Pfizer To Present New Clinical Data Highlighting Customized Treatment Approaches For Difficult-To-Treat Cancers

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 15 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Pfizer will present new data highlighting the company's commitment to a personalized approach to oncology clinical research, which includes the use of targeted agents in specific patient populations in several advanced and difficult-to-treat cancers. These data will be presented later this month at the 45th Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Orlando from May 29 to June 2.

"Pfizer Oncology is building upon the foundation of our marketed agents Sutent, Camptosar, and Aromasin. Our research is focused on bridging new insights into cellular targets and causative pathways with therapies designed to inhibit those processes. In this way, we hope to bring the right drug to the right patient at the right time. Presentations made at this year's ASCO meeting will demonstrate the progress that we are making towards that goal," said Dr. Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of clinical development and medical affairs for Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit.

Pfizer will present data evaluating PF-002341066 (Abstract #3509; May 30), an investigational oral medicine that is a dual inhibitor of mesenchymal epithelial transition growth factor (c-Met), a receptor commonly altered in human cancers across a variety of solid tumor types, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Results from an expansion cohort of a Phase 1 study in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), carrying ALK fusion genes, will be presented. ALK fusion genes have a unique genetic feature, including the echinoderm microtubule-associate protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK translocation. PF-002341066 is the first agent in clinical development that selectively targets this unique genetic feature present in some NSCLC patients.

Pfizer will also present data (Abstract #8072; May 30) from a Phase 2 study of figitumumab (CP-751,871), an investigational fully-human monoclonal antibody against the Insulin-like Growth Factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R), in squamous cell lung cancer, which accounts for approximately 25 to 30 percent of all NSCLC cases. The IGF-1R pathway is thought to be one of the fundamental signaling pathways that leads to uncontrolled growth and survival of tumor cells and may represent an important resistance mechanism against epidermal growth factor (EGFR) inhibitors.

Prognostic and Predictive Factors

Additional Pfizer data will focus on prognostic and predictive factors which may help identify sub-groups of patients who may be most likely to benefit from various treatments.

- Prognostic factors for overall survival among patients with first-line metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with Sutent®(sunitinib malate) (Abstract #5042; May 29)

- Diastolic blood pressure and pharmacokinetics as possible predictors of activity in mRCC patients treated with axitinib, an investigational agent (Abstract #5045; May 29)

- Phase 1b/2 study results evaluating serum markers of the IGF-1R pathway inhibition in NSCLC patients treated with figitumumab plus paclitaxel and carboplatin (Abstract #3539; May 29)

Additional Presentations of Pfizer Data

NSCLC

- Phase 1 study of axitinib plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC and other solid tumors (Abstract #3559; May 30)

- Phase 2 data examining the safety and efficacy of PF-00299804, an oral, selective, irreversible pan-HER inhibitor, in patients with advanced NSCLC who have failed at least one chemotherapy treatment and prior treatment with erlotinib (Abstract #8063; May 30)

Genitourinary Tumors

- A sub-analysis of a Phase 3 study evaluating the quality of life with Sutent versus interferon-alfa in patients with previously untreated mRCC (Abstract #6529; May 31)

- Phase 2 data evaluating Sutent plus docetaxel and prednisone in patients with previously untreated metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) (Abstract #5166; May 31)

Data on the following compounds and investigational agents will also be presented: CDX-110 (glioblastoma multiforme), Camptosar® (irinotecan HCI) (colorectal cancer), and tremelimumab (melanoma, NSCLC, RCC and advanced breast cancer).

About Sutent® (sunitinib malate)

Sutent is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after disease progression on or intolerance to imatinib mesylate and advanced / metastatic RCC.

Sutent works by blocking multiple molecular targets implicated in the growth, proliferation and spread of cancer. Two important Sutent targets, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), are expressed by many types of solid tumors and are thought to play a crucial role in angiogenesis, the process by which tumors acquire blood vessels, oxygen and nutrients needed for growth. Sutent also inhibits other targets important to tumor growth, including KIT, FLT3 and RET.

About Aromasin® (exemestane tablets)

Aromasin is the only aromatase inhibitor indicated for sequential therapy in postmenopausal women with HR positive early breast cancer after 2-3 years of tamoxifen for a total of 5 years of adjuvant therapy. The use of Aromasin in this setting is supported by the landmark IES trial. Aromasin is also indicated for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose disease has progressed following tamoxifen therapy.

About Camptosar®(irinotecan HCI injection)

Camptosar is indicated as a component of 1st line therapy in combination with 5-FU/LV for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Camptosar is also indicated for patients with mCRC whose disease has recurred or progressed following initial FU-based therapy.

Source
Pfizer