A First‐in‐Human Phase I Study of GC1118, a Novel Anti‐Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antibody, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

LESSONS LEARNED. GC1118 is a novel fully human anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody with unique binding epitopes and different ligand‐binding inhibitory activity compared with cetuximab or panitumumab. GC1118 showed promising antitumor activity, especially in patients with colorectal cancer resistant to prior EGFR antibody. Skin toxicities were more common and diarrhea was less frequent compared with other anti‐EGFR antibodies. BACKGROUND. GC1118 is a novel monoclonal antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with more potent ligand inhibition than cetuximab or panitumumab. We conducted a first‐in‐human, phase I study of GC118 in patients with refractory solid tumors. METHODS. In the dose escalation part, GC1118 was administered on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, followed by a 2‐week rest, during which dose‐limiting toxicities (DLTs) were evaluated. In the expansion part, patients were enrolled into three cohorts (Cohort 1 [C1], patients with colorectal cancer [CRC] without prior anti‐EGFR treatment; Cohort 2 [C2], patients with CRC with tumors resistant to anti‐EGFR therapy; Cohort 3 [C3], EGFR‐overexpressing gastric cancer). RESULTS. In the dose escalation part, 24 patients were treated at five dose levels: 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mg/kg. In the 5.0 mg/kg cohort, two patients experienced DLTs (skin toxicities). The maximum‐tolerated dose (MTD) was 4.0 mg/kg. Common adverse events were skin toxicities. In the expansion part, 39 patients were enrolled. In Cohort 1, stable disease (SD) was observed in 58%; in Cohort 2, partial response (PR) 17% and SD 8%; in Cohort 3, PR 8% and SD 17%. CONCLUSION. GC1118 showed promising antitumor activity and was well tolerated. Infrequent diarrhea compared with other anti‐EGFR antibodies might be advantageous for further development.