Treatment Overview

This phase II study will evaluate the activity of sirolimus in children and adults with NF1 and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas that have the potential to cause significant morbidity. The following disease strata will be studied:

Stratum 1: Progressive plexiform neurofibroma(s) that have the potential to cause significant morbidity. The endpoint will be time to tumor progression based on volumetric tumor measurements.

Stratum 2: Plexiform neurofibromas without documented radiographic progression at trial entry. The endpoint will be radiographic response. As of May 2009, Stratum 2 was closed to enrollment. Stratum 1 is active.

ABSTRACT/SCHEMA

Sirolimus will be provided as oral solution 1 mg/ml to allow for precise dose adjustments. The tablet and oral solution forms are clinically equivalent (2003). Sirolimus will be administered orally twice daily (approximately every 12 hours) for a 28 day course with no rest period between courses. Sirolimus should be taken by the patient consistently either with or without food. Sirolimus should NOT be taken with grapefruit juice or with other effectors of CYP3A4 (see section 4.1.7). Dietary habits around the time of sirolimus intake should be as consistent as possible throughout the study, and in particular, during those periods when samples are being taken for pharmacokinetic analyses (if applicable). Limited exposure to sunlight and wearing sunscreen is recommended while taking this drug. If you miss a dose, treatment should continue without making up the missed dose.

The starting dose will be 0.8 mg/m2 BSA per dose. Each patient's dose will be rounded to the nearest 0.1 mg (adult average 1.6 mg per dose). The BSA should be calculated based on an accurate height and weight measurement performed according to institutional guidelines, or using the following formula:

Square root of: (Height[cm] X Weight[kg]/3,600)

Dosing will be pharmacokinetically adjusted to maintain trough sirolimus levels within the target range of 10-15 ng/ml. (Appendix IV-A). The first sirolimus level will not be measured until week 2 to allow for loading to occur and to approach steady state concentrations. If patients are unable to achieve target trough sirolimus levels within 4 weeks, patients may be asked to have mini-pharmacokinetics of 3 blood draws, in addition to a trough level, in order to better estimate patient's dose. The extra trough sirolimus levels will be at: 1 hour, 3 hours, and 4-6 hours after a sirolimus dose.

Sirolimus doses will be adjusted pharmacokinetically and will account for changes in body surface area.

Dose modifications for patients who experience toxicities are outlined in Section 8.0.

Sirolimus should be re-taken if vomiting occurs within 15 minutes of taking the dose, but not if vomiting occurs more than 15 minutes after taking sirolimus. Patients or their parents/guardians will keep a diary to document the intake of each dose of sirolimus and potential side effects. The patient diary should be reviewed with the patient's family at each required clinical study evaluation. In addition, leftover study medication should be collected at each on study evaluation, and drug should be accounted for at this time (Appendix V).

A treatment course will consist of 4 weeks of therapy. For stratum 1 treatment may continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. Patients entered on stratum 2 may receive up to a maximum of 6 courses (i.e. 24 weeks) of therapy unless there is evidence of objective radiographic response, as defined in Section 13.0 (> to 20% decrease in PN volume), tumor progression, or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who experience unacceptable toxicity or disease progression will be removed from treatment with sirolimus. Patients with documented radiographic response may continue treatment with sirolimus for up to 6 treatment courses after the maximum response.

Background

• Patients with Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) have an increased risk of developing tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system, including plexiform neurofibromas (PN), which are benign nerve sheath tumors that are among the most debilitating complications of NF1. Plexiform neurofibromas appear to have the fastest growth rate in young children. There are no standard treatment options for PN other than surgery, which is often difficult due to the extensive growth and invasion of surrounding tissues.
• Mammalian Target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine kinase regulated by the phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), acts as a master switch of cellular catabolism and anabolism and controls protein translation, angiogenesis, cell motility, and proliferation.
• The NF1 tumor suppressor, neurofibromin, regulates the mTOR pathway activity, with increased mTOR activation observed in NF1-deficient cells and tumors from NF1 patients.
• Sirolimus is a macrolide antibiotic that inhibits mTOR activity, preventing phosphorylation (and activation) of p70S6K, 4E-BP1, and other proteins involved in cell motility, angiogenesis, and cell growth control.

Primary Objectives

• To determine whether the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus, administered using pharmacokinetically-guided dosing: Increases time to disease progression based on volumetric MRI measurements in children and adults with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and progressive plexiform neurofibromas (PN).

Results in objective radiographic responses based on volumetric MRI measurements in children and adults with NF1 and inoperable PN in the absence of documented radiographic progression at trial entry.

• To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of chronic sirolimus administration in this patient population.
• To characterize the pharmacokinetic profile (profile includes pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics) of sirolimus when administered to this patient population.

Eligibility

• Patients ≥ 3 years old with NF1 AND
• Inoperable, measurable, radiographically PROGRESSIVE PN that have the potential to cause significant morbidity.

OR

• Inoperable, measurable PN WITHOUT documented progression that have the potential to cause significant morbidity.

Design

• Sirolimus oral solution will be administered orally BID on a continuous dosing schedule (28 days = 1 treatment course) with pharmacokinetically-guided dosing.
• Disease status will be evaluated using volumetric MRI analysis at regular intervals.
• The plasma pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sirolimus will be evaluated, as will pharmacogenetic polymorphisms and their influence on the metabolism of sirolimus in this patient population.
• Pain reduction and quality of life outcomes will also be assessed.
• Toxicity of chronic sirolimus administered will be evaluated using physical and laboratory evaluations.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN SCHEMA

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (SCIENTIFIC AIMS)

Primary Aims

To determine whether the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus, administered orally twice daily on a continuous dosing schedule (1 course = 28 days) using pharmacokinetically-guided dosing:

Increases time to disease progression based on volumetric MRI measurements in children and young adults with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and inoperable progressive plexiform neurofibromas (PN),

To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of chronic sirolimus administration in this patient population.

To characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of sirolimus when administered to this patient population.

Secondary Aims

To evaluate quality of life during treatment with sirolimus and to assess preliminary correlations of response with quality-of-life outcomes.

To evaluate the effect of sirolimus on clinical response by reduction in pain, or improvement in function or performance scale.

Inclusion Criteria: all patients (stratum 1 and 2):

• All patients must have the clinical diagnosis of NF1 using the NIH Consensus Conference criteria.
• Six or more café-au-lait spots (greater than or equal to 0.5 cm in prepubertal subjects or greater than or equal to 1.5 cm in postpubertal subjects).
• Freckling in the axilla or groin.
• Optic glioma.
• Two or more Lisch nodules.
• A distinctive bony lesion (dysplasia of the sphenoid bone or dysplasia or thinning of long bone cortex).
• A first-degree relative with NF1.
• Patients must have plexiform neurofibroma(s) that have the potential to cause significant morbidity, such as (but not limited to) head and neck lesions that could compromise the airway or great vessels, brachial or lumbar plexus lesions that could cause nerve compression and loss of function, lesions that could result in major deformity (e.g., orbital lesions) or significant cosmetic problems, lesions of the extremity that cause limb hypertrophy or loss of function, and painful lesions. Patients with paraspinal plexiform neurofibromas will be eligible for this trial. Histologic confirmation of tumor is not necessary in the presence of consistent clinical and radiographic findings, but should be considered if malignant degeneration of a plexiform neurofibroma is clinically suspected.
• Age: Patients must be greater than or equal to 3 years of age at the time of study entry.
• Durable Power of Attorney: Adults evaluated for this study will be offered a durable power of attorney. Adults who are unable to provide informed consent will have to have a durable power of attorney in order to participate in this trial.
• Disease status: Measurable disease: Patients must have measurable plexiform neurofibroma(s) amenable to volumetric MRI analysis. For the purpose of this study, a measurable lesion will be defined as a lesion of at least 3 cm measured in one dimension.
• Performance Level: Karnofsky greater than or equal to 50% for patients > 10 years of age and Lansky greater than or equal to 50 for patients less than or equal to 10 years of age (Appendix IV). Note: Patients who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheelchair, will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of assessing the performance score.
• Prior Therapy: Patients who underwent surgery for a progressive plexiform neurofibroma will be eligible to enter the study after the surgery, provided the plexiform neurofibroma was incompletely resected and is measurable. Patients are only eligible if complete resection of a plexiform neurofibroma with acceptable morbidity is not feasible, or if a patient with surgical option refuses surgery. Patients may have been previously treated for a plexiform neurofibroma but must have fully recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to entering this study.
• a. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy: Must not have received within 4 weeks of entry onto this study.
• b. Hematopoietic growth factors: At least 7 days since the completion of therapy with a growth factor that supports platelet, red or white cell number or function.
• c. Biologic (anti-neoplastic agent): At least 14 days since the completion of therapy with a biologic agent. For agents that have known adverse events occurring beyond 14 days after administration, this period must be extended beyond the time during which adverse events are known to occur. These patients must be discussed with the Study Chair on a case-by-case basis.
• d. Investigational Drugs: Patients must not have received an investigational drug within 4 weeks.
• e. Steroids: Patients with endocrine deficiencies are allowed to receive physiologic or stress doses of steroids if necessary.
• f. CYP3A4 inhibitors: Patients may not be currently receiving strong inhibitors of CYP3A4, and may not have received these medications within 1 week of entry. These include: Macrolide Antibiotics: clarithromycin, telithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin; Gastrointestinal prokinetic agents: cisapride, metoclopramide; Antifungals: itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, clotrimazole; Calcium channel blockers: verapamil, diltiazem, nicardipine; and, Other drugs: rifampin, bromocriptine, cimetidine, danazol, cyclosporine oral solution.
• Grapefruit juice.
• g. CYP3A4 inducers: Patients must also avoid strong inducers of CYP3A4 and may not have received these medications within 1 week of entry. These include: Anticonvulsants: carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin; Antibiotics: rifabutin, rifapentine; Herbal preparations: St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum, hypericine).
• h. Enzyme inducing anticonvulsants : Patients may not be taking enzyme - inducing anticonvulsants, and may not have received these medications within 1 week of entry, as these patients may experience different drug disposition. These medications include: Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Felbamate (Felbtol), Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin (Dilantin), Primidone (Mysoline), Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), and, Herbal preparations: St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum, hypericine).
• i. XRT: Greater than or equal to 6 months from involved field radiation to index plexiform neurofibroma(s); greater than or equal to 6 weeks must have elapsed if patient has received radiation to areas outside index plexiform neurofibroma(s).
• j. Surgery: At least 2 weeks since undergoing any major surgery.
• Organ Function Requirements; Adequate Bone Marrow Function Defined as: Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC)greater than or equal to 1500/μL; Platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/μL (transfusion independent); and Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 10.0 gm/dL (may receive RBC transfusions).
• Adequate Renal Function Defined as: A serum creatinine based on age, OR a creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR greater than or equal to 70ml/min/1.73 m2
• Adequate Liver Function Defined As: Bilirubin (sum of conjugated + unconjugated) < or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, and SGPT (ALT)< or equal to 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, and Serum albumin > or equal to 2 g/dL.
• Fasting LDL Cholesterol: Patients must have a fasting LDL cholesterol of < 160 mg/dL; Patients taking a cholesterol lowering agent must be on a single medication and on a stable dose for at least 4 weeks

Specific eligibility criteria stratum 1 Disease status:

- Patients must have a progressive plexiform neurofibroma(s). Progression at the time of study entry is defined as: Presence of new plexiform neurofibromas on MRI or CT, OR A measurable increase of the plexiform neurofibroma (> or equal to 20% increase in the volume, or a > or equal to 13% increase in the product of the two longest perpendicular diameters, or a > or equal to 6% increase in the longest diameter) over the last two consecutive scans (MRI or CT), or over the time period of approximately one year prior to evaluation for this study.

Specific eligibility criteria stratum 2 Disease status:

- Radiographic disease progression as defined in Section 4.2.1 is not required for trial entry.

Exclusion Criteria:(Both Strata):

• Chronic treatment with systemic steroids or another immunosuppressive agent.
• Patients with endocrine deficiencies are allowed to receive physiologic or stress doses of steroids if necessary.
• Evidence of an active optic glioma, malignant glioma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, or other cancer requiring treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Patients not requiring treatment are eligible for this protocol.
• Dental braces or prosthesis that interfere with volumetric analysis of the neurofibroma(s).
• Other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease which could compromise participation in the study (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, severe infection, severe malnutrition, chronic liver or renal disease, active upper GI tract ulceration).
• A known history of HIV seropositivity or known immunodeficiency. HIV testing will not be required as part of this trial, unless HIV is clinically suspected.
• Impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of sirolimus (e.g. ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome or small bowel resection). A nasogastric tube (NG tube) is allowed.
• Women who are pregnant or breast feeding.
• Males or females of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method during the period they are receiving the study drug and for 3 months thereafter. Abstinence is an acceptable method of birth control. Women of childbearing potential will be given a pregnancy test within 7 days prior to administration of sirolimus and must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test.
• Patients who have received prior treatment with an mTOR inhibitor.
• History of noncompliance to medical regimens.
• Patients unwilling to or unable to comply with the protocol, or who in the opinion of the investigator may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study.
• Patients who have an uncontrolled infection.