Summary

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a well-tolerated and valuable alternative for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases (mets) who are not eligible for standard treatment such as surgery, local ablation or chemoembolization. Yet, the energy dose delivered to the tumor is limited due to potential toxicity to healthy tissues and the need to preserve liver function. Thus, achieving local control in liver cancers remains a challenge. The first-in-class radioenhancer NBTXR3 (hafnium oxide nanoparticles), administered by intratumoral (IT) injection once prior to RT treatment, augments the energy dose deposit within tumor cells when activated by RT. The result is increased tumor cell death compared to RT alone without increasing radiation exposure to surrounding tissues. Patients with HCC or mets may benefit from this new approach. Here we report on a phase I/II study evaluating NBTXR3 activated by SBRT in these patients.

Methods: In the phase I part of the study [NCT02721056], five NBTXR3 dose levels equivalent to 10, 15, 22, 33, and 42% of baseline tumor volume are tested following a traditional 3+3 design. NBTXR3 is administered by IT injection followed by SBRT (45 Gy / 3 fractions / 5-7 days or 50 Gy / 5 fractions / 15 days). Primary endpoints include determination of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) based on the incidence of the early DLTs. Secondary endpoints include the safety profile, liver disease scores evolution, and early efficacy by target lesions response rate (mRECIST/RECIST 1.1).

Results: To date, 22 patients have been treated and the 4 first dose levels are completed with 6 patients at 10% (2 SBRT doses tested due to organ constraints), 4 patients each at 15% and 22% (due to fiducial displacement and incomplete injected dose) and 3 patients at 33%. The last dose level (42%) is ongoing with 5 patients treated so far. No early DLT has been observed at any dose level. Five AEs (3 G1-2; 2 G3) related to the injection and 4 AEs related to NBTXR3 (3 G1-2; 1 G3), including 1 SAE (bile duct stenosis, also related to RT) were observed. No grade 4-5 AEs were observed. CT-scan showed no leakage of NBTXR3 into surrounding healthy tissues and SBRT safety profile was as expected. No clinically meaningful changes in CPS and APRI were observed post-treatment. In patients evaluable for efficacy, best observed target lesion responses were 5 complete response and 3 partial response in HCC patients (n=8) and, 5 partial response and 1 stable disease in liver mets patients (n=6).

Conclusions: NBTXR3 intratumoral injection is feasible and NBTXR3 demonstrates a very good safety and tolerability profile thus far. Recruitment is nearly completed at the 42% dose level. Early efficacy results highlight the potential for NBTXR3 to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with unresectable primary or metastatic liver cancer.

Summary

Background: NBTXR3, functionalized hafnium oxide nanoparticles, administered by intratumoral injection (ITI) and activated by radiotherapy (RT), such as stereotactic body RT (SBRT), increases energy deposit inside tumor cells and subsequently tumor cell death compared to RT alone, while sparing healthy tissues. This innovative approach, which does not engage liver and renal functions, might benefit patients (pts) with unresectable liver cancers.

Methods: Phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate NBTXR3 administered by ITI activated by SBRT(45 Gy / 3 fractions / 5-7 days or 50 Gy / 5 fractions / up to 15 days) in pts with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases [NCT02721056]. Phase I 3+3 dose escalation scheme with 5 NBTXR3 dose levels: 10, 15, 22, 33, and 42% of baseline tumor volume. Primary endpoints include Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) determination and early DLT incidence. Secondary endpoints include safety profile, liver disease scores evolution, and early efficacy by response rate (mRECIST/RECIST 1.1).

Results: Enrolment at all dose levels is complete, 23 pts treated: 6 pts at 10% (2 SBRT doses tested due to organ constraints), 4 pts each at 15% and 22% (due to fiducial displacement and ITI shift), 3 pts at 33% and 6 pts at 42%. No early DLT was observed at any dose level. 1 SAE (late onset G3 bile duct stenosis) related to NBTXR3 and RT occurred at 22%. No clinically meaningful changes in Child-Pugh score and APRI were observed post-treatment. There were 11 AEs related to NBTXR3 and/or ITI, of which grade 3 AEs were: 2 abdominal pain (ITI related) and 1 bile duct stenosis (NBTXR3 related) No grade 4-5 AEs were observed.
CT-scan showed NBTXR3 within tumor without leakage to healthy tissues. To date, the best observed responses assessed by MRI in target lesions from evaluable pts for HCC (n=11) were 5 CR, 5 PR, 1 SD and for metastases (n=7) 5 PR, 2 SD.

Conclusions: NBTXR3 has demonstrated a very good safety and tolerability profile in these patient populations. The RP2D has been determined to be 42% of tumor volume. Early efficacy results highlight the potential for NBTXR3 to address an unmet medical need in pts with unresectable primary or metastatic liver cancer.

Summary

Background: Treatment of unresectable liver cancer or liver metastases (mets) by stereotactic body radiotherapy is well tolerated but limited by the need to preserve liver function. Increasing energy deposition in the tumor while at the same time maintaining the dose in healthy tissue remains a major challenge in radiation oncology that could be achieved by NBTXR3 (hafnium oxide nanoparticles) when activated by radiotherapy (RT). NBTXR3 augments energy dose deposit within tumor cells, increasing tumor cell death compared to RT alone, while sparing healthy tissues. Patients (pts) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastasis (mets) may benefit from the mode of action of NBTXR3. A phase I/II clinical trial has been conducted to evaluate NBTXR3 activated by SBRT in these pts [NCT02721056].

Methods: The Phase I used a 3+3 dose escalation scheme with 5 NBTXR3 dose levels: 10, 15, 22, 33, and 42% of baseline tumor volume. NBTXR3 was administered by intratumoral injection (ITI) followed by SBRT (45 Gy / 3 fractions / 5 to 7 days or 50 Gy / 5 fractions / 15 days). Primary endpoints were identification of the recommended Phase II Dose and early DLTs. Secondary endpoints included safety profile, liver function evaluated by Child-Pugh score (CPS), AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), and early efficacy by response rate (mRECIST/RECIST 1.1).
Results: The dose escalation levels of 10, 15, 22 and 33% are completed (n = 17): 6 pts at 10% (2 SBRT doses tested due to organ constraints), 4 pts each at 15% and 22% (due to fiducial displacement and ITI shift) and 3 pts at 33%. No early DLT was observed and only one SAE (bile duct stenosis) related to NBTXR3 and RT occurred. CPS and APRI did not show clinically meaningful changes post-treatment and CT-scan showed no leakage of NBTXR3 into surrounding tissues. Best response for HCC (n = 8) were 5CR, 3PR and for mets (n = 6) the results were: 3 PR, 3SD.

Conclusions: ITI of NBTXR3 is feasible, demonstrated a very good safety and tolerability profile up to the 33% dose level. Recruitment needs to be finalized at the 42% dose level. Based on early efficacy results NBTXR3 has the potential to address an unmet medical need in pts with unresectable primary or metastatic liver cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT02721056.

Summary

Background: Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastasis (mets) is challenging due to presence of underlying disease, e.g. cirrhosis. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a well-tolerated alternative for inoperable patients (pts), yet maximal dose to the tumor is limited by potential toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues. Otherwise inert, NBTXR3 (hafnium oxide nanoparticles) when activated by ionizing radiation (RT) augments dose deposit within tumor cells, increasing tumor cell death compared to RT alone. A phase I/II clinical trial is underway to evaluate NBTXR3 activated by SBRT in pts with HCC or liver mets [NCT02721056].

Methods: A 3 þ 3 dose escalation was utilized in the phase I. Pts received a single intralesional injection (ILI) of NBTXR3 followed by SBRT (45 Gy/3 fractions/5-7 days), with tested NBTXR3 dose levels of 10, 15, 22 and 33% of baseline tumor volume. Primary endpoints included recommended phase II dose(s) identification and DLT.
Secondary endpoints included global safety profile assessment, liver function by ChildPugh score (CPS), AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), and response rate (mRECIST/RECIST v1.1).

Results: Four dose escalation levels are finalized (n ¼ 17): 6 pts at 10% (2 SBRT doses tested due to organ constraints), 4 pts at 15 and 22% (due to fiducial displacement and ILI site shift) and 3 pts at 33%. No NBTXR3 related DLTs were observed. Related AEs observed: one malaise (G2, 10%); 2 abdominal pain, (G3, 15%); one bilateral pleural effusion (G1, 22%), one bile duct stenosis (G3, 22%) with associated disease recurrence and SBRT; one fatigue (G1, 33%). There were no clinically meaningful changes to CPS or APRI and CT-scan demonstrated absence of NBTXR3 in surrounding healthy tissues. In 7 evaluable HCC pts, best mRECIST target lesion responses were: 3 CR, 4 PR. In 5 evaluable mets pts, best target lesion responses were: 2 PR, 1 SD, 2 PD.

Conclusions: NBTXR3 was well tolerated and showed preliminary anti-tumor activity, supporting a protocol amendment to evaluate an additional NBTXR3 dose level (42%). This innovative approach has the potential to address an unmet medical need in pts with unresectable primary or metastatic liver lesions.

Clinical trial identification: NCT02721056.