Gemcitabine plus sirolimus for relapsed and progressing osteosarcoma patients after standard chemotherapy: a multicenter, single-arm phase II trial of Spanish Group for Research on Sarcoma (GEIS).

Abstract

Background

Patients with relapsed unresectable osteosarcoma represents an unmet need, so active and safe systemic treatments are required. FAS and mTOR pathways are implicated in progressing osteosarcoma, and we had preclinical and clinical experience with a scheme that targets both pathways. Therefore, we designed a phase II trial with gemcitabine plus rapamycin, to determine the efficacy and safety, in this subset of patients.

Patients and Methods

A multicenter, single-arm phase II trial was sponsored by the Spanish Group for Research on Sarcoma (GEIS). Osteosarcoma patients, relapsed, or progressing after standard chemotherapy and unsuitable for metastasectomy received gemcitabine and rapamycin PO 5mg per day except for the same day of gemcitabine administration, and the day before. The main endpoint was 4-month progression-free survival rate (PFSR), with the assumption that rates higher than 40% would be considered as an active regimen. Translational research aimed to correlate biomarkers with the clinical outcome.

Results

Thirty-five patients were enrolled and received at least one cycle. PFSR at 4 months was 44%, and after central radiologic assessment, 2 partial responses and 14 stabilizations (48.5%) were reported from 33 evaluable patients. The most frequent grade 3-4 adverse events were: neutropenia (37%), thrombocytopenia (20%), anemia (23%) and fatigue (15%) however, only three patients had febrile neutropenia. Positive protein expression of RRM1 significantly correlated with worse PFS and overall survival (OS), while positivity of P-ERK1/2 was correlated with significant better OS.

Conclusion

Gemcitabine plus sirolimus exhibits satisfactory antitumor activity and safety in this osteosarcoma population, exceeding the prespecified 40% of 4-month PFSR. The significant correlation of biomarkers with clinical outcome encourages further prospective investigation.

from # All Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis via alkiviadis.1961 on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2hpIGH1