A phase 1 trial of the FACT inhibitor CBL0137 in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory solid and CNS tumors: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group study PEPN2111.

Abstract

10051 Background: CBL0137 is a novel agent that targets the FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription complex (FACT), a histone chaperone that regulates chromatin remodeling during transcription, replication, and DNA repair. CBL0137 has been shown to have anti-tumor activity in multiple preclinical models of pediatric cancer. We report the phase 1 trial of CBL0137 in children with relapsed or refractory solid tumors including central nervous system (CNS) tumors or lymphoma (NCT04870944). Methods: Patients (age 12 months to 21 years) with relapsed/refractory solid tumors, central nervous system tumors or lymphoma were eligible. In the dose escalation phase, a rolling-six design was used to evaluate CBL0137 administered intravenously (IV) once per week on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. The starting dose was 400 mg/m 2 , with escalation to the adult phase 2 dose (RP2D) of 540 mg/m 2 . The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined based on cycle 1 dose limiting toxicity (DLT) using Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (v5). Pharmacokinetics (PK) and cytokine analyses were performed during cycle 1. Seven additional patients ( < 18 years old) were accrued to a PK expansion cohort at the RP2D. Results: Sixteen patients were enrolled; 14 were evaluable for DLT assessment (12 at 400mg/m 2 [6 in dose escalation and 6 in PK expansion] and 2 at 540mg/m 2 ). The median (range) age was 10 (4-20) years. Diagnoses included high grade glioma (n = 6), osteosarcoma (n = 5), ependymoma (n = 2), neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma and Burkitt’s lymphoma (1 each). One of 12 evaluable patients treated at 400 mg/m 2 experienced a DLT: Grade 3 photosensitivity. At 540 mg/m 2 , the two evaluable patients both had fever and dose limiting Grade 3 hypotension. Non-dose limiting Grade 3-4 toxicities included anemia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hypokalemia, anorexia, photosensitivity and fever. For both dose levels, a total of 12 patients were reported to have at least one episode of Grades 1-3 fever and/or Grade 1 cytokine release syndrome (CRS). PK parameters (mean±SD) for CBL0137 (400 mg/m 2 ) were T max = 0.7 ± 0.5 h, C max = 1310 ± 417 ng/mL, and AUC 0-24h = 15300 ± 6790 h·ng/mL. Given the unexpected toxicities of fever, hypotension, and CRS, cytokine samples were collected in patients enrolled in the PK expansion cohort; all had Grade 1 CRS and significantly elevated levels of both IL-10 (adj p = 0.001) and IL-1RA (adj p < 0.001) at 24 hours vs pre-infusion. Conclusions: The RP2D and MTD of CBL0137 in children and adolescents with solid or CNS tumors is 400mg/m 2 IV weekly on Days 1 and 8 of 21-day cycles. CBL0137 leads to immune activation, with cytokine elevation and the possibility of CRS, an unexpected toxicity not previously reported in adults. A Phase 2 cohort in patients with Diffuse Midline Glioma is ongoing and includes further assessment of immune activation. Clinical trial information: NCT04870944 .