Aurora A kinase inhibitor

Alisertib (MLN8237)

Safety and activity of alisertib, an investigational aurora kinase A inhibitor, in patients with breast cancer, small-cell lung cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma, and gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma: a five-armphase 2 study (Melichar et al. 2015). 249 patients had been treated, 53 with breast cancer, 60 with small-cell lung cancer, 26 with non-small-cell lung cancer, 55 with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma, and 55 with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Among response-assessable patients, an objective response was noted in nine (18%, 95% CI 9-32) of 49 women with breast cancer, ten (21%, 10-35) of 48 participants with small-cell lung cancer, one (4%, 022) of 23 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, four (9%, 2-21) of 45 people with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma, and four (9%, 2-20) of 47 individuals with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma; all were partial responses. Adverse events were similar across tumour types. The most frequent drug-related grade 3-4 adverse events included neutropenia (n = 107 [43%]), leukopenia (53 [21%]), and anaemia (26 [10%]). Serious drug-related adverse events were reported in 108 (43%) patients.

Src/Abl kinase inhibitor

Saracatinib (AZD0530)

Phase II study of saracatinib (AZD0530) for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (Fury et al. 2011). Nine patients were enrolled. All patients had received prior radiotherapy and six patients had received prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease. The most common adverse event was fatigue. Eight patients had progression of disease by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) within the first eight-week cycle and one patient was removed from the study after 11 days due to clinical decline with stable disease according to the RECIST criteria. Median overall survival was six months. The study was closed early due to lack of efficacy according to the early stopping rule.