The Combination Of Palbociclib Plus Bortezomib Is Safe and Active In Patients With Previously Treated Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Final Results Of a Phase I Trial

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is characterized by cell cycle dysregulation due to cyclin D1 and CDK4 overexpression. Palbociclib (PD 0332991) is an orally bioavailable, specific, reversible inhibitor of CDK4/6 that induces prolonged early G1 arrest (pG1) in MCL cells and durable remissions in patients with MCL. Moreover, we have evidence that palbociclib-induced pG1 sensitizes MCL cells to killing by bortezomib and that sensitization is amplified upon withdrawal of palbociclib, when MCL cells synchronously enter S phase (pG1-S). Targeting CDK4 in combination with bortezomib, therefore, is a rational and novel therapeutic combination. We report the final results of a phase I trial of palbociclib plus bortezomib in patients with previously treated MCL.

Adults with previously treated MCL and adequate bone marrow and organ function were received palbociclib orally at doses of 75 mg (dose level 1), 100 mg (dose level 2), or 125 mg (dose levels 3 and 4) for 12 days. Bortezomib was administered by IV or SC injection at 1 mg/m² (dose levels 1-3) or 1.3 mg/m² (dose level 4) on days 8, 11, 15, and 18 of each 21-day cycle. Subjects underwent core needle biopsies of tumor tissue pre-treatment, on day 8 (in pG1) and on day 21 (in pG1-S phase) of cycle 1. Subjects were restaged following cycles 2, 5, and 8 and then every 4 cycles. Subjects could remain on the study regimen until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Dose levels were escalated according to the standard 3+3 schema. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as treatment-related grade 3-4 toxicity occurring during cycle 1 or a delay in cycle 2 of > 1 week due to treatment-related grade 4 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. The primary objective was to estimate the maximum tolerated dose of the combination. Secondary objectives included response rate, duration of response, and evaluation of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles at multiple time points and across all dose levels.

Nineteen subjects were enrolled: 6 in dose level 1, 3 in dose level 2, 7 in dose level 3, and 3 in dose level 4. The median age was 64 years (range 42-81). The median number of prior therapies was 3 (range 1-7). The number of subjects with low, intermediate, and high-risk MIPI scores was 6, 11, and 2, respectively. Two subjects experienced DLT: thrombocytopenia (level 1), neutropenia (level 3). Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity included neutropenia (63%), thrombocytopenia (53%), lymphopenia (32%), and anemia (11%). Treatment-related grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicity included zoster (1). Grade 1-2 toxicities occurring in >2 pt included: fatigue (47%), pain (42%), bleeding/bruising (37%), increased creatinine (26%), constipation (26%), rash (21%), nausea/vomiting (21%), sensory neuropathy (21%), dyspnea (21%), hypoalbuminemia (16%), cough (16%), edema (16%), infection (16%), increased AST (16%), hypocalcemia (16%), increased alk phos (16%). Reasons for ultimately stopping treatment include: progression (9), toxicity (6), and non-compliance (1). All 3 patients at dose level 4 required dose delays/reductions during cycle 2 due to toxicity. There appeared to be an association with dose of palbociclib and response, with one responder at each of dose levels 1 and 2, and 4 patients remaining free from progression for 1 year at dose level 3, including one complete response. Only one responding patient progressed on therapy. All patients with serial biopsies achieved pG1 on day 8, with reduction in CDK4/CDK6-specific Rb phosphorylation and Ki67 by immunohistochemistry. The primary MCL tumor cells express cell cycle genes scheduled for early G1 such as cyclin D1 and CDK4, but not genes programmed for other phases of the cell cycle such MKi67, E3F3, CDK1, CCNA2, as determined by RNA-seq.

Daily palbociclib 125 mg for 12 days can be safely combined with bortezomib 1 mg/m² twice weekly, while higher doses were limited by myelosuppression. The combination induced durable responses in some patients. Palbociclib induced pG1, even at the lowest dose. However, the initial cell cycle control by palbociclib did not predict clinical response. Rather, pG1 appears to induce an imbalance in gene expression that is associated with response to the combination of palbociclib plus bortezomib. Strategies to control the cell cycle and dissect the underpinning mechanisms appear promising in MCL and warrant further evaluation.

Martin:Teva: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Ruan:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Leonard:Millennium: Consultancy.