Background: Preclinical data have suggested a therapeutic role of JUN pathway activation in dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) tumorigenesis. Aplidin is a drug inducing apoptosis through a strong, sustained activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.
Methods: This phase II trial included patients with progressive advanced DDLPS. They received Aplidin 5 mg/m(2) days 1-15, 28-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was the 3-month nonprogression rate (PFS3) defined as the proportion of patients with nonprogressive disease at 3 months. A PFS3 of 40% considered as a reasonable objective to claim drug efficacy.
Results: Between August 2012 and May 2013, 24 patients were included. Sixteen had received prior chemotherapy. Twenty-two were assessable for efficacy. The PFS3 was 9.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-29.2]. Median progression-free and overall survivals were 1.6 months (95% CI 1.4-2.6) and 9.2 months (95% CI 6.6-). The most frequent adverse events of any grade were nausea, fatigue, anorexia, vomiting and diarrhea.
Conclusion: Aplidin did not meet the primary end point of this trial and do not deserve further investigation in DDLPS.
Clinicaltrialsgov identifier: NCT01876043.
Keywords: Aplidin; JUN; dedifferentiated liposarcoma; plitidepsin; treatment.
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