Trabectedin plus CD13-targeted tissue factor tTF-NGR against advanced relapsed or refractory soft tissue sarcoma: translational data, clinical safety and efficacy

K Kathrin Hessling C Caroline Brand C Christian Schwöppe M Mirjam Gerwing S Stefanie Pavelka A Andrew F. Berdel H Heike Hintelmann R Rainer Hamacher C Carsten Müller-Tidow G Gerlinde Egerer W Wolfgang Hartmann I Inga Grünewald L Lars H. Lindner (Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital, Munich, Germany) D Dorit Di Gioia J Judith S. Hecker S Sabine Maurer D Daniel Pink M Marius Fried S Sergio A. Zapata Bonilla A Anne-Marie Scheuble F Florian Lordick (From Bielefeld University, Medical School and University Medical Center Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Campus Hospital Lippe, Detmold, Germany (J.H.); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (T.B.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (C.S.); the Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany (P.B.); the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein–Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (B.K., T.K.); Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany (R.C.); the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (S.U.); the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (J.R.I.); the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and San Raffaele Vita-Salute Universi...) P Philipp Ivanyi M Manfred Fobker G Georg Lenz J Joachim Gerss T Torsten Kessler W Wolfgang E. Berdel C Christoph Schliemann

Abstract

Abstract Trabectedin is standard for r/r soft tissue sarcomas. tTF-NGR accumulates in tumor vasculature leading to tumor vascular occlusion and tumor infarction. Both compounds in sequence could trap trabectedin inside tumors and increase its efficacy, which then optimizes the pro-coagulatory activity of tTF-NGR. This report summarizes translational data and results of the safety run-in patient cohort of the TRABTRAP trial combining trabectedin plus tTF-NGR. A dose of trabectedin of 1.5 mg/m 2 (24 h, day 1) combined with 1.0 mg/m 2 of tTF-NGR (1 h, days 2 and 3, q day 22) represents the approx. Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and with 0.5 mg/m 2 tTF-NGR (days 2 and 3) the recommended starting dose for the randomized part of TRABTRAP. None of the 6 patients on 0.5 mg/m 2 tTF-NGR had dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Higher doses or additional days of application of tTF-NGR led to grade 3 DLT including early troponin T high sensitivity increase, a reversible non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction in one patient, and reversible thromboembolic events. Pharmacokinetics explain the difference of the MTD between the phase I study and in TRABTRAP. Experimental and clinical efficacy and tolerability of the combination between trabectedin and tTF-NGR supports the active randomized part of TRABTRAP.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published February 19, 2026
ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Scientific Reports

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2045-2322 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (28)

K

Kathrin Hessling

C

Caroline Brand

C

Christian Schwöppe

M

Mirjam Gerwing

S

Stefanie Pavelka

A

Andrew F. Berdel

H

Heike Hintelmann

R

Rainer Hamacher

C

Carsten Müller-Tidow

G

Gerlinde Egerer

W

Wolfgang Hartmann

I

Inga Grünewald

L

Lars H. Lindner

Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital, Munich, Germany

D

Dorit Di Gioia

J

Judith S. Hecker

S

Sabine Maurer

D

Daniel Pink

M

Marius Fried

S

Sergio A. Zapata Bonilla

A

Anne-Marie Scheuble

F

Florian Lordick

From Bielefeld University, Medical School and University Medical Center Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Campus Hospital Lippe, Detmold, Germany (J.H.); the Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria (T.B.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (C.S.); the Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany (P.B.); the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein–Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany (B.K., T.K.); Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany (R.C.); the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (S.U.); the Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (J.R.I.); the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and San Raffaele Vita-Salute Universi...

P

Philipp Ivanyi

M

Manfred Fobker

G

Georg Lenz

J

Joachim Gerss

T

Torsten Kessler

W

Wolfgang E. Berdel

C

Christoph Schliemann