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Phase I dose escalation studies in Oncology: a call for on-study safety and flexibility

Phase I dose escalation studies in Oncology: a call for on-study safety and flexibility. Bill Mietlowski, Biometrics and Data Management, Novartis Oncology KOL Adaptive Design seminar July 8, 2011. Outline of Presentation 2. Challenges of Phase I setting in Oncology Design requirements

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Phase I dose escalation studies in Oncology: a call for on-study safety and flexibility

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  1. Phase I dose escalation studies in Oncology: a call for on-study safety and flexibility Bill Mietlowski, Biometrics and Data Management, Novartis Oncology KOL Adaptive Design seminar July 8, 2011

  2. Outline of Presentation 2 Challenges of Phase I setting in Oncology Design requirements Proposed designs: algorithmic (e.g. 3+3) and continual reassessment method (CRM) vs. design requirements Novartis Oncology standard: Bayesian logistic regression with escalation for overdose control to determine potentially unsafe doses Protocols and dose escalation teleconferences to choose among the potentially safe doses Conclusions

  3. Dose escalation setting in Oncology 3 Primary objective: Estimate maximum tolerable dose (MTD) based on acceptable rate of dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) Assume true DLT rate at MTD is in (0.16, 0.33) Generally small number of patients resistant/refractory to other therapies : often 15 to 30 Adaptive setting: dose escalations depend on DLT data One dose (often MTD) usually selected for dose expansion Large uncertainty during and at the end of the trial

  4. Challenges and Design Requirements for Oncology Phase I Trials 4 * Joffe and Miller 2006 JCO ** acceptable: less than or equal to the MTD determined on study

  5. MTD Targeting and Safety 5 Statisticians have taken great care to show operating characteristics of designs under different dose response shapes (steep, shallow, etc.) Show likelihood of finding true MTD, underdosing, overdosing, etc. However, published on-study safety characteristics very important to clinicians and regulators Number of patients exposed to excessively toxic doses in actual trials a concern Need to do extensive data scenario testing (performance of modelunder explicit occurrences, e.g. x DLTs in 3 patients at 1st cohort)as well as long-run simulations

  6. Heterogeneity in Cancer Trials 6 There is often substantial heterogeneity in cancer trials Rogatko et al (2004) show patient characteristics can compete with dose with regard to adverse events. There can be marked treatment x marker interaction in terms of efficacy (e.g. cetuximab and panitumumab in KRAS wild-type vs. KRAS mutated colorectal cancer) (Amado et al (2008)) Predictive biomarker may require early diagnostic development

  7. Impact of Dose Chosen for Expansion 7 Dose selected for dose expansion generally becomes the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) If MTD underestimated, so is RP2D. If MTD overestimated, RP2D may be overestimated and MTD must be re-estimated if toxicity issues emerge May choose dose lower than cycle 1 MTD as RP2D based on available clinical data Carefully choose the RP2D during dose escalation May need to enrich at safe and active doses near MTD (flexible cohort sizes)

  8. Flexible cohort sizes may be useful when: 8 PK is erratic, dose proportionality is questionable > linear or < linear High potential for chronic (long term) toxicity Need ample evaluable patients for later cycles at dose cohort Enrich to understand degree of activity More patients in Phase II population More patients with tumor samples If predictive biomarker is a concern (e.g. need n=8 patients in a cohort to have 90% likelihood of at least 1 marker + and at least 1 marker – patient if prob (marker +) =0.25)

  9. Efficient use of available information – prior 9 Prior DLT information from previous Phase I studies may be available for New Phase I study for that agent New Phase Ib combination trial Prior information about DLTs from one schedule may be available for new schedule of the same agent Proposed DE design should efficiently use available prior information

  10. Efficient use of available information – emerging 10 Sometimes, multiple schedules or both single agents and combos are studied in parallel (but perhaps staggered) in the same DE trial Should exploit structural information if possible DLTs on MWF schedule Increased likelihood of DLT for daily dosing at the same dose DLTs on single agent  Increased likelihood of DLT for combination at the same single agent dose Proposed DE design should efficiently use this emerging information

  11. Approaches/Designs 11Model-based designs have advantages over algorithmic designs • Two main approaches • Algorithmic: fixed “data-only rules”, e.g. “3+3” • Model-based: statistical  accounts for uncertainty of true DLT rates

  12. Traditional 3+3 design 12 New cohort at a new dose level: Enroll 3 patients DLT =0/3 DLT =1/3 DLT >1/3 Go to next higher dose level orsame dose if highest dose level Enroll 3 additional pts at the same dose level Go to next lower dose level or declare MTD at next lower dose level if 6 pts already tested(never re-escalate) DLT =1/6 DLT >1/6 Go to next higher untested dose level or declare MTD otherwise Go to next lower dose level or declare MTD at next lower dose level if 6 pts already tested(never re-escalate)

  13. Published performance of 3+3 design 13 • Low probability of selecting true MTD (e.g. Thall and Lee. 2003) • High variability in MTD estimates (Goodman et al. 1995) • Poor targeting of MTD on study: • Low MTD: Can assign toxic doses to relatively large number of patients (Rogatko et al. 2007) • High MTD: Tends to declare MTD at dose levels below the true MTD • Behavior depends on number of cohorts before MTD – too many leads to underdosing, too few leads to overdosing (Chen et al. 2009) Alternative approach needed to meet Oncology study design requirements

  14. Case Report with Model Based Design 14 Are model-based designs too aggressive? Example: Muleret al. (JCO 2004) • Continual Reassessment Method (CRM) • One-parameter model was used. • MTD recommendation from CRM: 50mg! • Indeed an aggressive recommendation. • Poor model fit and ignores uncertainty about DLT rate • Is it justified? No!

  15. CRM analysis for Muler et al 15

  16. Our standard dose escalation design 16 • Bayesian logistic regression with escalation with overdose control (EWOC) (since 2004) (Neuenschwander et al 2008 SIM) • Three key intervals: • Underdosing → Pr (true DLT rate < 0.16) • Targeted toxicity → Pr (true DLT rate is in (0.16, 0.33)) • Overdosing→ Pr (true DLT rate >0.33) • EWOC criteria mandates that posterior probability of overdosing <0.25.

  17. BLR-EWOC applied to Muler et al data 17

  18. Priors 18Typical priors represent different types of information • Bivariate normal prior for (log(),log())  prior for DLT rates p1,p2,… Uninformative Prior • wide 95%-intervals • (default prior) • Historical Prior • Data from historical trials (discounted due to between-trial variation!) • Mixture Prior • Different prior information (pre-clinical variation) • different prior weights

  19. Clinically driven, statistically supported decisions HistoricalData (prior info) Decisions Dose Escalation Decision DLT rates p1, p2,...,pMTD,... (uncertainty!) Dose recommen-dations Trial Data 0/3,0/3,1/3,... Clinical Expertise Model based dose-DLTrelationship Responsible: Statistician Responsible: Investigators/Clinician Informing: Clinician (Prior, DLT) Informing: Statistician (risk) Model Inference Decision/Policy

  20. Summary of statistical component 20 ModelPriorExpertise • Substantial uncertainty in MTD finding requires statistical component • Input: standard model (logistic regression) + prior • Inference: probabilistic quantification of DLT rates, a requirement that leads to informed recommendations/decisions • Dose Recommendations are based on the probability of • targeted toxicity • and overdosing. Overdose criterion is essential.   Input Inference Recommendations

  21. Combination of clinical and statistical expertise 21Practical and logistical aspects Additional study data (e.g. AE, labs, EKG, PK, BM, Imaging Trial Data 0/3@1 mg HistoricalData (prior info) DLT rates p1, p2,...,pMTD,... (uncertainty!) Decisions Dose Escalation Decision Dose recommen-dations Model based dose-DLTrelationship Clinical Expertise Protocol development Study conduct Preparation for the dose escalation conference (DETC) Discussion/decision at the dose escalation conference (DETC) • Incorporating prior information • Model Specification Review design performance • Pts enrollment • Observation during each dose cohort

  22. Protocol development (1) 22 • Model Specification - Incorporating prior information • Preclinical toxicity data (with possible difference among species/gender), • STD10 and/or HNSTD translated to human doses and respective start doses • Shape of dose-toxicity relationship – variations as single-agent • Previous clinical trials • Literature data related to compounds, combination partners, etc. • Relevance of study population

  23. Protocol development (2) 23 • Design Specification • Pre-define provisional dose escalation steps • Provisional doses decided on expected escalation scheme - typically indicate maximum one-step jump. Intermediate doses may be used on data-driven basis • Minimum cohort-size – typically 3. • Allow enrollment of additional subjects for dropouts or cohort expansion • Pre-define DLT criteria and appropriate toxicity intervals • Pre-define evaluable patients for DLT assessment • All patients with DLT are included • For patients with no DLT, they must have sufficient drug exposure and completed required safety assessment to be sure of “no” DLT, or they are excluded

  24. Protocol development (3) 24 • Stopping rules (“rules for declaring the MTD”) • At least x patients at the MTD level with at least y patients evaluated in total in the dose escalation phase or • At least z patients evaluated at a dose level with a high precision (model recommends the same dose as the highest dose that is not an overdose with at least q% posterior probability in the target toxicity interval.)

  25. Protocol development (4) 25 • Statistician test-runs the design (if required) • Decisions under various data scenarios (scenario testing) • e.g. what happens if we see 0, 1 or 2 DLT in the first, second or third cohort? • or - what escalations can be made if we see no DLT in first 6 cohorts? • Operating characteristics (simulation testing) • Performance of the design in terms of correct dose-determination, gain in efficiency under various assumed dose-toxicity relationships (truths) • Clinicians review design performance document • Appended to protocol for HA/IRB review

  26. Study conduct 26Patient enrollment / observation for each dose cohort • To assure patient safety during the conduct of the study a close interaction within clinical team is required • Clinician, statistician, clinical pharmacologist, etc • Investigators • Clinical trial leader provides regular updates on accrual: • For each cohort enroll subjects per minimum cohort-size, typically 3 • May enroll additional subjects up to a pre-specified maximum • In the case of unexpected or severe toxicity all investigators will be informed immediately • The model will be updated in case the first 2 patients in a cohort experience DLT

  27. Dose escalation teleconference (DETC) 27 • DETC scheduled close to all subjects in cohort being “evaluable” • Statistician is informed how many DLT and evaluable subjects are expected at the DETC • Statistician performs analysis with number of patients with/without DLT from all cohorts • Prior to DETC key safety data, labs, VS, ECG, PK, PD, anti-tumor activity, particularly from current cohort as well as previous cohorts are shared with investigators • Real time data for discussion – not necessarily audited

  28. Dose escalation teleconference (DETC) 28 Discussion with investigators during the DETC • Investigators and sponsor review all available data (DLT, AE, labs, VS, ECG, PK, PD, efficacy) particularly from current cohort as well as previous cohorts • Agree on total number of DLTs and evaluable subjects for current cohort • Statistician informs participants of the highest dose level one may escalate to per statistical analysis and protocol restrictions

  29. Dose escalation decision 29 • Participants decide if synthesis of relevant clinical data justifies a dose escalation and to which dose (highest supported by the Bayesian analysis and protocol or intermediate) • Even though BLR-EWOC recommends dose escalation, team may enroll more at current dose to learn more from PK/PD, potential safety issues (later toxicities, lower grade toxicities, etc.) • Decisions are documented via minutes and communicated to all participants.

  30. Summary 30 • Patient safety is the primary objective • Statistical approach quantifies knowledge about DLT data only • Statistical inference is used as one component of a decision-making framework • Provides upper bound for potential doses based on uncertainty statements • To reduce risk of overdose  obtain more information at lower doses • Logistical application of our approach can be protocol/drug specific • Maximum escalation steps, minimum and maximum cohort sizes, stopping rules are pre-specified • Studies require active review of ongoing study data by Novartis and investigators

  31. Current state of Oncology Phase I trials 31 • Rogatko et al (2007) • Investigated about 1200 Phase I Oncology trials • Only about 1.6% used innovative designs (most used 3+3) • In the past 3-4 years, the number has increased to 3-4% • This is disappointing. Reasons are: • Phase I has (for too long) been non-statistical • 20 years of using the CRM has not changed this • Large scale implementation of innovative (Bayesian ) designs require a lot of effort • Guidance / support from key stakeholders is needed • Improper dose/regimen/patient population identified as a leading cause of failure of Phase III trials

  32. Acknowledgements 32 • Many thanks to my Novartis Oncology BDM colleagues • Beat Neuenschwander • Stuart Bailey • Jyotirmoy Dey • Kannan Natarajan

  33. References • Amado, Wolf, Peeters, Van Cutsem et al (2008) Wild Type KRAS is required for panitumumab efficacy in patients with metastaic colorectal cancer Journal of Clinical Oncology, 26:1626-1634 • Babb, Rogatko, Zacks (1998). Cancer Phase I clinical trials: efficient dose escalation with overdose control . Statistics in Medicine, 17:1103-1120 • Bailey, Neuenschwander, Laird, Branson (2009). A Bayesian case study in oncology phase I combination dose-finding using logistic regression with covariates. Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics, 19:369-484 • Chen, Krailo, Sun, Azen (2009).Range and trend of the expected toxicity level (ETL) in standard A+B designs: A report from the children’s oncology group. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 30:123-128. • Goodman,Zahurak, Piantadosi (1995).Some practical improvements in the continual reassessment method for Phase I studies. Statistics in Medicine, 14:1149-1161.

  34. References • Joffe, Miller (2006).Rethinking risk-benefit assessment for Phase I cancer trials. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 24:2987-2990 • Neuenschwander, Branson, Gsponer (2008)Critical aspects of the Bayesian approach to Phase I cancer trials. Statistics in Medicine, 27:2420-2439 • Rogatko, Babb, Wang, Slifker, Hudes (2004)Patient characteristics compete with dose as predictors of acute treatment toxicity in early phase clinical trials . Clinical Cancer Research 10: 4645-4651. • Rogatko, Schroeneck, Jonas, Tighioart, Khuri, Porter (2007).Translation of innovative designs into Phase I trials. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25: 4982-4986. • Thall, Lee (2003) Practical model-based dose-finding in phase I clinical trials: methods based on toxicity. Int J Gynecol Cancer 13: 251-261 • Thall, Millikan, Mueller, Lee (2003) Dose-finding with two agents in phase I oncology trials. Biometrics 59:487-496

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