A6, a urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)-derived peptide in patients with advanced gynecologic cancer: a phase I trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to define the toxicity, maximum feasible dose (MFD), and pharmacokinetics (PK) of A6, a peptide derived from human urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), in patients with advanced gynecologic cancers, and to explore anti-tumor activity and the effects of A6 on biomarkers of the urokinase system.


METHODS
A6 was administered subcutaneously daily, and doses were escalated in cohorts of three to six subjects. Serial blood specimens were obtained for pharmacokinetics and levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).


RESULTS
Sixteen patients were enrolled and eligible for evaluation. No serious drug-related adverse events or dose-limiting toxicity occurred. A6-related toxicities were limited to grades 1 and 2 adverse effects including local injection site reactions. Five patients had stable tumor measurements for at least 4 cycles, one of whom stayed on study for 12 months. One patient had a confirmed cancer antigen (CA)-125 response (decrease in CA-125 of >50%) with stable disease on CT scan after 14 cycles and continues on study. Time to peak plasma level of A6 was 1-2 h. C(max) is proportional to dose. The half-life of A6 was approximately 2 h. Baseline biomarker levels did not predict response and trends over time did not correlate with outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
A6 given daily continuously is well tolerated at all dose levels, without any dose-limiting toxicity. Based on the preliminary activity of A6, a phase II trial is underway in ovarian cancer.
Berkenblit
Anna
A
Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Kirstein 106A, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. aberkenb@bidmc.harvard.edu
Matulonis
Ursula A
UA
Kroener
Joan F
JF
Dezube
Bruce J
BJ
Lam
Gil N
GN
Cuasay
Luceli C
LC
Brünner
Nils
N
Jones
Terence R
TR
Silverman
Michael H
MH
Gold
Michael A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; C489333:acetyl-lysyl-prolyl-seryl-seryl-prolyl-prolyl-glutamyl-glutamic acid amide