Using cabozantinib to treat advanced prostate cancer

Open Label Phase II Trial of Cabozantinib in Patients With Metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) and Known Amplifications or Activating Mutations in Gene Targets of Cabozantinib or Liver Metastases Who Have Received Prior Anti-Androgen Therapy

This study is testing if cabozantinib can help people with advanced prostate cancer that has spread and is resistant to hormone therapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 99 Years
• Sex: Male
• Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University (other)
• Drugs / interventions: cabozantinib, Radiation
• Locations: 4 sites (Detroit, Michigan and 3 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04631744 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase II clinical trial investigates the effects of cabozantinib in patients with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The study involves a single-arm, open-label design with 30 participants who are molecularly selected based on specific tumor alterations or liver metastases. Patients will receive continuous treatment until they experience disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Additionally, tissue biopsies will be performed to explore the mechanisms of cabozantinib's anti-tumor action and identify potential markers of response.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men over 18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer and specific molecular alterations or liver metastases.

Not a fit: Patients whose prostate cancer is not metastatic or those without the required molecular alterations may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for patients with advanced prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated potential effectiveness of cabozantinib in similar patient populations, but this specific approach is still being evaluated.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age \>18 years.
2. Documented histological or cytological diagnosis of prostate carcinoma.
3. Evidence of metastatic PC on imaging (bone scan and/or CT/MRI scan)

   - Patients with liver metastases must have biopsy proven evidence of metastatic prostate cancer in the liver.
4. Agree to undergo a biopsy of at least one metastatic site or primary prostate prior to beginning therapy. Adequate archival metastatic tissue can be used if available in lieu of a biopsy if done when patient had CRPC and within 6 months of the start of treatment.
5. Agree to undergo a biopsy of at least one metastatic site or primary prostate after 3 weeks of therapy (biopsy must be between day 21 and day 24 of treatment). Re-biopsy of same pre-treatment biopsy soft tissue site especially liver metastases is preferred.
6. Serum testosterone level less than 50 ng/dl. Subjects without prior orchiectomy must be currently taking and willing to continue luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue (agonist or antagonist) therapy until permanent discontinuation of study treatment.
7. Documented progressive metastatic CRPC based on at least one of the following criteria:

   * PSA progression according to Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 (PCWG3) criteria
   * Objective radiographic progression, according to PCWG3 criteria
8. ECOG performance status of 0-1
9. Recovery to baseline or ≤ Grade 1 CTCAE v4 from toxicities related to any prior treatments, unless specified below or AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy.
10. Adequate organ and marrow function, based upon meeting all of the following laboratory criteria within 14 days before first dose of study treatment:

    * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500/mm\^3 (≥ 1.5 GI/L) without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support
    * White blood cell count ≥ 2500/mm\^3 (≥ 2.5 GI/L)
    * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 (≥ 100 GI/L) without transfusion
    * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (≥ 90 g/L)
    * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (for subjects with Gilbert's disease ≤ 3 x ULN)
    * Serum albumin ≥ 2.8 g/dl
    * Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 x ULN or calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min (≥ 0.5 mL/sec) using the Cockcroft-Gault equation:
    * If urine dipstick is positive, then: Urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≤ 1 mg/mg (≤ 113.2 mg/mmol)
11. Patients without liver metastases must have evidence of amplification or activating mutation of selected targets of cabozantinib (including MET, KIT, RET, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, FLT3, AXL, TRKB, or TIE2) by at least one of the following:

    * DNA sequencing of metastatic tumor biopsy specimen or cfDNA test
    * RNA sequencing of metastatic tumor biopsy specimen
    * Commercial cell-free DNA assay
    * Overexpression by IHC on metastatic tumor biopsy specimen
12. Sexually active fertile subjects and their partners must agree to use medically accepted methods of contraception (e.g., barrier methods, including male condom, female condom, or diaphragm with spermicidal gel) during the course of the study and for 4 months after the last dose of study treatment
13. Capable of understanding and complying with the protocol requirements and must have signed the informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria

1. Prior treatment with cabozantinib
2. Receipt of any type of small molecule kinase inhibitor (including investigational kinase inhibitor) within 2 weeks before first dose of study treatment.
3. Receipt of any type of cytotoxic, biologic or other systemic anticancer therapy (including investigational) except agents to maintain castrate status within 4 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Antiresportive bone agents are also allowed.
4. Subject has received abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide within 2 weeks before enrollment.
5. Radiation therapy for bone metastasis within 2 weeks, any other radiation therapy within 4 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Systemic treatment with radionuclides within 6 weeks before the first dose of study treatment. Subjects with clinically relevant ongoing complications from prior radiation therapy are not eligible.
6. Known brain metastases or cranial epidural disease unless adequately treated with radiotherapy and/or surgery (including radiosurgery) and stable for at least 4 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment after radiotherapy or at least 4 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment after major surgery (e.g., removal or biopsy of brain metastasis). Subjects must have complete wound healing from major surgery or minor surgery before first dose of study treatment. Eligible subjects must be neurologically asymptomatic and without corticosteroid treatment for neurological indications at the time of first dose of study treatment.
7. Concomitant anticoagulation with coumarin agents (e.g., warfarin), direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g., dabigatran), direct factor Xa inhibitor betrixaban, or platelet inhibitors (e.g., clopidogrel). Allowed anticoagulants are the following:

   * Prophylactic use of low-dose aspirin for cardio-protection (per local applicable guidelines) and low-dose low molecular weight heparins (LMWH).
   * Therapeutic doses of LMWH or anticoagulation with direct factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, edoxaban, or apixaban in subjects without known brain metastases who are on a stable dose of the anticoagulant for at least 1 week before first dose of study treatment without clinically significant hemorrhagic complications from the anticoagulation regimen or the tumor.
8. The subject has prothrombin time (PT)/INR or partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test ≥ 1.3 x the laboratory ULN within 14 days before the first dose of study treatment.
9. The subject has uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions:

   * Cardiovascular disorders:

     * Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4, unstable angina pectoris, serious cardiac arrhythmias.
     * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained blood pressure (BP) \>140 mm Hg systolic or \>90 mm Hg diastolic despite optimal antihypertensive treatment.
     * Stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction (MI), or other ischemic event, or thromboembolic event (e.g. deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) within 6 months before first dose.
   * Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including those associated with a high risk of perforation or fistula formation:

     * The subject has evidence of tumor invading the GI tract, active peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease), diverticulitis, cholecystitis, symptomatic cholangitis or appendicitis, acute pancreatitis, acute obstruction of the pancreatic duct or common bile duct, or gastric outlet obstruction.
     * Abdominal fistula, GI perforation, bowel obstruction, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months before first dose.

   Note: Complete healing of an intra-abdominal abscess must be confirmed before first dose.
   * Clinically significant hematuria, hematemesis, or hemoptysis of \> 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of red blood, or other history of significant bleeding (e.g., pulmonary hemorrhage) within 12 weeks before first dose.
   * Cavitating pulmonary lesion(s) or known endotracheal or endobronchial disease manifestation.
   * Lesions invading or encasing any major blood vessels. Subjects with lesions invading the intrahepatic vasculature, including portal vein, hepatic vein, and hepatic artery, are eligible.
   * Other clinically significant disorders that would preclude safe study participation.

     * Serious non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture.
     * Uncompensated/symptomatic hypothyroidism.
     * Moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C).
10. Major surgery (e.g., GI surgery, removal or biopsy of brain metastasis) within 8 weeks before first dose of study treatment. Complete wound healing from major surgery must have occurred 1 month before first dose and from minor surgery (e.g. simple excision, tooth extraction) at least 10 days before first dose. Subjects with clinically relevant ongoing complications from prior surgery are not eligible.
11. Corrected QT interval calculated by the Fridericia formula (QTcF) \> 500 ms per electrocardiogram (ECG) within 28 days before first dose of study treatment \[add reference for Fridericia formula\].

    Note: If a single ECG shows a QTcF with an absolute value \> 500 ms, two additional ECGs at intervals of approximately 3 min must be performed within 30 min after the initial ECG, and the average of these three consecutive results for QTcF will be used to determine eligibility.
12. Inability to swallow tablets.
13. Previously identified allergy or hypersensitivity to components of the study treatment formulations.
14. Diagnosis of another malignancy within 2 years before first dose of study treatment, except for superficial skin cancers, or localized, low-grade tumors deemed cured and not treated with systemic therapy.

Molecular Eligibility

To be eligible, a patient's tumor must have evidence of gene amplification, an activating mutation, or overexpression of one of the following genes: MET, KIT, RET, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, FLT3, AXL, TRKB, or TIE2. Eligibility can be met via the following diagnostic tests:

1. DNA sequencing of a metastatic tumor biopsy specimen showing gene amplification or activating mutation using a CLIA-certified assay. Tumor tissue samples must have been collected within 6 months of enrollment.
2. Protein overexpression in a metastatic tumor biopsy specimen determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) showing 2+ or 3+ protein expression using a CLIA-certified assay.These include common in-house KIT and commercial reference labs for panTRK (e.g. NeoGenomics) and cMET (e.g. NeoGenomics, Caris, Mayo Clinic).
3. CLIA-certified commercial cell free DNA assay reporting gene amplification or activating mutation within 3 months of enrollment.

   * For the Guardant360 Liquid Biopsy amplification must be at least (++) or (+++) for to meet eligibility.
   * For the FoundationOneLiquid assay, amplification will be eligible. Reports that have an "equivocal" or "subclonal" designation will not be eligible.
4. Any non-CLIA certified assay such as RNA expression profiling of a metastatic tumor biopsy specimen showing overexpression must be confirmed by a CLIA-certified assay (i.e., immunohistochemistry showing 2+ or 3+ protein expression)

Patients who do not meet molecular eligibility criteria will be allowed to enroll if they have liver metastases that meet RECIST criteria for measurable disease. Patients with prostate adenocarcinoma or Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) will be allowed to enroll.

Where this trial is running

Detroit, Michigan and 3 other locations

• Karmanos Cancer Institute — Detroit, Michigan, United States (RECRUITING)
• Columbia University Irving Medical Center — New York, New York, United States (RECRUITING)
• Weill Cornell Medicine — New York, New York, United States (RECRUITING)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: David M Nanus, MD — Weill Medical College of Cornell University
• Study coordinator: GUONC Research Team

Conditions: Prostate Cancer