A Phase 1 Study Of The Selective PI3Kδ Inhibitor Idelalisib (GS-1101) In Combination With Therapeutic Anti-CD20 Antibodies (Rituximab or Ofatumumab) In Patients With Relapsed Or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

PI3Kδ signaling is critical for the proliferation and survival as well as for homing and tissue retention of malignant B cells. Idelalisib is a first-in-class, targeted, highly selective, oral inhibitor of PI3Kδ that has shown considerable monotherapy activity in patients with heavily pretreated CLL.

This Phase 1 study evaluated idelalisib for relapsed/refractory CLL continuously given at 150 mg BID in combination with a total of 8 infusions of rituximab (R, 375 mg/m² weekly x 8), or a total of 12 infusions of ofatumumab (O, 300mg initial dose either on Day 1 or Day 2 relative to the first dose of idelalisib, then 1,000 mg weekly x 7, then 1,000 mg every 4 wks x 4). Pts on treatment after 48 weeks were eligible to continue idelalisib on an extension study. Clinical response was evaluated according to published criteria (Hallek 2008; Cheson 2012).

40 pts (12F/28M) with a median (range) age of 66 (43-87) years and a WHO performance status of 0 (24, 60%) or 1 (16 40%) were enrolled. 19 pts received idelalisib in combination with R, 21 with O.

Adverse disease characteristics (n, %) included Rai Stage III/IV (20, 50%), bulky lymphadenopathy (24, 60%), refractory disease (14, 35%), multiple prior therapies (median 2, range: 1-;9). Almost all patients (39, 98%) had at least 1 prior therapy containing R, and 3 of the 21 pts (14%) receiving idelalisib + O had received prior O. 63% of the pts receiving idelalisib + R, and 43% of the pts receiving idelalisib + O were refractory to R. Prior therapies also included alkylating agents (31, 78%, [bendamustine: 20, 50%]) and purine analogs (31, 78%, [fludarabine: 28, 70%]). Data available from 39 pts showed that 11 (28%) pts had evidence of del(17p) and/or TP53 mutations and 30 (75%) had unmutated IGHV.

As of May 2013, the median (range) treatment duration was 18 (0-33) months. 23 (58%) pts have completed the primary study and enrolled into the extension study. A total of 14 pts (35%) were continuing idelalisib treatment on the extension study. The most common reasons for discontinuation either from the primary or extension study were disease progression (10, 25%) and adverse events (AEs) (9, 23%). There were 6 deaths reported on study; 3 pts experienced PD before death.

Selected treatment-emergent AEs (any Grade/≥Gr 3, regardless of causality) included diarrhea (53%/10%), cough (40%/3%), pyrexia (40%/3%), dyspnea (30%/3%), fatigue (25%/0%) nausea (25%/0%), rash (20%/0%), pneumonia (18%/15%), colitis (10%/10%) and pneumonitis (10%/7.5%). Elevation of liver transaminases (TA, any Grade/≥Gr 3) was seen in 30%/10%. Of those, only 1 pt discontinued the study because of (recurrent) TA elevation.

The ORR (N=40) was 83% (33/40), with 3 CRs (8%), and a median (range) time to response of 1.9 (1.7-21.8) months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients (N=40) and duration of response (n=33) were 20 and 19 months, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) has not been reached. For the 11 pts with del(17p) and/or TP53 mutations, the response rate was 73% (8/11) and the median PFS and DOR were 19 months.

Combinations of idelalisib with therapeutic anti-CD20 antibodies such as rituximab or ofatumumab represent non-cytotoxic regimens with acceptable safety profiles and high activity resulting in durable tumor control in pts with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory CLL. Phase 3 trials evaluating the efficacy of idelalisib in combination with R or O are ongoing (NCT01539512, NCT01659021).

Furman:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Idelalisib is a PI3K-delta inhibitor currently in phase III trials for multiple hematologic malignancies. De Vos:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Leonard:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Barrientos:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Schreeder:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Flinn:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Sharman:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Boyd:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Fowler:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Rai:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Kim:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Holes:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Dansey:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Jahn:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Coutre:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding.