Tag: Cancer Treatment

Weill Cornell Researchers: Encouraging Results from J591 Study

Dr. Tagawa
Dr. Tagawa

Weill Cornell researchers recently published findings from a Phase II study of the lutetium-177-labeled monoclonal antibody J591 (called Lu-J591).

J591 is a man-made monoclonal antibody that is able to recognize a protein antigen (PSMA) expressed on virtually all prostate cancer cells, and more so in men with treatment-resistant metastatic disease. When a tiny tag of radioactive material is attached to the J591 antibody, that specifically targets prostate cancer cells, and delivered systemically this is known as “radioimmunotherapy.” Dr. Scott Tagawa and colleagues at Weill Cornell have been conducting clinical trials of the precision radioimmunotherapeutic J591 to determine its ability to eradicate prostate cancer cells.

In the recently published study, 47 prostate cancer patients with PSA progression after hormonal therapies with or without chemotherapy were treated with Lu-J591. 10.6 percent experienced more than 50% PSA decline, and 36.2% experienced more than 30% decline. Among those treated at the maximum tolerated dose, 46.9% had more than 30% PSA decline. Furthermore, 75% of patients with radiographically measurable disease had some measure of disease control; 67% of those assessed for circulating tumor cells had more than 50% decline in tumor cell counts 4 to 6 weeks after treatment.

The researchers concluded that a single dose of Lu-J591 was well tolerated and they found a measurable response rate. The authors conclude that Lu-J591 is a promising new therapeutic strategy to explore.

Click here to read the published abstract. Click here to read an article about the study and the findings.

New Clinical Trial: Early Switch From First-Line Docetaxel/Prednisone to Cabazitaxel/Prednisone in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Dr. Tagawa
Dr. Tagawa

The Weill Cornell Urological Oncology Program has recently opened a new clinical trial for for men who have metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and who have not previously been treated with chemotherapy for their cancer. The study is evaluating the benefit of an early switch from docetaxel plus prednisone  to cabazitaxel plus prednisone  if the PSA level is not reduced by at least 30% after 4 cycles of treatment. The opposite sequence will also be evaluated. The sponsor of the trial is Sanofi, and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Scott Tagawa.

For more information about the study, please call Renee Khan, RN at (212) 746-1851, e-mail Renee at rek9015@med.cornell.edu.

Key Eligibility
  • Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)
  • Progressive disease while receiving hormonal therapy or after surgical castration
  • Have not received prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer
  • Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team\
Study Details

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the benefit of an early switch from docetaxel plus prednisone (Treatment A in this study) to cabazitaxel plus prednisone (Treatment B) if the PSA level is not reduced by at least 30% after 4 cycles of treatment. The opposite sequence will also be evaluated.

Cabazitaxel is FDA-approved for treating mCRPC previously treated with the chemotherapy drug docetaxel. However, cabazitaxel is not approved for treating mCRPC that has not been previously treated with chemotherapy, and therefore its use in this study is considered experimental.

Treatment Plan

Study participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms:

  • Treatment A: participants will receive docetaxel via infusion once every 3 weeks plus oral prednisone taken daily. Participants whose PSA level is not reduced by at least 30% after 4 treatment cycles will switch chemotherapy to receive cabazitaxel via infusion once every 3 weeks plus oral prednisone taken daily. Participants who do achieve a 30% or greater PSA reduction will continue taking docetaxel and prednisone.
  • Treatment B: participants will receive cabazitaxel via infusion once every 3 weeks plus oral prednisone taken daily. Participants whose PSA level is not reduced by at least 30% after 4 treatment cycles will switch chemotherapy to receive docetaxel infusion every 3 weeks plus daily oral prednisone. Those who do achieve a 30% or greater PSA reduction will continue taking cabazitaxel and prednisone.

Participants may continue to receive study treatment as long as they are responding to therapy and not experiencing intolerable side effects. As a key part of the research, investigational biomarkers (blood tests) will be explored to help researchers determine who will (or will not) benefit from each type of chemotherapy. After completing the treatment period, participants will be seen for follow-up every 3 months for the first year and then every 6 months for about 3.5 years.

Click here to view all current prostate cancer clinical trials in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Scott Tagawa Presents Results of PSMA Imaging for Radioimmunotherapy in CRPC at AACR

Dr. Tagawa
Dr. Tagawa

Weill Cornell’s Dr. Scott Tagawa presented updated results of PSMA imaging in 4 phase I and II clinical trials at the recent annual meeting of the American Association of for Cancer Research (AACR) in Washington, DC. The trials presented were performed at Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The trials investigated the antitumor activity and safety profile of the experimental drug ATL101. The 4 trials involved patients treated with ATL101 and demonstrated that PSMA imaging might be used to predict response to ATL101 radioimmunotherapy in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer patients.

ATL101 is a new targeted radiotherapy experimental drug for treating prostate cancer. ATL101 combines the humanized J591 monoclonal antibody targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) plus the Lutetium-177 radioisotope, creating the first tumor-specific delivery system able to target radiation to radio-sensitive prostate cancer cells wherever they are in the body.

PSMA is the single most well-validated prostate cancer-specific cell membrane antigen known. It is present at high levels in 95% of prostate cancers, and it is rapidly internalized leading to accumulation of significant amounts of isotopes that can be linked to the J591 antibody. Humanized J591 monoclonal antibody has shown the ability, in several hundred patients studied to date, to exclusively target prostate cancer cells wherever they are in the body without targeting normal cells.

Lutetium-177 is a radioisotope that, once internalized into the cell, is irreversibly sequestered within the targeted tumor cell. It emits radiation over a millimetre range that is ideal for eradication of the small volume lesions commonly found in the bone marrow and lymph nodes of prostate cancer patients.

ATL101 is actively studied at Weill-Cornell Medical College/New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Phase I trials evaluating fractionated administration andcombination with docetaxel. In addition, a randomized, multi-centre Phase II trial of ATL-101 in patients who have relapsed following surgery and/or radiation therapy and hormonal therapy but who do not yet have demonstrable metastatic disease is ongoing at several clinical sites in the USA.

Click here to read a press release summarizing the updated results presented by Dr. Tagawa.