range Plasma creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper institutional limit (ULN) of the ‖normal‖ range 12-lead ECG with normal tracings; or changes that are not clinically significant and do not require medical intervention, and QTc < 500 ms At least seven (7) days off of medications which inhibit or induce CYP2C9 or CYP3A4 before first study treatment day

Exclusion criteria

1. Any or other major recent or ongoing disease that, according to the Investigator, poses an unacceptable risk to the patient
2. Grade 3 or higher constipation within the past 28 days or grade 2 constipation within the past 14 days before randomization. (Patients with grade 2 constipation within the past 14 days could be re-screened if constipation decreases to ≤ grade 1 with optimal management of constipation.)
3. Coexisting uncontrolled medical condition.
4. Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, or HIV infection requiring anti-retroviral therapy
5. Active malignancy other than basal cell skin cancer
6. Other active malignancy during the previous 3 years
7. Major surgical procedure within 4 weeks
8. Prior stereotactic or gamma knife radiosurgery or proton radiation, unless unequivocal progression by functional neuro-imaging (PET, dynamic MRI, MRS, SPECT) or by re-operation with documented histologic confirmation of recurrence.
9. Prior anti-tumor therapy, as follows: at least 12-weeks from radiation therapy; at least 4-weeks from prior treatment with temozolomide or bevacizumab, 6-weeks from BCNU or CCNU.
10. Women of child bearing potential (WOCBP) who do not consent to using acceptable methods of birth control (oral contraceptives, IUD). For purposes of this study, WOCBP include any female who has experienced menarche, who has not undergone tubal ligation, and who is not postmenopausal.
11. Medically uncontrolled Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus
12. Pregnancy or lactation
13. Current participation in any other investigational clinical trial within 4-weeks.
14. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status > 2 after optimization of medications (See Appendix 4) or KPS < 60
15. Anticipated Life expectancy less than 3 months
16. Contraindications to the investigational product or known or suspected hypersensitivity

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Phase 1: AXL1717, 300mg; In the first phase, 10-20 patients will be enrolled and treated with 300mg (original range of starting dose was 300-520mg) BID of AXL1717 for 28 days. The primary endpoint of the first phase is to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of AXL1717 and to assess the safety and toxicity of AXL1717. The study has a 3+3 design and the first cohort will be treated with 300 mg AXL1717 BID for 28 days repeated in up to 5 cycles. The highest dose level without DLT or with maximally one DLT out of 6 patients will be the RP2D. Non-progressing patients may be treated for a total of five 28-day cycles (24 weeks).

Drug: AXL1717; IGF-1 receptor inhibitor; Other Names: picropodophyllin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phase I - Determine Recommended Phase II Dose	To determine the recommended phase II dose (RPTD) of AXL1717 in recurrent malignant astrocytomas defined as the highest dose level without DLT (Dose Limiting Toxicity) or with maximally one DLT out of 6 patients will be the RPTD.	8 months
Phase II - To Determine if AXL1717 Has Any Antitumor Effect	To determine if AXL1717 has any antitumor effect as a single agent treatment in recurrent malignant astrocytomas by evaluating PFS at 24 weeks	24 Weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phase II - Overall Response Rate	To assess overall response rate (ORR) in recurrent malignant astrocytomas after treatment with AXL1717	4 months
Phase I - To Identify the Maximum Tolerable Dose	To identify the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of AXL1717 in the Phase I subject population. MTD is the highest dose of AXL1717 with the lowest average per subject cases of DLT.	8 Months
Phase I - Molecular Markers of Optimum Response	To assess potential molecular markers that might predict optimum response sub-population groups	8 months
Phase I - Molecular Markers of IGF (Insulin Like Growth Factor)-1R Pathway	To evaluate surrogate molecular markers of IGF-1R pathway activation/inhibition after treatment with AXL1717 in patients with malignant astrocytomas	8 months
Phase II - Time-To-Progression (TTP) and Overall Survival (OS)	To determine time-to-progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of patients treated with AXL1717. Only overall survival for subjects is prolonged stable disease was analyzed.	4 months
Phase II - Identify Evidence of Response on Imaging	To identify surrogate imaging evidence of response on MRI sequences (especially T2- FLAIR, DWI, Perfusion MRI and multi-voxel MRS).	8 Months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Exploratory Endpoint - Determine Antitumor Effect	To assess the ability of AXL1717 to inhibit tumor proliferation as assessed by blood IGFBP-1 through IGFBP-7, growth hormone (GH) levels, C-peptide, IGF-1 (free and total), and IGF-2 levels, insulin, and analysis of tumor tissue of patients treated with AXL1717 for 5 days before surgical re-operation by examining for the IGF-1R signal transduction pathway in the resected brain tumor tissue, and correlate with outcome.	4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center
• Collaborators: Axelar AB
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert Aiken, MD, Rush University Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Andrews DW, Resnicoff M, Flanders AE, Kenyon L, Curtis M, Merli G, Baserga R, Iliakis G, Aiken RD. Results of a pilot study involving the use of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide directed against the insulin-like growth factor type I receptor in malignant astrocytomas. J Clin Oncol. 2001 Apr 15;19(8):2189-200. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2001.19.8.2189.
• Girnita A, Girnita L, del Prete F, Bartolazzi A, Larsson O, Axelson M. Cyclolignans as inhibitors of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and malignant cell growth. Cancer Res. 2004 Jan 1;64(1):236-42. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-03-2522.
• Ekman S, Frodin JE, Harmenberg J, Bergman A, Hedlund A, Dahg P, Alvfors C, Stahl B, Bergstrom S, Bergqvist M. Clinical Phase I study with an Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 receptor inhibitor: experiences in patients with squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma. Acta Oncol. 2011 Apr;50(3):441-7. doi: 10.3109/0284186X.2010.499370. Epub 2010 Aug 11.
• Yin S, Girnita A, Stromberg T, Khan Z, Andersson S, Zheng H, Ericsson C, Axelson M, Nister M, Larsson O, Ekstrom TJ, Girnita L. Targeting the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor by picropodophyllin as a treatment option for glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol. 2010 Jan;12(1):19-27. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nop008. Epub 2009 Oct 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 1, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): November 4, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: glioblastoma; gliosarcoma; anaplastic oligodendroglioma; anaplastic oligoastrocytoma; anaplastic astrocytoma; AXL1717; IGF-1 receptor inhibitor; picropodophyllin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Glioma; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Glioblastoma; Ependymoma; Astrocytoma; Gliosarcoma; Oligodendroglioma
• Other Study ID Numbers: 11090804; VABC; GCR (Other Grant/Funding Number: Voices Against Brain Cancer; Gateway for Cancer Research)