Safety and efficacy of everolimus, a mTOR inhibitor, as single agent in a phase 1/2 study in patients with myelofibrosis

Blood. 2011 Aug 25;118(8):2069-76. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-01-330563. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

Abstract

In addition to dysregulated JAK/STAT signaling, activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway occurs in myelofibrosis, a myeloproliferative neoplasm with no approved therapies. We conducted a phase 1/2 study with everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, in 39 high- or intermediate-risk primary or postpolycythemia vera/postessential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis subjects. Responses were evaluated in 30 patients of phase 2. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed in phase 1 up to 10 mg/d. When this dose was used in phase 2, grade ≥ 3 toxicities were infrequent; the commonest toxicity was grade 1-2 stomatitis. Rapid and sustained splenomegaly reduction of > 50% and > 30% occurred in 20% and 44% of subjects, respectively. A total of 69% and 80% experienced complete resolution of systemic symptoms and pruritus. Response in leukocytosis, anemia, and thrombocytosis occurred in 15%-25%. Clinical responses were not associated with reduced JAK2V617F burden, circulating CD34(+) cells, or cytokine levels, whereas CCDN1 mRNA and phospho-p70S6K level, known targets of mTOR, and WT1 mRNA were identified as possible biomarkers associated with response. Response rate was 60% when European Network for Myelofibrosis criteria were used (8 major, 7 moderate, 3 minor responses) or 23% when IWG-MRT criteria (1 partial response, 6 clinical improvements) were used. These results provide proof-of-concept that targeting mTOR pathway in myelofibrosis may be clinically relevant.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Everolimus
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Polycythemia Vera / complications
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / enzymology
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / etiology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sirolimus / administration & dosage
  • Sirolimus / adverse effects
  • Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives*
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / complications
  • Treatment Outcome
  • WT1 Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • CCND1 protein, human
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Thrombopoietin
  • WT1 Proteins
  • Cyclin D1
  • MPL protein, human
  • Everolimus
  • MTOR protein, human
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus