Synergy of dasatinib and anti-CTLA-4. Using murine GIST mouse, it was observed that treatment with the KIT-targeted dasatinib for 7 days alone or with chronic anti-CTLA-4 alone decreased tumor volume initially; however tumors rapidly re-grew. Mice treated with KIT-targeted TKI for 7 days and chronic anti-CTLA-4 blockade showed augmentation and durability of the initial response. KITV5880+ mice received dasatinib 15mg/kg i.p. bid (Bristol Myers Squibb) on days 1 through 7, with or without anti-CTLA-5 (BioXcell.) Mice were imaged at baseline and serially during therapy using MRI and volumetric analysis was done using Image K software. Anti-CTLA-4 dosing regimen 200 microgram of clone 9H10 i.p. on day 3, then 100 microgram on day 6, 9 and 12, followed by clone 9D (100 micrograms i.p. every 3 days thereafter.)
ARTICLE ABSTRACT
Purpose: A phase Ib study of dasatinib plus ipilimumab in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and other sarcomas was performed on the basis of preclinical data demonstrating that combined KIT and CTLA-4 blockade is synergistic.Experimental Design: A standard 3 + 3 design was used to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and immune correlates of treatment. Dose escalation cohorts received ipilimumab 10 or 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, followed by maintenance every 12 weeks with escalating doses of dasatinib (70 mg daily, 100 mg daily, or 70 mg twice daily). Response was assessed by RECIST 1.1, Choi, and immune-related RECIST criteria (irRC).Results: A total of 28 patients (17 male) were enrolled. Histologic subtypes included GISTs (n = 20) and other sarcomas (n = 8.) Dasatinib 70 mg/day with ipilimumab 10 mg/kg or dasatinib 140 mg/day with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg can be safely administered. Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 gastric hemorrhage and anemia. No partial or complete responses were noted by RECIST or irRC. There were 7 of 13 partial responses in the GIST patients by Choi criteria, and 3 of 13 patients each had stable and progressive disease, respectively.Conclusions: Dasatinib and ipilimumab can be safely administered to GIST and sarcoma patients. However, dasatinib was not synergistic with ipilimumab, as there was limited clinical efficacy with the combination. This limited cohort provides prospective data that indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) suppression may potentially correlate with antitumor efficacy in GIST. Given the small cohort, it is only hypothesis generating and additional data would be required. In the era of more modern and effective checkpoint inhibitors, next steps could be consideration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors or IDO inhibitors in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 23(12); 2972–80. ©2016 AACR.