Dual mTOR1/2 inhibitor sapanisertib (TAK-228) in combination with weekly paclitaxel in patients with previously treated metastatic urothelial carcinoma: a phase II open-label study.

Background The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is frequently altered at genomic level in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). Since mTOR is the last protein in the PI3K signaling cascade, it may have the largest impact on the pathway and has been a focus of targeted therapies. Sapanisertib (TAK-228) is an oral highly selective mTOR1 and mTOR2 inhibitor. NFE2L2 mutations have been described as predictive biomarkers of response in patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer treated with sapanisertib. Patients and methods This was an open-label, investigator-initiated phase II study evaluating safety and efficacy of sapanisertib plus paclitaxel in patients with mUC who had progressed to prior platinum therapy, and the correlation with NFE2L2 mutations in responders. Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. Patients were treated with weekly paclitaxel at dose of 80 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 in combination with sapanisertib 4 mg administered orally 3 days per week on days 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, and 23-25 of a 28-day cycle. NFE2L2 mutations were analyzed by Sanger sequencing in responders. Results 22 patients were enrolled from May 2018 to April 2020; the trial was halted early due to slow accrual and the COVID-19 pandemic. ORR was 18.2% (N=4). Disease control rate was 50% (7 SD and 4 PR). Median PFS was 3.4 months (95% CI 1.8-6.1) and median OS was 6.1 months (95% CI 1.8-13.4). Adverse events (AE) of grade 3-4 were seen in 86% of patients, but no patients discontinued treatment due to AEs. NFE2L2 mutations were not found in responders. Conclusions Although the primary endpoint was no met, sapanisertib and paclitaxel combination demonstrated clinical activity in a heavily pretreated population of mUC. This trial generates insight for future combination of sapaniserib with immunotherapy and/or antibody drug conjugates. MicroAbstract The mTOR pathway is frequently altered in UC and is crucial in regulating immune responses. This phase 2 trial investigated the role of the combination of sapanisertib (mTOR inhibitor) and paclitaxel in patients who progressed to standard therapies. 22 patients were enrolled. ORR was 18.2%. Median OS was 6.1 months (95% CI 1.8-13.4). 86% of patients had grade 3-4 adverse events (AE).