RTP On Demand — Head & Neck/Thyroid | Research To PracticeCombination of cediranib and lenalidomide in differentiated thyroid cancer
1:40 minutes.
TRANSCRIPTION:
DR LOVE: What about the combination of cediranib and lenalidomide in thyroid cancer? DR COHEN: It’s an interesting clinical trial. We initiated this based on really 2 data sets. First we were seeing activity of the VEGF receptor TKIs, clearly, and cediranib is such an agent. It inhibits all 3 VEGF receptors. At the same time, the University of Kentucky was reporting activity of the IMiDs, so first thalidomide and then lenalidomide in patients with refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. And so pragmatically we thought that we could combine these 2 agents. Scientifically we know that lenalidomide also has vigorous anti-angiogenic effects. And we thought that we could capitalize on what we were seeing with respect to anti-angiogenesis by combining these 2 drugs. And that’s exactly what we did. We first had to do it in a Phase I run-in, because the 2 classes of drugs had never been combined before. And then we undertook a Phase II randomized to either cediranib alone or cediranib and lenalidomide. And the Phase II study is still ongoing. But what we saw from the Phase III study — and again, limited patients — but we saw tumor shrinkage in every patient that we treated and responses in a fair number. And so it really does look like the combination is going to be active in differentiated thyroid cancer. The one issue is, indeed, going to be toxicity. And although we are seeing quite robust activity, we’re also seeing toxicity, and especially fatigue and abdominal discomfort. DR LOVE: So is this specific combination, cediranib and lenalidomide, continuing to be tested then? DR COHEN: It is. The Phase II trial is ongoing. |