Lessons learned: This trial evaluating a novel plant extract, PBI-05204, did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival but did show signals of efficacy in heavily pretreated mPDA. PBI-05204 was generally well tolerated, with the most common side effects related to treatment being vomiting (23.7%), nausea (18.4%), decreased appetite (18.4%), and diarrhea (15.8%). Additional trials are needed to explore the role of PBI-05204 in cancer treatment.
Background: Survival for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDA) is dismal, and novel agents are needed. PBI-05204 is a modified supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Nerium oleander leaves. Oleandrin, the extract's major cytotoxic component, is a cardiac glycoside that has demonstrated antitumor activity in various tumor cell lines with a mechanism involving inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and through downregulation of mTOR.
Methods: A phase II, single-arm, open-label study to determine the efficacy of PBI-05204 in patients with refractory mPDA therapy was conducted. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), with the hypothesis that 50% of patients would be alive at 4.5 months. Secondary objectives included safety, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall response rate. Patients received oral PBI-05204 daily until progressive disease (PD), unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. Radiographic response was assessed every two cycles.
Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled, and 38 were analyzed. Ten patients were alive at 4.5 months (26.3%) with a median PFS of 56 days. One objective response (2.6%) was observed for 162 days. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 63.2% of patients with the most common being fatigue, vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, and diarrhea.
Conclusion: PBI-05204 did not meet its primary endpoint for OS in this study. Recent preclinical data indicate a role for PBI-05204 against glioblastoma multiforme when combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A randomized phase II trial is currently being designed.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02329717.
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