ALBERT

Description: Background: Aurora kinases represent potential targets for anticancer therapy in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. In a phase I/II study, the aurora B kinase inhibitor AZD1152 (barasertib) showed benefit (35% CR/CRi) in patients (pts) with untreated AML when given as a 7-day continuous infusion (Lowenberg B et al, Blood 2011, Kantarjian HG et al., Cancer 2013). AZD2811 nanoparticle is a novel, encapsulated slow-release inhibitor of Aurora kinase B offering several advantages compared with AZD1152, including prolonged drug release in vivo. AZD2811 nanoparticle mimics the AZD1152 7-day continuous infusion when given as a 2-hr infusion on Day 1 and 4, and resulted in increased efficacy and decreased toxicity in vivo. We report the first-in-man dose-escalation of AZD2811 nanoparticle in pts with relapsed AML/MDS or treatment-naïve patients not eligible for intensive induction therapy. The objectives were to determine the safety profile, MTD, PK, dosing schedule and preliminary efficacy of AZD2811 nanoparticle. Methods: Patients received a single 2-hour IV infusion on Day 1 and 4 of each 28-day cycle. Based on the previous experience with AZD1152 in the same patient population, the expected MTD is in a range of 1,200 mg per cycle. In the ongoing dose escalation, cohorts of 3-6 patients have been sequentially enrolled in 4 cohorts ranging from 100 mg to 600 mg per infusion on Day 1 and 4 every 28 days, i.e. from 200 mg to 1,200 mg per cycle. Patients were allowed to continue to receive AZD2811 until disease progression, tolerability, or discontinuation criteria have been met. The study uses a Bayesian adaptive design approach to dose escalation to improve the efficiency and precision of the MTD estimation compared to a traditional 3+3 design. Results: Currently, 10 pts with age ranges from 56 to 86 years have completed DLT assessment period for the first 3 cohorts. 9 patients had relapsed/refractory secondary AML/MDS after failure of hypomethylating agents and 1 patient had a relapsed, therapy-related AML. Cohort 4 (600 mg per infusion D1 and D4) is currently under evaluation. Of the 10 pts in cohorts 1-3, 7 pts discontinued due to disease progression, 1 discontinued due to subject decision/consent withdrawal, 1 discontinued due to physician decision, and 1 pt is active and ongoing. AEs assessed as related to AZD2811 that occurred in one or more patients were Grade 3/4 neutropenia/thrombocytopenia, Grade 3 anemia and Grade 1 fatigue, rash and stomatitis. Thus far, no DLTs and no fatal AEs related to AZD2811 have been observed. 2 deaths have been reported, 1 due to the underlying disease and 1 due to a Serious Adverse Event of Gr 5 Sepsis (not related to study drug). AZD2811 total blood PK appears dose proportional with a t1/2 of 30-50 hours. Conclusion: AZD2811 nanoparticle is safe and well tolerated at a dose up to 400 mg on Day 1 and 4 every 28-days. The monotherapy dose escalation is ongoing and updated results including preliminary efficacy data and supporting preclinical data will be presented. Additional dose finding and expansion cohorts of AZD2811 nanoparticle in combination with azacytidine and venetoclax are planned. Disclosures Atallah: Novartis: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Charlton:AstraZeneca: Employment. MacDonald:AstraZeneca: Employment. Young:AstraZeneca: Employment. Sainsbury:AstraZeneca: Employment. Overend:AstraZeneca: Employment. Adelman:AstraZeneca: Employment. Travers:AstraZeneca: Employment. Smith:AstraZeneca: Employment. Pease:AstraZeneca: Employment. Brugger:AstraZeneca: Employment.

Description: Background: Aurora kinases (AurK) represent potential targets for anticancer therapy in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. AurK B inhibitor AZD1152 (barasertib) showed benefit (35% CR/CRi) in patients (pts) with untreated AML when given as a 7-day continuous infusion (Lowenberg B et al, Blood 2011, Kantarjian HG et al., Cancer 2013). AZD2811NP, a nanoparticle encapsulated slow-release inhibitor of AurKB, when given as 2-4hr IV on days 1 and 4, offers a prolonged drug exposure in vivo, mimicking the AZD1152 7-day continuous IV infusion. This is an update on the first-in-man dose-escalation study of AZD2811NP in pts with relapsed/refractory AML/MDS or treatment-naïve patients (pts) not eligible for intensive induction therapy (NCT03217838). The primary objectives are to determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) and safety profile of AZD2811NP monotherapy and in combination with azacitidine. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, Biologically Effective Dose (BED), and preliminary efficacy (CR, CRi, PR, 6 month OS). Methods: Pts received a 2-hour IV infusion on Day 1 and 4 of each 28-day cycle (Cy) for doses up to 600mg, extending to a 4 h IV infusion for dosages 〉 600 mg. In the ongoing dose escalation, 3-6 pts have been sequentially enrolled in cohorts ranging from 100 mg to 800 mg per infusion (Day 1 & 4), i.e. from 200 mg to 1,600 mg per cycle in monotherapy setting, according to a modified continuous reassessment method (mCRM) dose escalation design. AZD2811NP was also combined with azacitidine (75 mg day 1 to 7 or the 5-2-2 schedule) starting at an AZD2811NP dose of 400 mg D1 and D4 every 4 weeks. Study treatment was continued until disease progression, intolerability, or when discontinuation criteria were met. Results: Currently, 30 pts have enrolled of which 29 pts (12 females and 17 males) received study treatment in 5 monotherapy cohorts and 2 azacitidine combination cohorts, with ages ranging from 53 to 85 years. Nineteen pts had relapsed/refractory AML, 9 pts had MDS and 1pt had MDS/MPN. Monotherapy cohort 5 (800 mg D1 & D4) and combination cohort 4c (600mg D1 & D4 + Azacitidine) are currently enrolling. Of the 19 pts in monotherapy cohorts 1-5, 18 pts discontinued (due to consent withdrawal [2], early disease related deaths [2], other reason [1], or completed follow up [13; 11 pts after Cy1, 2 pts after Cy2]) and 1 pt is still on therapy. Nine pts were treated in combination with azacitidine, and of these, 3 pts are still on therapy and 6 pts have discontinued AZD2811NP (due to death [1], consent withdrawal [2], or completed follow up [3; 2 pts after Cy2, 1 pt after Cy4]). Adverse events that occurred in ≥ 20% of pts were mainly myelotoxicity, nausea and fatigue. One dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) has been observed in the monotherapy arm (esophageal infection) and one DLT in the combination setting (late neutropenia recovery). Two deaths were due to the underlying disease and 1 due to a serious adverse event of Gr 5 sepsis not related to study drug. AZD2811 total and released blood PK exposure appears broadly dose proportional with a terminal t1/2 of ~ 30-50 hours. Released blood PK exposure is ~ 1% of total PK exposure. Conclusion: AZD2811NP is documented to be well tolerated at doses up to 600 mg on Day 1 & 4 every 28 days in monotherapy setting and up to 400 mg (D1 & 4) in combination with azacitidine. The monotherapy and combination therapy dose escalations are ongoing. Updated results including preliminary efficacy data will be presented. Additional dose finding and expansion cohorts of AZD2811NP in combination with venetoclax are planned. Disclosures Atallah: Pfizer: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy. Yang:AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy. Eghtedar:Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Verastem Oncology: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Borthakur:Merck: Research Funding; Oncoceutics: Research Funding; Cantargia AB: Research Funding; FTC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Argenx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Xbiotech USA: Research Funding; Arvinas: Research Funding; Polaris: Research Funding; Strategia Therapeutics: Research Funding; Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Agensys: Research Funding; Bayer Healthcare AG: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Eli Lilly and Co.: Research Funding; PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy; NKarta: Consultancy; BioLine Rx: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; BioTheryX: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncoceutics, Inc.: Research Funding. Charlton:AstraZeneca: Employment; GSK: Equity Ownership. MacDonald:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Korzeniowska:AstraZeneca: Employment. Sainsbury:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Strickland:Sarah Cannon Development Innovations: Employment. Overend:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Adelman:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fabbri:AstraZeneca: Employment. Travers:AstraZeneca: Employment. Smith:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pease:AstraZeneca: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cosaert:AstraZeneca: Employment. OffLabel Disclosure: AZD2811NP, a nanoparticle encapsulated slow-release inhibitor of Aurora Kinase B (AurKB), is an investigational agent in clinical trials for human cancers including AML/MDS.

Description: Dietary antioxidants are reported to suppress cellular expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules that recruit monocytes to the artery wall during atherosclerosis. In the present study we measured the effect of feeding apoE*3 Leiden mice or their non-transgenic (C57BL) littermates with atherogenic diets either deficient in, or supplemented with, dietary antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C and β-carotene) for 12 weeks, on serum levels of CC (JE/MCP-1) and CXC (KC) chemokines and soluble adhesion molecules (sVCAM-1, sICAM-1) and atherosclerotic lesion size. ApoE*3 Leiden mice developed gross hypercholesterolaemia, and markedly accelerated (10–20 fold;P〈 0.0001) atherogenesis, compared with non-transgenic animals. Antioxidant consumption reduced lesion area in non-transgenic, but not apoE*3 Leiden, mice. Serum sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels were significantly (P〈 0.0001) increased (sVCAM-1 up to 3.9 fold; sICAM-1 up to 2.4 fold) by 4—8 weeks in all groups, and then declined. The initial increase in the concentration of adhesion molecules was reduced by 38%— 61% (P〈 0.05) by antioxidant consumption, particularly in non-transgenic mice. By contrast, serum chemokine levels tended to increase more rapidly from baseline in apoE*3 Leiden mice, compared with non-transgenic animals, but were unaffected by dietary antioxidants. We conclude that dietary antioxidants reduce circulating soluble adhesion molecules and atherosclerosis in C57BL mice.