Preclinical modeling of a phase 0 clinical trial: qualification of a pharmacodynamic assay of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in tumor biopsies of mouse xenografts.
OBJECTIVE
The National Cancer Institute has completed a first-in-human clinical pharmacodynamic trial of the targeted agent ABT-888, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, under the auspices of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Exploratory Investigational New Drug Application. Performance of the study design, needle biopsy procedure, and validated pharmacodynamic assay were evaluated in human tumor xenograft models.


METHODS
A validated ELISA was used to quantify PAR, a product of the PARP 1/2 enzyme activity. Sampling variability from tumor heterogeneity was determined by comparing PAR content in multiple tumors, and in different areas of the same tumor in a particular animal, collected under anesthesia by needle biopsy or resection before and after administration of nontoxic doses of ABT-888. The degree of PARP inhibition following single-dose treatment was evaluated in the time frame anticipated for biopsy in humans.


RESULTS
Sampling variability around the mean (approximately 50%) for untreated and vehicle-treated animals was random and due to specimen heterogeneity. PAR levels in initial and repeat tumor biopsies, separated by 1 week, were not altered by the stress induced by daily handling of the animals. A single ABT-888 dose (3 or 12.5 mg/kg) reduced intratumor PAR levels by >95%. ABT-888 (1.56-25 mg/kg) significantly decreased PAR levels at 2 h post-dosing.


CONCLUSIONS
The detailed methodologies developed for this study facilitated the design of a phase 0, first-in-human clinical trial of ABT-888 and could serve as a model for developing proof-of-principle clinical trials of molecularly targeted anticancer agents.
Kinders
Robert J
RJ
Laboratory of Human Toxicology and Pharmacology, Applied/Developmental Research Support Directorate, Science Applications International Corporation-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. kindersr@mail.nih.gov
Hollingshead
Melinda
M
Khin
Sonny
S
Rubinstein
Larry
L
Tomaszewski
Joseph E
JE
Doroshow
James H
JH
Parchment
Ralph E
RE
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008954:Models, Biological; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000032:analysis*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; C521013:veliparib; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases