Clinical Trial of ARQ 761 in Advanced Solid Tumors

This is an open label, dose escalation study of (-)-trans-3-(5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo \[3,2,1-ij\] quinolin-1-yl)-4(1Hindol-3-yl) pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (ARQ) 761. Drug administration regimen was designed in two parts. Part I is a single-arm, non-randomized dose-escalation study. Part II is a multi-arm, randomized dose-escalation study. It is designed to establish the clinical tolerability and MTD of ARQ 761 and a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). This is the first-in-human study with ARQ 761. Part I ARQ 761 will be administered intravenously at a starting dose of 195 mg/m2 IV once weekly. A cycle for any patient already enrolled will consist of weekly administration of ARQ 761 with cycles repeated every 4 weeks (28 days). Part II Alternate dosing regimen of ARQ 761 will be evaluated at a starting dose of 390 mg/m2. ARQ 761 will be administered intravenously at the assigned duration (2 h or 3 h) weekly, biweekly or for two consecutive weeks followed by one week of rest. Patient will be randomized to Arm A, B or C after enrollment. Depending on toxicities observed, up to seven treatment cohorts will be enrolled with dose escalation occurring by doubling (first escalation) and 40% increments thereafter. If dosing is tolerated at all levels and pharmacokinetic data suggest continued escalation is warranted, additional dose levels will be considered. Patients enrolled and assessed for dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) will be eligible for intra-patient dose escalation. Pharmacokinetic assessments will be performed on the first and the forth infusion days following the different regimen to maintain continuity among all treatment groups. Safety and tolerability of ARQ 761 will be assessed for the duration of study treatment. Evaluation of potential anti-tumor activity of ARQ 761 will be performed at regular intervals while patients remain on study. Dose escalation of ARQ 761 will proceed until the maximum tolerated dose or recommended Phase 2 dose is reached. Intra-patient escalation from lower dose levels to successfully administered dose levels will be allowed. In order for patients at lower dose levels to be eligible for dose escalation, they must tolerate therapy without experiencing any DLT. In addition, prior to escalation, a complete cohort of three patients must have completed two cycles of therapy at the higher dose level without experiencing any DLTs. Patients receiving doses of ARQ 761 may be escalated a maximum of two times to the next consecutive cohorts. Subjects will be enrolled according to a 3+3 dose escalation scheme. Treatment will be staggered such that the first patient treated at each dose level will receive his or her initial infusion at least 1 week prior to subsequent patients in the same cohort. At least 3 patients within a dose cohort must complete the first cycle of therapy prior to enrolling subjects at the next dose level.