A phase I study of farletuzumab, a humanized anti-folate receptor α monoclonal antibody, in patients with solid tumors

Invest New Drugs. 2015 Apr;33(2):332-40. doi: 10.1007/s10637-014-0180-8. Epub 2014 Nov 9.

Abstract

Farletuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against folate receptor α (FRA). The purpose of the study is to assess safety and tolerability, the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and preliminary antitumor effect. Patients with ovarian cancer (OC) or FRA-expressing solid tumors who are resistant to standard treatments were eligible for the study. After single-dose administration for PK assessment, farletuzumab was administered by intravenous injection, repeating every week until disease progression. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined as grade 4 hematological and grade 3/4 nonhematological toxicities. Dose escalation was planned in 4 cohorts (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/m(2)). Fourteen patients with OC and two patients with gastric cancer (GC) received farletuzumab infusion. Neither DLTs nor grade 3/4 toxicities were reported in all cohorts. Major adverse events, including grade 1/2 infusion related reaction (15 patients, 93.8%), headache (seven patients, 43.8%), and nausea and decreased appetite (five patients each, 31.3%), were observed and medically managed. AUC and Cmax increased dose-dependently and linear PK profiles were observed. No tumor shrinkage was recorded, but long-term disease stabilization for 25 and 20 months was observed in one patient with clear cell OC (100 mg/m(2)) and one patient with GC (400 mg/m(2)), respectively. No cumulative toxicity occurred in any patient. Farletuzumab was well tolerated in Japanese patients with a similar PK profile as compared with the US population. Long-term disease stabilization was observed in a subpopulation of clear cell OC and GC; both of them were resistant and progressive after standard chemotherapies (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01049061).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Asian People
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Folate Receptor 1 / biosynthesis*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Folate Receptor 1
  • farletuzumab

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01049061