Pexidartinib hydrochloride

Pexidartinib versus placebo for advanced tenosynovial giant cell tumour (ENLIVEN): a randomised phase 3 trial

Background: Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT), a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm, overexpresses colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1). Surgery is standard with no approved systemic therapy. We aimed to evaluate pexidartinib, a CSF1 receptor inhibitor, in patients with TGCT to provide them with a viable systemic treatment option, especially in cases that are not amenable to surgical resection. Methods: This phase 3 randomised trial had two parts. Part one was a double-blind study in which patients with symptomatic, advanced TGCT for whom surgery was not recommended were randomly assigned via an integrated web response system (1:1) to the pexidartinib or placebo group. Individuals in the pexidartinib group received a loading dose of 1000 mg pexidartinib per day orally (400 mg morning; 600 mg evening) for the first 2 weeks, followed by 800 mg per day (400 mg twice a day) for 22 weeks. Part two was an open-label study of pexidartinib for all patients. The primary endpoint, assessed in all intention-to-treat patients, was overall response at week 25, and was centrally reviewed by RECIST, version 1.1. Safety was analysed in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02371369. Findings: Between May 11, 2015, and Sept 30, 2016, of 174 patients assessed for eligibility, 120 patients were randomly assigned to, and received, pexidartinib (n=61) or placebo (n=59). There were 11 dropouts in the placebo group and nine in the pexidartinib group. Emergence of mixed or cholestatic hepatotoxicity caused the data monitoring committee to stop enrolment six patients short of target. The proportion of patients who achieved overall response was higher for pexidartinib than placebo at week 25 by RECIST (24 [39%] of 61 vs none of 59; absolute difference 39% [95% CI 27-53]; p<0·0001). Serious adverse events occurred in eight (13%) of 61 patients in the pexidartinib group and one (2%) of 59 patients in the placebo group. Hair colour changes (67%), fatigue (54%), aspartate aminotransferase increase (39%), nausea (38%), alanine aminotransferase increase (28%), and dysgeusia (25%) were the most frequent pexidartinib-associated adverse events. Three patients given pexidartinib had aminotransferase elevations three or more times the upper limit of normal with total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase two or more times the upper limit of normal indicative of mixed or cholestatic hepatotoxicity, one lasting 7 months and confirmed by biopsy. Interpretation: Pexidartinib is the first systemic therapy to show a robust tumour response in TGCT with improved patient symptoms and functional outcomes; mixed or cholestatic hepatotoxicity is an identified risk. Pexidartinib could be considered as a potential treatment for TGCT associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations in cases not amenable to improvement with surgery. Funding: Daiichi Sankyo.

CSF1/CSF1R Signaling Inhibitor Pexidartinib (PLX3397) Reprograms Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Stimulates T-cell Infiltration in the Sarcoma Microenvironment

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) is a primary regulator of the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of monocyte/macrophage that sustains the protumorigenic functions of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Considering current advances in understanding the role of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment, targeting the components of the sarcoma microenvironment, such as TAMs, is a viable strategy. Here, we investigated the effect of PLX3397 (pexidartinib) as a potent inhibitor of the CSF1 receptor (CSF1R). PLX3397 was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat tenosynovial giant cell tumor and reprogram TAMs whose infiltration correlates with unfavorable prognosis of sarcomas. First, we confirmed by cytokine arrays of tumor-conditioned media (TCM) that cytokines including CSF1 are secreted from LM8 osteosarcoma cells and NFSa fibrosarcoma cells. The TCM, like CSF1, stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), polarized BMDMs toward an M2 (TAM-like) phenotype, and strikingly promoted BMDM chemotaxis. In vitro administration of PLX3397 suppressed pERK1/2 stimulation by CSF1 or TCM, and reduced M2 polarization, survival, and chemotaxis in BMDMs. Systemic administration of PLX3397 to the osteosarcoma orthotopic xenograft model significantly suppressed the primary tumor growth and lung metastasis, and thus improved metastasis-free survival. PLX3397 treatment concurrently depleted TAMs and FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells and, surprisingly, enhanced infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells into the microenvironments of both primary and metastatic osteosarcoma sites. Our preclinical results show that PLX3397 has strong macrophage- and T-cell-modulating effects that may translate into cancer immunotherapy for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas.

Pexidartinib

No information is available on the clinical use of pexidartinib during breastfeeding. Because pexidartinib is over 99% bound to plasma proteins, the amount in milk is likely to be low. However, the manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during pexidartinib therapy and for 1 week after the last dose.

Pexidartinib

Pexidartinib is an orally available small molecule multi-kinase inhibitor that is used as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumors. Pexidartinib is associated with a high rates of serum aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase elevations during therapy and has been implicated in several cases of clinically apparent liver injury marked by progressive intrahepatic bile duct injury, some of which resulted in liver transplantation or were fatal.

Pexidartinib: First Approval

Pexidartinib (TURALIO?) is an orally administered small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with selective activity against the colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) receptor, KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 harboring an internal tandem duplication mutation (FLT3-ITD). In August 2019, the US FDA approved pexidartinib capsules for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations and not amenable to improvement with surgery. This approval was based on positive results from the phase III ENLIVEN trial. Pexidartinib is being investigated in various malignancies as monotherapy or combination therapy. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of pexidartinib leading to its first approval for TGCT.