title: A phase I clinical study of intratumorally administered VB4-845, an anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule recombinant fusion protein, in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: VB4-845 is a novel recombinant fusion protein that targets the epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM). This initial clinical trial was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose of intratumoral injections in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and to assess pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. Twenty-four patients with advanced, recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received two cycles of five daily intratumoral VB4-845 injections of 20, 40, 80, 130, 200, or 280 microg. The maximum tolerated dose was established to be 280 microg administered daily for 5 days. Common adverse events were pain due to intratumoral injection and reversibly elevated liver enzymes. Of the 24 patients, 15 had detectable blood levels with a mean drug half-life of 4.0 +/- 0.3 h. VB4-845 reduced or stabilized tumors in 71.4% of epithelial cell adhesion molecule-positive patients. VB4-845 intratumoral injection therapy was well tolerated and feasible.
authors.affiliation: Viventia Biotech Inc., 147 Hamelin St., Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 3Z1.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasamoelisolo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Entwistle
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cuthbert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Maureen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Spearman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Glover
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C499379:EPCAM protein, human; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C544997:VB4-845