A multicenter phase II study of personalized FOLFIRI-cetuximab for safe dose intensification

Semin Oncol. 2017 Feb;44(1):24-33. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2017.02.007. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

Abstract

We conducted a multicenter proof of concept phase II trial in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving FOLFIRI-cetuximab regimens to explore individual drug tailoring using pharmacogenetics and pharmacokinetics (PK) monitoring. Patients were stratified by their pharmacogenetic/phenotypic status: the irinotecan dose was adjusted according to the number of TA tandem repeats in the UGT1A1 promoter, while the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dose was initially adjusted according to dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity at initial screening (5-FUODPM Tox) followed by PK-guided dose optimization (5-FUODPM Protocol). An advanced cetuximab PK/pharmacodynamics (PD) study was performed but dosage remained unchanged. Eighty-five patients receiving second-line chemotherapy were enrolled. Mean irinotecan doses at 3 months were 247 ± 50, 210 ± 53 and 140 ± 21 mg/m2 for those with 6/6 (33), 6/7 (26), and 7/7 (7) TATA repeats in the UGT1A1 promoter region, respectively. The 5-FU dose was initially reduced in four patients with DPD deficiency, but mean 5-FU dose at 3 months was 2,412 ± 364 mg/m2 (1,615-3,170 mg/m2). Grade 4 toxicities were not encountered and grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 6.8%, 5.9%, and 0% of patients with 6/6, 6/7, and 7/7 UGT1A1 genotypes. The objective response rate was 25.8% among the 85 patients, 57.3% in patients with tumors wild type (WT) for KRAS, and 25% in those whose tumor harbored a mutant-KRAS. Secondary resection of hepatic metastases was performed in 31.7% of patients. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all 85 patients was 181 days and 200, 132, and 121 days for patients with 6/6, 6/7, and 7/7 UGT1A1 genotypes, respectively; these differences were not statistically different. In parallel, a strong relationship was shown between cetuximab AUC and regimen efficacy. We conclude that personalized drug tailoring when administering in FOLFIRI + cetuximab allows for safe and efficient individual dose intensification.

Keywords: 5-Fluorouracil dose adaptation; DPD; Dihydropyrimidine deshydrogenase; Dose intensification; Irinotecan.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / adverse effects
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cetuximab / administration & dosage*
  • Cetuximab / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects
  • Genotype
  • Glucuronosyltransferase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Leucovorin / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Precision Medicine*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics

Substances

  • KRAS protein, human
  • UGT1A1 enzyme
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Cetuximab
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Camptothecin

Supplementary concepts

  • IFL protocol