Phase I dose-escalating trial of Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase and fludarabine gene therapy for advanced solid tumors†.

Background: The use of Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) to activate fludarabine has demonstrated safety and antitumor activity during preclinical analysis and has been approved for clinical investigation. Patients and methods: A first- in- human phase I clinical trial (NCT 01310179; IND 14271) was initiated to evaluate safety and efficacy of an intratumoral injection of adenoviral vector expressing E. coli PNP in combination with intravenous fludarabine for the treatment of solid tumors. The study was designed with escalating doses of fludarabine in the first three cohorts (15, 45, and 75 mg/m2) and escalating virus in the fourth (1011 - 1012 viral particles, VP). Results: All 12 study subjects completed therapy without dose- limiting toxicity. Tumor size change from baseline to final measurement demonstrated a dose- dependent response, with 5 of 6 patients in cohorts 3 and 4 achieving significant tumor regression compared with 0 responsive subjects in cohorts 1 and 2. The overall adverse event rate was not dosedependent. Most common adverse events included pain at the viral injection site (92%), drainage/itching/burning (50%), fatigue (50%), and fever/chills/influenza- like symptoms (42%). Analysis of serum confirmed the lack of systemic exposure to fluoroadenine. Antibody response to adenovirus was detected in two patients, suggesting that neutralizing immune response is not a barrier to efficacy. Conclusions: This first- in- human clinical trial found that localized generation of fluoroadenine within tumor tissues using E. coli PNP and fludarabine is safe and effective. The pronounced effect on tumor volume after a single treatment cycle suggests that phase II studies are warranted.