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Phase 1 study of the pan-RAF inhibitor tovorafenib in patients with advanced solid tumors followed by dose expansion in patients with metastatic melanoma

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Ruth Plummer

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2023, The Author(s). Purpose: Genomic alterations of BRAF and NRAS are oncogenic drivers in malignant melanoma and other solid tumors. Tovorafenib is an investigational, oral, selective, CNS-penetrant, small molecule, type II pan‑RAF inhibitor. This first-in-human phase 1 study explored the safety and antitumor activity of tovorafenib. Methods: This two-part study in adult patients with relapsed or refractory advanced solid tumors included a dose escalation phase and a dose expansion phase including molecularly defined cohorts of patients with melanoma. Primary objectives were to evaluate the safety of tovorafenib administered once every other day (Q2D) or once weekly (QW), and to determine the maximum-tolerated and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) on these schedules. Secondary objectives included evaluation of antitumor activity and tovorafenib pharmacokinetics. Results: Tovorafenib was administered to 149 patients (Q2D n = 110, QW n = 39). The RP2D of tovorafenib was defined as 200 mg Q2D or 600 mg QW. In the dose expansion phase, 58 (73%) of 80 patients in Q2D cohorts and 9 (47%) of 19 in the QW cohort had grade ≥ 3 adverse events. The most common of these overall were anemia (14 patients, 14%) and maculo-papular rash (8 patients, 8%). Responses were seen in 10 (15%) of 68 evaluable patients in the Q2D expansion phase, including in 8 of 16 (50%) patients with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma naïve to RAF and MEK inhibitors. In the QW dose expansion phase, there were no responses in 17 evaluable patients with NRAS mutation-positive melanoma naïve to RAF and MEK inhibitors; 9 patients (53%) had a best response of stable disease. QW dose administration was associated with minimal accumulation of tovorafenib in systemic circulation in the dose range of 400–800 mg. Conclusions: The safety profile of both schedules was acceptable, with QW dosing at the RP2D of 600 mg QW preferred for future clinical studies. Antitumor activity of tovorafenib in BRAF-mutated melanoma was promising and justifies continued clinical development across multiple settings. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01425008.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Rasco DW, Medina T, Corrie P, Pavlick AC, Middleton MR, Lorigan P, Hebert C, Plummer R, Larkin J, Agarwala SS, Daud AI, Qiu J, Bozon V, Kneissl M, Barry E, Olszanski AJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology

Year: 2023

Volume: 92

Pages: 15-28

Print publication date: 01/07/2023

Online publication date: 23/05/2023

Acceptance date: 09/05/2023

Date deposited: 08/06/2023

ISSN (print): 0344-5704

ISSN (electronic): 1432-0843

Publisher: Springer Nature

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-023-04544-5

DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04544-5

PubMed id: 37219686


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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