Objective: Previous Phase 1 studies have shown the acceptable safety profile of ganitumab-a fully human monoclonal antibody to insulin-like growth factor Type 1 receptor-in patients with advanced solid tumors. However, ganitumab 20 mg/kg in combination with gemcitabine had not been administered to patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of ganitumab 20 mg/kg combined with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, we conducted a Phase 1b study.
Methods: Eligible patients were adults with previously untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on Days 1, 8 and 15 plus ganitumab 20 mg/kg on Days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. Gemcitabine was administered intravenously over 30-60 min. Ganitumab was administered intravenously over 60 min after completing gemcitabine infusion.
Results: Six patients were enrolled and received the study treatment. All patients had thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Other most common adverse events were neutropenia and nausea. One patient had a dose-limiting toxicity defined as Grade 3 neutropenia with fever. Exposure to ganitumab 20 mg/kg was not affected by the administration of gemcitabine. No apparent pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction was observed. No anti-ganitumab antibodies were detected. Five patients had a measurable tumor region at baseline. Of these, four patients had a best response of stable disease.
Conclusions: Ganitumab 20 mg/kg combined with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) was tolerable and showed an acceptable safety profile in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Keywords: clinical trial Phase 1; ganitumab; gemcitabine; pancreatic neoplasms; receptor, insulin-like growth factor type 1.