Phase 1 study of efatutazone, a novel oral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, in combination with FOLFIRI as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Background Efatutazone, a novel oral highly-selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist, has demonstrated some inhibitory effects on disease stabilization in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) enrolled in previous phase I studies. Here, we evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of efatutazone combined with FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil, levo-leucovorin, and irinotecan) as second-line chemotherapy in Japanese patients with mCRC. Methods Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were evaluated at 2 efatutazone dose levels of 0.25 and 0.50 mg (the recommended dose [RD] of efatutazone monotherapy) twice daily in combination with FOLFIRI in a 3–9 patient cohort. Furthermore, tolerability at the RD level was assessed in additional patients, up to 12 in total. Blood samples for pharmacokinetics and biomarkers and tumor samples for archival tissues were collected from all patients. Results Fifteen patients (0.25 mg, 3; 0.5 mg, 12) were enrolled. No DLTs were observed. Most patients experienced weight increase (100 %) and edema (80.0 %), which were manageable with diuretics. Common grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (93.3 %), leukopenia (46.7 %), and anemia (33.3 %). Stable disease was observed in 8 of the 14 patients evaluable for tumor response. The plasma adiponectin levels increased over time and increased dose. No clear relationship was detected between treatment efficacies and plasma levels of adiponectin as well as the expression levels of PPARγ and the retinoid X receptor in tumor tissues. Conclusions Efatutazone combined with FOLFIRI demonstrates an acceptable safety profile and evidence of disease stabilization in Japanese patients with mCRC. The RD for efatutazone monotherapy can be used in combination with FOLFIRI.