Dose-finding/phase II trial: bevacizumab, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy (BIC) in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). Antitumor effects and variations of circulating T regulatory cells (Treg)

Target Oncol. 2015 Jun;10(2):277-86. doi: 10.1007/s11523-014-0337-6. Epub 2014 Sep 19.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and toxicities of a combined regimen of bevacizumab plus immunotherapy and chemotherapy (BIC) and the circulating T regulatory cells (Treg) in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). Nephrectomized mRCC patients were enrolled into a multicenter single-arm dose-finding study with five escalated dose levels of chemotherapy with intravenous gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil associated with fixed intravenous doses of bevacizumab, subcutaneous low doses of interleukin-2, and interferon-α-2a. An expanded cohort (phase II study) was treated at the recommended dose for additional safety and efficacy information according to minimax Simon two-stage design. Blood samples for Treg were collected and evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis on cycle 1. Fifty-one patients were entered to receive one of five dose levels. Median age was 58 years (male 67 %, pretreated 49 %): 15 patients were low risk according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) criteria, while 27 and nine were respectively intermediate- and high-risk patients. More frequent grade 3 and 4 toxicities included nonfebrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and fever. Among patients evaluable for response (49), 29.5 % had partial response and 37 % stable disease. Overall median time to progression and median overall survival were 8.8 and 22.67 months, respectively. We observed a rapid increase in the percentage of Treg after immunotherapy and a reduction after bevacizumab only in patient who obtained a partial response or stable disease. The BIC was feasible, well tolerated, and shown interesting activity. Further studies are needed to explore if Treg could have a role in clinical response in mRCC treated with bevacizumab.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Bevacizumab / administration & dosage*
  • Bevacizumab / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interleukin-2 / administration & dosage
  • Italy
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / immunology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / mortality
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephrectomy
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Bevacizumab
  • Fluorouracil
  • Gemcitabine

Associated data

  • EudraCT/2005-005670-71