Phase I Study of Rivoceranib, a Selective VEGFR-2 Angiogenesis Inhibitor, Administered Daily in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Abstract Rivoceranib is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of VEGFR-2 and subsequent angiogenesis through this receptor signaling pathway. This phase I study was the first global study with rivoceranib outside of China in Korean and Caucasian patients and was designed to determine the safety profile (including maximum tolerated dose), pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. Thirty-one adult patients with advanced malignant solid tumors were enrolled to investigate 6 dose levels of rivoceranib. Twenty-five patients were initially enrolled to 5 dose levels of rivoceranib from 81 to 685 mg and an additional 6 patients were later enrolled in a supplemental study to evaluate the 805 mg dose level. Rivoceranib was very well tolerated. At the 805 mg dose level, 2 dose-limiting toxicities were observed but the 685 mg dose was well tolerated over multiple cycles of therapy. The maximum tolerated dose for rivoceranib was 685 mg (equivalent to 850 mg rivoceranib mesylate) and recommended for further study in patients with advanced solid tumors. The most common adverse events were hypertension (all grades %/≥G3%: 58/29), nausea (42/0), diarrhea (39/0), anorexia (32/3), and fatigue (29/6). Rivoceranib pharmacokinetics were proportional across all dose levels but interpatient variability was high. Of the 31 patients enrolled, 21 were evaluable for efficacy. In this evaluable group, partial response was recorded in 5 patients, stable disease in 10, and disease progression in 6. Results indicate the potential clinical benefit of daily rivoceranib in patients with advanced malignant solid tumors with a tolerable safety profile.Trial registration: NCT01497704 (ClinicalTrials.gov) registered on December 22, 2011 and NCT02711969 (ClinicalTrials.gov) registered on March 17, 2016.