Phase I studies of vorinostat with ixazomib or pazopanib imply a role of antiangiogenesis-based therapy for TP53 mutant malignancies

We performed two phase I trials of the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat combined with either the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor pazopanib (NCT01339871) or the proteasome inhibitor ixazomib (NCT02042989) in patients with metastatic TP53 mutant solid tumors. Both trials followed a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design allowing for a dose expansion cohort of up to 14 additional patients with a specific tumor type. Patients had to have a confirmed TP53 mutation to be enrolled in NCT02042989. Among patients enrolled in NCT01339871, TP53 mutation status was determined for those for whom tumor specimens were available. The results of NCT01339871 were reported previously. Common treatment-related adverse events in NCT02042989 included anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Compared with patients with metastatic TP53 hotspot mutant solid tumors who were treated with ixazomib and vorinostat (n = 59), those who were treated with pazopanib and vorinostat (n = 11) had a significantly higher rate of clinical benefit, defined as stable disease lasting ≥6 months or an objective response (3.4% vs. 45%; p < 0.001), a significantly longer median progression-free survival duration (1.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–2.3] vs. 3.5 months [95% CI, 1.7–5.2]; p = 0.002), and a longer median overall survival duration (7.3 months [95% CI, 4.8–9.8] vs. 12.7 months [95% CI, 7.1–18.3]; p = 0.24). Our two phase I trials provide preliminary evidence supporting the use of antiangiogenisis-based therapy in patients with metastatic TP53 mutant solid tumors, especially in those with metastatic sarcoma or metastatic colorectal cancer.