A Study of ABC294640 (Yeliva®) in the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma

Overview

About this study

ABC-108 is a single-arm Phase IIA clinical study of ABC294640 (Yeliva ®) in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In this clinical study, all participants will be receiving ABC294640. The study drug, ABC294640 is an orally available inhibitor of the enzyme sphingosine kinase-2 (SK2). SK2 is an innovative target for anti-cancer therapy because of its critical role in sphingolipid metabolism, which is known to regulate tumor cell death and proliferation. ABC294640 also inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Furthermore, in a recent Phase I trial, ABC294640 demonstrated clinical activity in CCA patients. In this study, ABC294640 will be continuously administrated orally, twice a day, in 28 day cycles, until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or voluntary withdrawal initiated by the participants or physician.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with histologically confirmed intra-hepatic, perihilar or extra-hepatic CCA.
  • Patients should not have received more than 2 prior treatment lines with systemic anti-neoplastic therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy etc.) for advanced or metastatic CCA. Previous adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant or combined chemoradiotherapy for early stage disease, are not considered as part of the 2 allowed therapy lines for the purpose of this study.
  • The tumor is unresectable and not amenable to curative therapy.
  • At least 1 measurable lesion on CT scan per RECIST 1.1.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1.
  • Life expectancy of at least 3 months.
  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • Signed, written IRB-approved informed consent.
  • A negative pregnancy test (if female).
  • Serum sodium within normal limits.
  • Acceptable liver and renal function:
    • Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (NCI-CTCAE Grade 2 baseline);
    • AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN);
    • Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 X ULN (NCI-CTCAE Grade 1 baseline);
    • Albumin > 3.0 g/dL
  • Acceptable hematologic status:
    • Absolute neutrophil count ≥1000 cells/mm^3;
    • Platelet count ≥ 75,000 (plt/mm^3) (NCI-CTCAE Grade 1 baseline);
    • Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL.
    • Acceptable blood sugar control:
      • Fasting glucose value ≤ 160 mg/dL (NCI-CTCAE Grade 1 baseline).
    • Urinalysis: No clinically significant abnormalities.
    • Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) ≤ 1.5 X ULN after correction of nutritional deficiencies that may have contributed to prolonged PT/PTT.
    • For men and women of child-producing potential, willingness to use of effective contraceptive methods during the study. If female (or female partner of male patient), was either not of childbearing potential (defined as postmenopausal for ≥ 1 year or surgically sterile [bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy]) or practicing one of the following medically acceptable methods of birth control and agreed to continue with the regimen throughout the duration of the study:
      • Oral, implantable or injectable contraceptives for 3 consecutive months before the baseline/randomization visit;
      • Total abstinence from sexual intercourse (≥ 1 complete menstrual cycle before the baseline/randomization visit);
      • Intrauterine device;
      • Double barrier method (condoms, sponge, diaphragm or vaginal ring with spermicidal jellies or cream).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • > 2 previous systemic anti-neoplastic regimens for advanced/metastatic CCA.
  • Previously having received ABC294640 or HCQ (or chloroquine) for the treatment of a malignancy.
  • New York Heart Association Class III or IV, cardiac disease, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, unstable arrhythmia, or evidence of ischemia on ECG.
  • History of psychosis or anxiety disorders.
  • Active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, requiring systemic therapy.
  • Pregnant or nursing women.
    • NOTE: If a woman became pregnant or suspects she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately.
  • Treatment with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, or investigational therapy within 28 days prior to study entry. Patients who had received any antineoplastic therapy > 28 days prior to starting treatment with ABC294640 must have recovered from the reversible effects of prior antineoplastic therapy (with the exception of alopecia and Grade 1 neuropathy).
  • Unwillingness or inability to comply with procedures required in this protocol.
  • Known infection with human immunodeficiency virus.
  • Serious nonmalignant disease (e.g., hydronephrosis, liver failure, or other conditions) that could compromise protocol objectives in the opinion of the investigator and/or the sponsor.
  • Patients who were currently receiving any other investigational agent.
  • Patients who were receiving drugs that are:
    • Sensitive substrates, or substrates with a narrow therapeutic range, for CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4 should be avoided, when possible, or used with caution because ABC294640 may either increase or decrease patients’ exposure to these drugs. In addition, P-gp and BCRP sensitive and/or narrow therapeutic range substrates for which safety cannot be readily monitored for should be avoided, when possible, or used with caution for the same reasons.
    • Moderate or strong inhibitors of CYP1A2, CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 or moderate to strong inducers of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 are prohibited
  • Patients who are taking warfarin, apixaban, argatroban or rivaroxaban.
  • If the patient is to receive HCQ, pre-existing retinopathy.
  • Known history of G-6-PD Deficiency, porphyria or psoriasis.
  • History of macular degeneration, visual field changes, retinal disease, or cataracts that would interfere with funduscopic eye examinations.
  • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to HCQ.
  • Corrected QT (QTc) interval on electrocardiogram (ECG) > 470 ms for females or > 450 ms for males, calculated using Friedericia’s formula (QTcF)
  • In cell culture, ABC294640 inhibited hERG potassium current, with a maximum inhibition of 71%. In dog studies, no ECG abnormalities were noted, nor has QTc prolongation been noted in human studies. However, due to the in vitro hERG results, treatment within seven days, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, with any medication that causes QT prolongation prior to initiation of study drug, or intention to use them throughout the study is not recommended. These medications include but not limited to: amiodarone, amitriptyline, azithromycin, citalopram dose greater than 20 mg/day, dihydroergotamine, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, ergotamine, ibutilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, quinolone, ranolazine, risperidone, sotalol and tolterodine.

Eligibility last updated 9/29/21. Questions regarding updates should be directed to the study team contact.

 

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location Status Contact

Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Amit Mahipal, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Cancer Center Clinical Trials Referral Office

(855) 776-0015

Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Daniel Ahn, D.O.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Cancer Center Clinical Trials Referral Office

(855) 776-0015

More information

Publications

  • Sphingosine kinase 2 (Sphk2) has an oncogenic role in cancer. A recently developed first-in-class Sphk2 specific inhibitor ABC294640 displays antitumor activity in many cancer models. However, the role of Sphk2 and the antitumor activity of its inhibitor ABC294640 are not known in cholangiocarcinoma. We investigated the potential of targeting Sphk2 for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. We found that Sphk2 is overexpressed in five established human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (WITT, HuCCT1, EGI-1, OZ and HuH28) and a new patient-derived cholangiocarcinoma cell line (LIV27) compared to H69 normal cholangiocytes. Inhibition of Sphk2 by ABC294640 inhibited proliferation and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that ABC294640 inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, one of the key signaling pathways regulating cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation and survival. ABC294640 also induced autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy by bafilomycin A1 or chloroquine potentiated ABC294640-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. In addition, ABC294640 in combination with sorafenib synergistically inhibited cell proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells. Strong decreases in STAT3 phosphorylation were observed in WITT and HuCCT1 cells exposed to the ABC294640 and sorafenib combination. These findings provide novel evidence that Sphk2 may be a rational therapeutic target in cholangiocarcinoma. Combinations of ABC294640 with sorafenib and/or autophagy inhibitors may provide novel strategies for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. Read More on PubMed
  • The sphingolipids ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) regulate cell signaling, proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Sphingosine kinase-1 and -2 (SK1 and SK2) phosphorylate sphingosine to form S1P, shifting the balanced activity of these lipids toward cell proliferation. We have previously reported that pharmacological inhibition of SK activity delays tumor growth in vivo. The present studies demonstrate that the SK2-selective inhibitor 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-adamantane-1-carboxylic acid (pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amide (ABC294640) induces nonapoptotic cell death that is preceded by microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 cleavage, morphological changes in lysosomes, formation of autophagosomes, and increases in acidic vesicles in A-498 kidney carcinoma cells. ABC294640 caused similar autophagic responses in PC-3 prostate and MDA-MB-231 breast adenocarcinoma cells. Simultaneous exposure of A-498 cells to ABC294640 and 3-methyladenine, an inhibitor of autophagy, switched the mechanism of toxicity to apoptosis, but decreased the potency of the SK2 inhibitor, indicating that autophagy is a major mechanism for tumor cell killing by this compound. Induction of the unfolded protein response by the proteasome inhibitor N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)leucinylleucinylleucinal Z-Leu-Leu-Leu-al (MG-132) or the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor geldanamycin synergistically increased the cytotoxicity of ABC294640 in vitro. In severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing A-498 xenografts, daily administration of ABC294640 delayed tumor growth and elevated autophagy markers, but did not increase terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells in the tumors. These data suggest that ABC294640 promotes tumor cell autophagy, which ultimately results in nonapoptotic cell death and a delay of tumor growth in vivo. Consequently, ABC294640 may effectively complement anticancer drugs that induce tumor cell apoptosis. Read More on PubMed
  • Sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes control the dynamic balance of the cellular levels of important bioactive lipids, including the apoptotic compound ceramide and the proliferative compound sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Many growth factors and inflammatory cytokines promote the cleavage of sphingomyelin and ceramide leading to rapid elevation of S1P levels through the action of sphingosine kinases (SK1 and SK2). SK1 and SK2 are overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, making these enzymes potential molecular targets for cancer therapy. We have identified an aryladamantane compound, termed ABC294640 [3-(4-chlorophenyl)-adamantane-1-carboxylic acid (pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amide], that selectively inhibits SK2 activity in vitro, acting as a competitive inhibitor with respect to sphingosine with a K(i) of 9.8 muM, and attenuates S1P formation in intact cells. In tissue culture, ABC294640 suppresses the proliferation of a broad panel of tumor cell lines, and inhibits tumor cell migration concomitant with loss of microfilaments. In vivo, ABC294640 has excellent oral bioavailability, and demonstrates a plasma clearance half-time of 4.5 h in mice. Acute and chronic toxicology studies indicate that ABC294640 induces a transient minor decrease in the hematocrit of rats and mice; however, this normalizes by 28 days of treatment. No other changes in hematology parameters, or gross or microscopic tissue pathology, result from treatment with ABC294640. Oral administration of ABC294640 to mice bearing mammary adenocarcinoma xenografts results in dose-dependent antitumor activity associated with depletion of S1P levels in the tumors and progressive tumor cell apoptosis. Therefore, this newly developed SK2 inhibitor provides an orally available drug candidate for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Read More on PubMed

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