Results and lessons learnt from the WISTERIA phase I trial combining AZD1775 with cisplatin pre- or post-operatively in head and neck cancer

Anthony Kong, Amanda J. Kirkham, Joshua S. Savage, Rhys Mant, Siân Lax, James Good, Martin D. Forster, Joseph J. Sacco, Stephano Schipani, Kevin J. Harrington, Christina Yap, Hisham Mehanna*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Background: Pre-clinical studies suggest AZD1775, a WEE1 kinase inhibitor, potentiates the activity of various chemotherapeutic agents.

Methods: WISTERIA was a prospective, parallel two-group, open-label, dose-finding, phase I clinical trial. Eligible patients had histologically confirmed oral, laryngeal, or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, ECOG performance status 0/1, and aged ≥18-to-≤70 years. Primary outcomes were adverse events and defining recommended dose and schedule of AZD1775 in combination with cisplatin in pre-operative (Group A), or with cisplatin/radiotherapy in post-operative (Group B) patients. Dose determination was guided by a modified time-to-event continual reassessment method (mTITE-CRM).

Results: Between 30-Oct-2017 and 15-Jul-2019, nine patients were registered: Three into Group A and six into Group B. WISTERIA was closed early due to poor recruitment. Five dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were reported in four Group B patients. Seven serious adverse events were reported in four patients: One in Group A, and three in Group B. Three were related to treatment. No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Conclusions: WISTERIA did not complete its primary objectives due to poor recruitment and toxicities reported in Group B. However, use of the novel mTITE-CRM improved flexibility in reducing accrual suspension periods and should be considered for future trials in complex patient populations.

Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN76291951
Original languageEnglish
Article number6
Number of pages9
JournalBJC Reports
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Jan 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding:
This work was funded by Cancer Research UK [C19677/A20959] and AstraZeneca through Cancer Research UK’s Combinations Alliance. AZD1775 was provided free of charge by AstraZeneca. Staff at the CRCTU are supported by a core funding grant from Cancer Research UK [C22436/A25354]. WISTERIA was supported by Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMC) funding and by the ECMC Network. MDF is supported by the UCL/UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and runs early phase studies in the NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility, supported by the UCL ECMC. The trial was initiated and conducted independently by the trial investigators. The funders had no role in trial design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the report. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the trial and had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

Keywords

  • wisteria
  • clinical trial
  • head and neck cancer
  • AZD1775
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • cisplatin
  • window of opportunity study
  • wee1 inhibitor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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