Metastatic clear cell carcinoma of the kidney: therapeutic role of bevacizumab

Abstract

The biology and pathogenesis of clear cell carcinoma of the kidney has been extensively investgated, and the role of von Hipple-Landau gene inactivation and tumor associated angiogenesis is now recognized. Development of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors and phase 3 clinical trials utilizing this class of agents has produced a new treatment paradigm for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). One of the active regimens identified is the combination of bevacizumab and interferon-α. Recently published reports provided evidence of the clinical and biologic activity of this therapy. The current manuscript reviews the background and rationale for the activity of bevacizumab in RCC, and results from recent clinical trials with this agent alone or in combination with targeted agents or cytokines. The role of this therapy in contrast to other targeted agents is reviewed, and the potential utility as well as questions raised by recent studies are discussed.

Introduction

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2% to 3% of all solid tumors in adults, and over 50,000 new cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2009.¹ The primary treatment of localized RCC involves surgical resection or local nonsurgical ablative techniques. Systemic therapy is utilized when advanced or metastatic disease is present. Recently a new paradigm has been developed for systemic therapy of RCC that targets specific pathways in this neoplasm. The role of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene inactivation in clear cell RCC² provided an explanation for the long recognized angiogenic features of kidney cancer, and was followed by the development of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway inhibitors as a new standard of care for patients with metastatic disease. Based on these studies, a new treatment approach then developed utilizing drugs targeting components of this pathway. Sunitinib³ and temsirolimus⁴ are considered frontline agents for the management of renal cell carcinoma. Recently, reports by Escudier et al⁵ and Rini et al⁶ have provided evidence the combination of bevacizumab and interferon-α (IFN-α) is also an effective strategy for initial therapy of metastatic RCC. This review summarizes the rationale, clinical data, and the results from contemporary studies, as well as exploring the future role of bevacizumab in RCC therapy.

Clear cell carcinoma biology

A growing understanding of the molecular biology of RCC has identified a number of pathways pertinent to the development and progression of clear cell RCC. Activation of the hypoxia response pathway by mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene produces transcriptional activation of genes important in tumor progression, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent promoter of tumor-associated angiogenesis.^2,7 The VHL gene encodes a 213 amino acid protein (pVHL) which functionally regulates the normal cellular response to oxygen deprivation. In conditions of physiologic oxygen availability and normal VHL gene function, pVHL is a component of an ubiquitin ligase complex that targets a family of protein transcription factors, the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF1α and HIF2α) for proteolysis. Under hypoxic conditions, this interaction is disrupted secondary to loss of oxygen-dependent hydroxylation of HIF, leading to stabilization of the HIF transcription factors. ⁸ In the presence of a defective VHL gene and/or loss of protein function, the interaction between pVHL and HIF is disrupted despite the presence of adequate oxygen. HIF is not degraded, is constitutively activated, translocates to the nucleus, and promotes transcription of various hypoxiainducible genes.⁹ Several of these are critical mediators of tumorigenesis, such as VEGF.⁹

In sporadic (non-inherited) RCC, VHL gene allele deletion (loss of heterozygosity) has been demonstrated in 84% to 98% of sporadic renal tumors, and examination of RCC tumors for mutation in the remaining VHL allele has been observed in 34% to over 80% of clear cell RCC tumors.^10,11 VHL gene inactivation in RCC may also occur through gene silencing by methylation.¹² Taken together, the above data suggest that VEGF inhibitors should be a focus of drug development in this neoplasm.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

In 1948, Michaelson identified a soluble “angiogenic factor X” which promoted the growth of retinal vessels.¹³ This factor was eventually identified as VEGF. It was also referred to as VPF (vascular permeability factor) and functions as an important regulator of endothelial cell biology. VEGF was identified in 1989 as a secreted mitogen of endothelial growth,¹⁴ and is now recognized as a dominant factor in tumor growth and development. VEGF regulates vascular endothelial cells, promoting both proliferation and new vessel formation. This ligand-mediated response occurs during normal physiological angiogenesis, such as wound healing and uterine decidua formation, as well as in pathologic situations such as cancer. Tumor-associated angiogenesis is dependent on secreted VEGF to promote existing vessel ingrowth into the tumor as well as neovascularization. Because of the importance of VEGF in this process, it has a critical role in tumor associated angiogenesis.

VEGF defines a family of related peptides, each with restricted tissue expression and receptor specificity. VEGF-A is structurally related to the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family, sharing homology with both PDGF-A and PDGF-B. Originally, VEGF-A was identified as a 45 kD protein produced by pituitary cells.¹⁵ The active portion of the protein identified was the 26 amino acid signal sequence at the N terminus of the molecule. The VEGF-A gene is located at 6p21.3.¹⁶ Human VEGF-A has at least 9 subtypes due to the alternative splicing of a single gene.^17,18

The various activities of the VEGF isoforms is an area of active investigation. Selected isoforms such as VEGF-165b can act in a dominant negative fashion. This isoform binds to VEGF-R2 with the same affinity as VEGF165, but does not activate downstream signaling pathways.¹⁷ Mice engineered to express only VEGF121, die within the first 2 weeks of life secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy and failure of myocardial angiogenesis.^19,20 In mice lacking VEGF165, severe defects in developing blood vessels are seen.

VEGF is primarily produced and secreted by fibroblasts.²¹ Its expression is regulated by a series factors including growth factors, p53 mutation, estrogen receptor activation, thyroid stimulating hormone, nitric oxide, and hypoxia. Inappropriate activation of the hypoxia response pathway, is the major mechanism of VEGF transcriptional regulation in renal cell carcinoma.² The HIFα subunits activated by either inactivation of VHL or hypoxia heterodimerize with a constitutively available HIF1β (aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear transferase, ARNT). This complex can then bind a hypoxia response element, and induce VEGF transcription.²²

VEGF function

Secreted VEGF is a mitogen for capillary and vascular endothelial cells.^15,23 It stimulates proliferation of endothelial cells, through binding and dimerization of cell surface receptors. FLT1 (VEGFR1) and KDR/FLK1 (VEGFR2) are the major receptors which bind VEGFA. They are only found on endothelial cells, and it appears VEGF isoforms compete for receptor binding. Specifically, VEGF145, the major tumor-associated isoform, will inhibit the binding of VEGF165 to the KDR/FLK1 receptor.²⁴ Additionally, VEGF regulates the permeability of blood vessels,²⁵ in a dose dependent manner. Increased vessel permeability is a critical step for the abnormal transport of molecules and cells across the blood vessel wall and, therefore, may be a crucial abnormality in tumor growth and metastasis.²⁶

Bevacizumab: VEGF monoclonal antibody

Bevacizumab (rhuMAb VEGF, Avastin^®; Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that binds and neutralizes all biologically active isoforms of VEGF.²⁷ In vitro studies have demonstrated bevacizumab decreases both the survival of human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) and VEGF-induced HUVEC permeability.²⁸ It inhibits proliferation of bovine capillary endothelial cells in response to VEGF, and has anti-tumor effects against selected sarcoma and breast cancer cell lines.²⁷ Additionally, bevacizumab has activity against metastases in a variety of preclinical models.²⁹ Finally, Rowe et al³⁰ reported the antibody (A4.6.1) prevented lung metastases from Wilm’s tumors implanted into kidneys of nude mice. A series of clinical trials were then performed which defined the toxicity and efficacy of bevacizumab.

Bevacizumab: clinical trials

Phase 1 trials

The initial clinical evaluation of bevacizumab involved a series of phase 1 trials in patients with refractory solid tumors. Gordon et al³¹ reported a phase 1 trial of bevacizumab in patients with metastatic cancer who had failed prior therapy. It was administered as a 90-minute intravenous (IV) infusion at doses from 0.1 to 10.0 mg/kg on days 0, 28, 35, and 42. Twenty-five patients including 7 with metastatic RCC were accrued. There were no grade III or IV adverse events related to the antibody, and 3 episodes of tumor-related bleeding were noted. Bevacizumab Infusions were well tolerated without significant toxicity. Grades I and II adverse events probably related to bevacizumab included asthenia, headache, and nausea. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed a half-life of 21 days. There were no objective responses; however, 6/7 RCC patients experienced stable disease over the duration of the study. This included 1 patient with metastatic RCC in whom a minor response characterized as <30% reduction of pulmonary and lymph node lesions was seen. Bevacizumab was safely administered without dose-limiting toxicity at doses ranging up to 10 mg/kg, and multiple doses were well tolerated. The pharmacokinetic studies indicated that doses of >0.3 mg/kg had a half-life similar to that of other humanized antibodies. This initial trial demonstrated a favorable acute toxicity profile, and in retrospect suggested activity in RCC.

A second phase 1 trial investigated the safety and pharmacokinetics of weekly intravenous bevacizumab combined with one of three standard chemotherapy regimens.³² Twelve patients were treated (4 receiving each combination) with bevacizumab 3 mg/kg IV weekly for 8 weeks with either (1) doxorubicin 50 mg/m² every 4 weeks; (2) carboplatin at area under the curve of 6 plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m² every 4 weeks; or (3) fluorouracil 500 mg/m² with leucovorin 20 mg/m² weekly, weeks 1 to 6 every 8 weeks. Grade 3 toxicities attributed to chemotherapy included diarrhea (1 patient), thrombocytopenia (2 patients), and leukopenia (1 patient). The mean (±SD) peak serum level of bevacizumab was 167 ± 46 μg/mL, and mean terminal half-life 13 days. One patient with refractory RCC received doxorubicin and bevacizumab, and had a partial response. The patient received 36 doses of antibody with no cumulative or late toxicities noted. This study not only demonstrated the safety of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy, but also again suggested possible activity in patients with metastatic RCC.

Phase 2 trials

A series of phase 2 trials were then conducted in patients with metastatic RCC, and demonstrated the therapeutic activity of bevacizumab in this neoplasm. The initial study reported was a randomized phase II trial (Figure 1) in which 116 patients with treatment-refractory, metastatic clear cell RCC received placebo, low dose (3 mg/kg) bevacizumab or high dose (10 mg/kg) bevacizumab given intravenously every 2 weeks.³³ The majority of these patients were cytokine refractory, having received prior high dose interleukin (IL)-2. There were 4 partial responses, all in the high dose bevacizumab arm (4/39; 10% objective response rate). A substantial proportion of patients, however, had tumor shrinkage not meeting objective response criteria. Figure 2 demonstrates tumor burden changes over time for each of the three patient cohorts, demonstrating a gradual positive effect on tumor burden with increasing doses of bevacizumab.³⁴ An intent-to-treat analysis demonstrated a significant prolongation of time to progression in the high dose bevacizumab arm compared to placebo (4.8 vs 2.5 months; P < 0.001 by log rank test). In the high dose bevacizumab arm, hypertension of any grade occurred in 36% of patients, and grade 3 hypertension, defined as hypertension not controlled by one standard medication, was observed in 21% of patients. Asymptomatic proteinuria without renal insufficiency was noted in 64% of patients in the high dose bevacizumab arm. All toxicities were reversible with cessation of therapy. The optimal duration of treatment with an agent such as bevacizumab was unclear, but preclinical studies had demonstrated VEGF maintained tumor vessel morphology, providing a rationale for continuous anti-VEGF therapy.³⁵ In the study reported by Yang et al³³ administration of bevacizumab was continued for over three years in four patients with prolonged disease stability.³⁶ The toxicity in these patients was limited to proteinuria with normal renal function, and demonstrated long-term continuous administration was possible.

Figure 1.

Study schema for phase 2 randomized trial of bevacizumab or placebo in patients with previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Drawn from data of Yang JC et al.³³

Abbreviations: ORR, overall response rate; TTP, time to progression; OS, overall survival.

Figure 2.

Phase 2 randomized trial of bevacizumab (low dose – 3.0 mg/kg iv every 2 weeks; high dose – 10.0 mg/kg iv every 2 weeks) or placebo. The individual panels illustrate the change in tumor burden expressed as percent compared to baseline over time (weeks of treatment). Each line represents an individual patient. The findings demonstrate the higher frequency of tumor reduction in the patients receiving high dose bevacizumab.

Drawn from data of Elaraj et al.³⁴

Bevacizumab was then investigated in combination with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. Pre-clinical investigations in a human RCC xenograft model demonstrated treatment with bevacizumab and erlotinib, a small molecule EGFR inhibitor, produced tumor growth inhibition.³⁷ TGF-α is a VHL-regulated growth factor for RCC, with biologic effects mediated through EGFR.³⁸ In view of these observations, a phase 2 clinical trial in metastatic RCC with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks in combination with erlotinib 150 mg daily was conducted.³⁹ A 25% objective response rate and 61% stable disease rate was noted with many of the stable disease patients experiencing minor tumor regression. After a median follow-up of 15 months, survival at 18 months was 60%. Treatment associated adverse events were generally mild to moderate. The most common severe toxicities included rash (13%), diarrhea (13%) and hypertension (8%).

A second phase 1/2 trial employed combined VEGF, EGFR and PDGF-R blockade, and utilized combined bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks, erlotinib 150 mg by mouth daily, and imatinib 400 mg by mouth daily.⁴⁰ The investigators reported a 9% response rate with 61% disease stabilization by RECIST criteria. Although tolerable for most patients, the toxicity was increased when compared to the experience with two agents, bevacizumab and erlotinib. In particular, the frequency and severity of grade 3 and 4 diarrhea (29%) and acneiform skin rash (27%) were increased with the addition of imatinib.

Since previous reports in which EGFR inhibitors alone were administered to patients with metastatic RCC did not demonstrate clinical activity,⁴¹ and these combination studies were interpreted as suggesting potential synergistic activity of bevacizumab and erlotinib.

Based on these preliminary reports^39,40 a randomized, multicenter, double-blind phase 2 trial (Figure 3) at 21 sites in the United States, was conducted to further evaluate the efficacy of this combination as first-line therapy for metastatic RCC.⁴² Eligibility criteria included predominant (>50%) clear cell histology, prior nephrectomy, measurable disease, and required patients to have either favorable or intermediate Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) prognostic category.⁴³ Treatment included bevacizumab 10 mg/kg, IV every 2 weeks, and either oral erlotinib 150 mg or a placebo until progression, toxicity, or for a maximum of 104 weeks. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR). One hundred and four patients were enrolled (Figure 3), and the median follow-up was 9.8 months. Median PFS was similar in the two treatment arms: 8.5 months with bevacizumab alone and 9.9 months for the combination (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86, P = 0.58). At 12 months from time of randomization, 40% of patients in the bevacizumab arm versus 45% in the bevacizumab plus erlotinib arm were progression-free. The pooled median PFS for the 104 patients entered was 8.6 months. Objective response rates were also similar in the arms: 13% versus 14% respectively (P = 1.0). At 12 months from randomization, 83% of patients treated with bevacizumab were alive, versus 70% for patients receiving the combination.

Figure 3.

Study schema for phase 2 randomized trial of bevacizumab plus placebo versus bevacizumab plus erlotinib in patients with treatment-naïve metastatic renal cell carcinoima.

Drawn from data of Bukowski et al.⁴¹

Abbreviations: PFS, progression-free survival; ORR, overall response rate.

Treatment was well tolerated, and only one therapy-related death occurred. The most common Grade 3/4 adverse events (>5% of patients) were hypertension, rash, diarrhea, and proteinuria. Adverse events associated with erlotinib (rash, diarrhea) were observed only in the arm containing erlotinib (16% and 7.8% of patients, respectively). Similar rates of hypertension and proteinuria, known toxicities associated with bevacizumab, were present in the two treatment arms. No evidence of enhanced toxicity was apparent. This study suggested one or more of the following: 1) erlotinib does not add to the efficacy of bevacizumab, 2) single-agent activity of bevacizumab has been underestimated, and/or 3) the randomized phase 2 trial design was underpowered to detect a small benefit with combination therapy. The role of bevacizumab in RCC remained unclear, and subsequently a series of phase 3 trials were conducted that clearly demonstrated its clinical activity.

Phase 3 trials

The phase 3 trials investigating bevacizumab in advanced clear cell carcinoma patients were then conducted utilized combination therapy with IFN-α, and conclusively demonstrated the activity of this antibody (Figure 4). In the US, an Intergroup phase 3 open label trial (CALGB 90206) investigating the addition of bevacizumab to IFN-α has been reported,⁶ and in Europe, a similar trial which, however, was blinded and placebo controlled (AVOREN)⁵ has been reported. The data from this latter study supported the approval of bevacizumab plus IFN-α treatment for metastatic RCC by both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

Figure 4.

Treatment schema and results in phase 3 randomized trials utilizing interferon alpha (IFN-α) with/without bevacizumab. Results of the two studies AVOREN and CALGB 90206 are illustrated, demonstrating overall response rates (ORR), median progression-free survival (PFS), and median overall survival (OS).

^aRini et al;^{6 b}Escudier et al;^{5 c}Rini et al,⁴⁴ P = 0.069 (stratified log rank); ^dEscudier et al,⁴⁵ P = 0.069 (stratified log rank).

CALGB 90206⁶ was a two-arm open-label study in which patients with metastatic clear cell RCC without prior systemic therapy were randomized to either low dose IFN-α2b (Intron^® A; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ, USA), 9 MIU subcutaneously 3 times weekly, or the same dose and schedule of IFN-α2b in combination with bevacizumab, 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks. Preliminary preclinical or clinical data demonstrating enhanced efficacy were not available, and the two agents were empirically combined. The primary endpoint of the trial was overall survival, and it was designed to detect an improvement from 13 months with IFN-α alone, to 17 months for the combination. Secondary endpoints included PFS, ORR, and safety. The study was reported before the primary endpoint was reached, when preliminary results from the AVOREN trial⁵ became available and demonstrated improvement of PFS for patients treated with the combination regimen. At that point, the CALGB Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended release of the PFS data. The median PFS was 8.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3–14.8) in patients receiving bevacizumab plus IFN-α versus 5.2 months (95% CI 5.6–11.4) for IFN-α monotherapy (P < 0.0001). The hazard ratio for progression in patients receiving bevacizumab plus IFN-α after adjusting for stratification factors was 0.71 (P < 0.0001). In 639 patients with measurable disease, the ORR was higher in those receiving bevacizumab plus IFN-α (25.5%; 95% CI 20.9%–30.6%) compared to individuals treated with IFN-α alone (13.1%; 95% CI 9.5%–17.3%; P < 0.0001). The combination however, produced an increased frequency of adverse events compared to cytokine therapy alone. Increased fatigue, anorexia, hypertension and proteinuria were reported. The survival data from this trial were recently updated.⁴³ The median OS was 18.3 months (95% CI 16.5–22.5) for patients randomized to bevacizumab plus IFN-α and 17.4 months (95% CI 14.4–20.0, unstratified log rank P = 0.097) for IFN-α monotherapy group. The stratified HR was 0.86 (95% CI 0.73–1.01) for the combination compared to IFN-α alone (stratified log-rank P = 0.069). Survival in the various MSKCC prognostic groups was also reported. In the favorable group, the median OS for bevacizumab plus IFN-α versus IFN-α was 32.5 versus 33.5 months (P = 0.524). In MSKCC intermediate risk patients, the respective median OS were 17.7 versus 16.1 months (P = 0.174), in poor risk patients 6.6 versus 5.7 months (P = 0.245). The final median PFS in both treatment groups was reported as 8.4 months versus 4.9 months (P < 0.0001). Fifty-three percent of patients received subsequent second-line systemic therapy.

These results were similar to those reported by the AVOREN investigators.⁵ This trial design was more robust, and differences included a double blind design, inclusion of a placebo infusion, gradual dose escalation of IFN-α over 3 weeks, requirement for prior nephrectomy, and the presence of predominantly clear cell carcinoma in the AVOREN study. Results from these two studies are compared in Table 1. In both trials, patients treated with IFN-α plus bevacizumab appeared to benefit, with significant increases in median PFS and ORR noted. The magnitude of improvement seen was slighty different, but the varied eligibility criteria and patient distribution between prognostic categories, as well as variations in experimental design, can potentially explain these findings. Of interest, subset analyses in both trials failed to demonstrate improved PFS for the poor risk patient subset, which represented a very small group (<10%) in both trials. Based on the AVOREN data, the combination of bevacizumab plus IFN-α has been approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic RCC by both the EMEA and FDA (after independent radiology review). The final AVOREN survival data have also been reported.⁴⁵ At the time of this analysis median follow-up was over 20 months in each arm. The final median OS stratified for region and MSKCC prognostic group was 23.3 months for patients treated with in bevacizumab + IFN-α, versus 21.3 months in the IFN-α and placebo arm (HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.72–1.04], P = 0.1291). No new or unexpected adverse events were observed. More patients in the IFN-α plus placebo arm (202, 63%) received post-protocol therapy than in the combination arm (180, 55%). Treatments included tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), mTOR inhibitors, cytokines and chemotherapy. Exploratory analysis demonstrated the median OS in pts receiving secondline TKI therapy was 38.6 months in patients initially treated with bevacizumab plus IFN-α (n = 96) versus 33.2 months in the IFN-α patient group (n = 81) (HR = 0.77 [95% CI 0.51–1.15], P = 0.1948).

Table 1.

Risk group survivals in phase 3 bevacizumab trials

Risk group (MSKCC)a	Progression-free survival*		Overall survival*
	AVORENb	CALGB 90206c	AVOREN	CALGB 90206d
Favorable
Bevacizumab + IFN-α	12.9 mos	11.1 mos	NA	32.5 mos
IFN-α	7.6 mos	5.7 mos	NA	33.5 mos
Intermediate
Bevacizumab + IFN-α	10.2 mos	8.4 mos	NA	17.7 mos
IFN-α	4.5 mos	5.3 mos	NA	16.1 mos
Poor
Bevacizumab + IFN-α	2.2 mos	3.3 mos	NA	6.6 mos
IFN-α	2.1 mos	2.6 mos	NA	5.7 mos

^*Median; NA – not available.

^aMotzer et al⁴³;

^bEscudier et al⁵;

^cRini et al⁶;

^dRini et al.⁴⁴

These results demonstrate clinical benefit for patients receiving combination therapy, but as is usually the case, raise additional questions. The activity of bevacizumab in combination with IFN-α in patients with metastatic clear cell carcinoma is clear; however, dose levels of both agents, length of therapy, and the role of IFN-α are not addressed except indirectly. In the United States, the FDA suggested the CALGB 90206 study incorporate a third treatment arm utilizing bevacizumab alone, to isolate the effects of both agents. Unfortunately, this advice was not followed, and therefore, the potential contributions of each agent are unclear. In view of the previous phase 2 data with bevacizumab monotherapy in untreated patients,⁴² in which a median PFS in excess of 9.0 months was noted, it is reasonable to suggest the major contribution to efficacy in terms of PFS improvement, may be secondary to this agent.

Additionally, preclinical data are not available that address the mechanisms potentially responsible for the interactions of these two agents. Bevacizumab and IFN-α may have complementary effects on tumor growth as well as the antitumor immunologic response. The concept of immune dysfunction related to both local and systemic immunosuppression has been repeatedly demonstrated in advanced RCC.⁴⁶ In preclinical studies, VEGF inhibits the maturation and function of dendritic cell,⁴⁷ and IFN-α can induce maturation and cytokine production⁴⁸ by this cell population. The possibility that anti-VEGF therapy combined with IFN-α may interact to decrease immune suppression is an attractive hypothesis. Finally, since both bevacizumab and low doses of IFN-α have antiangiogenic activity,⁴⁹ the interaction may be at this level. The exact nature of this interaction in RCC patients is, however, unclear, as is the contribution of each agent individually to the clinical results.

In terms of the toxicity produced by bevacizumab plus IFN-α, the adverse events appear related to both agents. In the AVOREN trial,⁵ the most commonly reported grade 3 or worse adverse events were established IFN-α toxicities (eg, fatigue, asthenia, and neutropenia). Adverse events occurred in 328 (97%) of those patients who received at least one dose of bevacizumab and 287 (94%) of those who did not receive bevacizumab. Serious adverse events (≥ grade 3) were reported in 98 (29%) patients who received bevacizumab and 50 (16%) of those receiving a placebo. The proportion of patients who experienced an adverse event that led to treatment discontinuation (28%) was higher in the bevacizumab plus interferon alfa group than in the control group. The incidence of interferon-related toxicities was reported as 10% higher per patient-year in the bevacizumab plus interferon alfa group than in the control group. Bevacizumab-related toxicities (eg, proteinuria, bleeding, and hypertension) were seen in the bevacizumab plus IFN-α group only.

The dose of IFN-α utilized in the AVOREN trial was 9 MIU 3 times a week.⁵ Investigators were permitted to gradually escalate IFN-α from 3.0 to 9.0 MIU over a 3-week period. During the course of treatment, IFN-α dose reduction and/or delay was permitted for ≥ grade 3 toxicity. The IFN-α dose was reduced to 6.0 or 3.0 MU in 124 (40%) patients in the bevacizumab plus IFN-α group and 94 (30%) patients in the control group. An exploratory analysis⁵⁰ demonstrated patients receiving a reduced dose of IFN-α (either 3.0 or 6.0 MIU) also benefited from treatment. Although IFN-α related grade 3/4 toxicity was predefined as a requirement for IFN-α dose reduction, it was reported in only 44% and 41% of patients in the bevacizumab and placebo groups, respectively, in the 6 weeks prior to IFN-α dose reduction. In the majority of cases, the IFN-α dose was reduced for reasons other than grade 3/4 toxicity, including the accumulation of grade 2 IFN-α related events, or based on physician or patient preference.

Of those patients who received reduced doses of IFN-α, 64% underwent 1 dose reduction (to 6 MIU), 31% underwent 2 dose reductions (to 6.0 MIU, then to 3.0 MIU) and 5% dose-reduced directly to 3.0 MIU. Patients in the dose reduction group spent 62% of the total IFN-α treatment duration at 6.0 or 3.0 MIU. Analysis of all patients demonstrated the median duration of PFS in patients receiving bevacizumab plus IFN-α was double that of patients receiving IFN-α plus placebo (HR = 0.63, P < 0.0001). An exploratory analysis also showed a similar improvement in PFS for patients receiving reduced IFN-α doses (HR = 0.63, P = 0.0026) and those treated with 9.0 MIU (HR = 0.69, P = 0.0007).

PFS rates at 12 months for patients receiving bevacizumab plus IFN-α were 0.524 for the reduced-dose group (95% CI 0.436–0.613), 0.427 for the total population (95% CI 0.372–0.483), and 0.361 for patients maintaining the 9.0 MIU IFN-α dose level (95% CI 0.292–0.431). The 12-month PFS rate was similar in patients who were dose reduced to 3.0 MIU IFN (0.668 [95% CI 0.512–0.824]). These data are consistent with previous observations suggesting IFN-α efficacy in patients with metastatic RCC is not dose related, and indicate lower doses of IFN-α should be combined with bevacizumab in future studies.

The pattern of adverse event (AE) reporting demonstrated the majority of grade 3 AEs occurred during the first 3 months of treatment. A reduction in ≥ grade 3 AEs was observed in the 6-week period after IFN-α dose reduction in contrast to the 6 weeks prior to dose reduction in the group receiving bevacizumab plus reduced-dose IFN-α (44% vs 18%) and reduced-dose IFN-α plus placebo (41% vs 10%). This trend toward improved safety was consistent across the MSKCC risk categories. In view of the recognized lack of IFN-α dose-response in RCC, it appears that lower doses will result in less toxicity, and possibly preserve efficacy.

The final overall survival analysis has been completed for both CALGB 90206 and the AVOREN trials.^44,45 The data do not demonstrate significant improvements in median OS in either trial, but as in other recently published analyses of other targeted agents,⁵¹ may be confounded by secondary therapy. The effects of bevacizumab plus IFN-α compared to IFN-α alone on PFS and median OS in the various MSKCC prognostic subgroups are also of interest (see Table 1). The subgroup analyses show the major effects are in the favorable and intermediate subgroups. The poor risk patient subset shows limited if any effect of adding bevacizumab to IFN-α, but this group represents <10% of patients in each trial. The overall survival subset analyses from CALGB 90206 shows improvement in the intermediate group, but none in the favorable and poor risk categories. This is similar to the reported effects of sunitinib on median OS in the favorable patient subset, and raises the issue of why no differences were seen between IFN-α monotherapy and either sunitinib or bevacizumab plus IFN-α. Explanations again include the confounding effects of secondary therapy, as well as the indolent behavior RCC clinically and the as yet undefined biologic and molecular characteristics of this RCC subtype.

Pharmacoeconomic analyses

In view of the costs associated with targeted therapy for advanced RCC patients, it is reasonable to expect improvement in survival as an indicator of benefit. The confounding effects of secondary therapy have, however, made results from these analyses problematic. CALGB 90206 had as its primary endpoint OS, and, the overall survival of the IFN-α treated group appears greater than anticipated.⁴³ In recently reported phase 3 studies utilizing either sorafenib⁵⁰ or sunitinib,⁵¹ the increased PFS was not accompanied by significant improvement in OS. In the trial comparing sunitinib and IFN-α,⁵¹ the differences in median OS in the intent to treat population was considered clinically significant, despite the P value of 0.051. When patients receiving secondary therapy were censored, significant differences were noted. It is likely the same confounding effects of secondary therapy are obscuring differences in survival in the recent phase 3 bevacizumab trials. The available clinical data from three randomized clinical trials demonstrate therapy with sunitinib or bevacizumab plus IFN-α produces clinically relevant and a statistically significant increase in PFS compared to treatment with IFN-α monotherapy.

Another unanswered question is how bevacizumab plus IFN-α therapy compares to the current front line treatment for metastatic RCC with sunitinib. The toxicity of sunitinib and bevacizumab are quite different, however, when IFN-α is included, the type and frequency of adverse events is modified. Currently, no phase 3 trials are planned or are in progress to compare efficacy and/or toxicity of these treatments, and therefore only indirect comparisons are possible. Coon et al⁵³ have utilized an indirect comparison methodology to assess the clinical effectiveness of sunitinib or bevacizumab plus IFN-a on PFS. A Bayesian Marko Chain Monte-Carlo sampling model in Win BUGS, with IFN-α as a common comparator was employed. The median PFS was significantly prolonged with either regimen compared to IFN-α. Indirect comparison suggested sunitinib was superior to bevacizumab plus IFN-α in terms of PFS (HR 0.796; 95% CI 0.63–1.0; P = 0.0272). Indirect survival comparisons have not yet been published.

Pharmacoeconomic assessment of targeted therapy as frontline treatment for metastatic RCC in the US and Sweden have been conducted utilizing indirect comparisons of survival. ⁵⁴ A Markov model was employed which simulated disease progression, adverse events, and survival with sunitinib versus sorafenib (US) or bevacizumab + IFN-α (both countries) among all patients. Results, in life-years (LY), progression-free LY (PFLY), quality-adjusted LY (QALY) gained, and treatment costs were developed employing deterministic and probabilistic analyses. Sunitinib was more effective and less costly than sorafenib (gains of 0.52 PFLY, 0.16 LY, and 0.17 QALY and savings of $13,576 in the US) or bevacizumab + IFN-α (gains of 0.19 PFLY, 0.23 LY, and 0.16 QALY in both countries and savings of $67,798 and $47,264 in the US and Sweden, respectively). Sunitinib was shown to be cost effective in comparison to other therapies in either the US or Sweden, despite significant differences in healthcare systems. In fact, sunitinib was found to be more effective and less costly compared to bevacizumab + IFN-α in the overall patient population in both countries.

These two regimens have different toxicity profiles, and therefore it has been hypothesized that costs for managing adverse events may be different. Mickisch et al⁵⁵ used a linear decision analytical model to evaluate cost differences associated with AE management during treatment with bevacizumab plus IFN-α or sunitinib. Costs were calculated utilizing published data on health-care costs in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy. The analysis suggested AE management costs were higher for sunitinib than for bevacizumab plus IFN-α. The average cost per patient for the management of grade 3–4 adverse events was decreased with bevacizumab plus IFN-α compared with sunitinib in all countries: United Kingdom €1475 versus €804, Germany €1785 versus €1367, France €2590 versus €1618, and Italy €891 versus €402. The main determinants were lymphopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia fatigue, and asthenia for sunitinib, and for bevacizumab plus IFN-α, proteinuria, fatigue, asthenia, bleeding, anemia and gastrointestinal perforation. The authors concluded costs associated with adverse event management are lower for bevacizumab plus IFN-α than for sunitinib. It is unclear however, how therapy for lymphopenia can contribute significantly to treatment costs.

Similarly, as part of its health technology appraisal, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK also examined the cost-effectiveness of sunitinib and bevacizumab + IFN-α compared to IFN-α. Based on multiple considerations, including but not limited to cost-effectiveness evidence, NICE recommended sunitinib as first-line treatment for people with advanced and/or metastatic RCC who are suitable for cytokine therapy and who have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.⁵⁶ The findings of the NICE cost-effectiveness analyses were also consistent with those reported by Benedict et al.⁵⁴

Modeling treatments that have not been compared in randomized prospective trials, and subsequent extrapolation of their outcomes, represents a significant challenge. Such findings may be considered robust if they are based on valid assumptions including treatment of similar patient populations. Studies such as these do however have significant limitations which include: (1) the confounding effect of crossover treatment on OS, which may inflate the outcome for a comparator group and underestimate the treatment benefit; (2) the uncertainty of assuming that the relative HR values for a given treatment, relative to comparator, remain constant over time; and (3) differences in survival between patients treated in clinical trials and in clinical practice.

Bevacizumab: future development in RCC

The future development of bevacizumab therapy in renal cell carcinoma is illustrated in Figure 5. The role of monotherapy remains to be fully assessed, and further development of combination strategies should be considered. The activity of bevacizumab plus IFN-α in patients with metastatic clear cell carcinoma has been clearly demonstrated, however, various dose levels of either agent, length of therapy, and the role of IFN-α in the combination have not been investigated adequately. The mechanisms responsible for the activity of this combination remain uncertain. Also, in view of the recognized lack of IFN-α dose-response in RCC, it may be that lower doses can decrease toxicity while preserving efficacy.

Figure 5.

Diagram illustrating potential future clinical studies with bevacizumab in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Since bevacizumab has been successfully combined with IFN-α, it is reasonable to investigate the combination of bevacizumab with other cytokines, such as IL-2. High-dose IL-2 in combination with bevacizumab is under investigation.⁵⁷ The rationale for this combination includes the possibility that bevacizumab may prevent much of the tumor-induced immunosuppression attributed to VEGF and thereby enrich the immune-enhancing effects of IL-2.⁵⁸ In addition, IL-2 toxicity may be reduced by the vascular effects of bevacizumab on the vascular leak syndrome, and possibly allow more IL-2 to be administered with less toxicity. Bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks will be integrated with standard high dose IL-2 regimens with both PFS and OS as primary endpoints.

Investigation of bevacizumab in combination with low dose IL-2 has also been initiated. Garcia et al⁵⁹ reported 26 patients with untreated advanced RCC who received bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks, and IL-2 125,000 u/kg/day subcutaneously for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest period. The median PFS for the group was 9.6 months (95% CI 4.1–16.9 months), and ORR 15%. An additional 38% of patients achieved tumor burden reduction of <30%. The most commonly reported treatment-related grade 3 toxicities were constitutional (fatigue, fever/chills) in 46% of patients, neutropenia in 11% and proteinuria in 12% of patients. The authors conclude that bevacizumab plus low dose IL-2 has modest clinical activity, and toxicity was largely IL-2 related without enhancement of bevacizumab-related adverse events.

Despite recent advances in the treatment of advanced RCC, not all patients respond, complete responses are uncommon, and tumor resistance to VEGF-targeted therapy generally develops. In view of these observations, maximal inhibition of the VEGF pathway, with combinations of VEGF-targeting agents having different mechanisms, may produce enhanced anti-tumor effects. Additive or synergistic VEGF blockade may be achieved through simultaneous targeting of the VEGF pathway. Bevacizumab leads to rapid clearance of circulating VEGF, but is not known to affect VEGF bound to receptor, as the epitope on VEGF recognized by bevacizumab is in the VEGF-R binding region. Further, other pro-angiogenic molecules such as PDGF may contribute to the angiogenic phenotype of RCC and require inhibition. Sunitinib produces VEGF receptor blockade, however, circulating plasma VEGF increase and may expose tumors to the effects of VEGF in view of the intermittent schedule utilized.⁶⁰ It is possible that maximal, constant and effective VEGF blockade can be produced with drugs inhibiting both the VEGF ligand and receptor, with enhanced anti-tumor effects. In view of this, combinations of bevacizumab with various TKIs such as sunitinib or sorafenib have been investigated.

Two phase 1 trials combining bevacizumab and sunitinib have have investigated the safety and maximum tolerated dose of this combination.^61,62 Study design and eligibility criteria were different, with one trial⁶¹ restricted to advanced RCC patients, while in the second study,⁶² patients with refractory solid tumors were eligible. Antitumor activity was noted in both studies, but ≥ grade 3 hypertension was noted in 45 to 60% of patients, and full doses of both agents (bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks, sunitinib 50 mg/day 4/2 week schedule) were poorly tolerated. In the report from MSKCC,⁶¹ 5/25 patients developed evidence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, in contrast to the second trial⁶² in which this was not observed. In view of these observations, further investigation of this combination in RCC utilizing full doses of both agents has not been recommended.⁶¹

The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib has also been investigated in combination with bevacizumab in a series of two phase 1 trials.^63,64 Azad et al⁶³ reported a group of 39 patients with advanced solid tumors who were treated in a phase 1 dose escalation trial utilizing bevacizumab and sorafenib. Dose-limiting toxicity included grade 3 proteinuria and thrombocytopenia. Adverse events included hypertension, hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, hepatic toxicity, and fatigue. Partial responses were seen in six (43%) of 13 patients with ovarian cancer (response duration range, 4 to 22 months) and 1 of 3 patients with renal cell cancer (response duration, 14 months). The majority (74%) of patients required sorafenib dose reduction. The investigators concluded combination therapy with sorafenib and bevacizumab has promising activity; however, dose reductions of both agents are required. Sosman et al⁶⁴ also investigated this combination in 48 patients with RCC. Enhanced toxicity was observed, characterized by the sorafenib-related toxicity including severe hand–foot syndrome and functional stomatitis, and the bevacizumab related hypertension, and persistent proteinuria. Administration of the combination required decreasing both the bevacizumab (5 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks) and sorafenib (200 mg by mouth once daily) dose levels. The clinical activity of the combination, was of interest in RCC, with an ORR of 52%, and PFS of 14.0 months among the 48 RCC patients enrolled. In summary, the activity of the various bevacizumab TKI combinations is encouraging, but complete responses were not increased, and toxicity has required dose reductions of both agents. It remains uncertain whether combination approaches will be useful.

The second class of targeted agents that has been combined with bevacizumab, are the mTOR inhibitors temsirolimus and everolimus. Clinical trials in poor risk patients with temsirolimus,⁴ and in TKI refractory patients with everolimus⁶⁵ demonstrate improvements in survival and PFS respectively. Preclinical studies⁶⁶ have suggested combing an mTOR inhibitor with bevacizumab may increase efficacy, and therefore this combination has been evaluated clinically.

A phase 2 study by Whorf et al⁶⁵ investigated the combination of bevacizumab and everolimus. Patients with advanced RCC received bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks and everolimus 10 mg orally daily. Two groups of patients were treated: A-no prior treatment or B-prior sunitinib or sorafenib. Fifty-nine patients (30 to group A and 29 to group B) were enrolled. The best response in 48 evaluable patients was 21% ORR and 69% stable disease/minor response. Toxicities included proteinuria (19% grade 3/4), fatigue (9% grade 3/4) mucositis/stomatitis (49% grade 3/4), hyperlipidemia (45% grade 3/4), nausea (40% grade 3/4) and hypertension (25%). The preliminary results suggest the combination of everolimus and bevacizumab administered at full doses has acceptable toxicity. A phase 2 randomized trial in which bevacizumab is combined with either IFN-α or everolimus (RECORD 2) is in progress.

Temsirolimus, the second mTOR inhibitor approved in advanced RCC, has also been combined with bevacizumab. A phase 1 trial⁶⁷ utilizing both temsirolimus and bevacizumab was reported in a preliminary fashion. Dose-limiting toxicities encountered included grade 3 stomatitis and hypertryglyceridemia (1/6 patients at each dose level). The minimum tolerated dose was not reached, and the dose levels recommended for additional study were temsirolimus 25 mg/kg IV weekly and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Twelve evaluable patients were treated, and 7/12 partial responses (58%) were reported. Based on these preliminary results, a randomized phase 3 trial (INTORACT) is now ongoing comparing temsirolimus/bevacizumab with bevacizumab/IFN-α. The studies with the mTOR inhibitors will provide information on the side effect profiles and efficacy of the mTOR inhibitor combinations investigated. Several other randomized trials evaluating various combinations are also underway. The BEST trial⁶⁸ is a 4-arm phase 2 randomized trial examining doublets of sorafenib, bevacizumab, and temsirolimus plus bevacizumab alone. The TORAVA trial is a phase 2 trial comparing bevacizumab plus IFN-α, bevacizumab plus temsirolimus, and sunitinib. Enrolment is closed and results should be available shortly.⁶⁹ Currently most investigators regard combination therapy as investigational. Results of these ongoing trials are should define the efficacy an mTOR inhibitor plus bevacizumab.

Two additional areas of investigation to be considered are post-operative adjuvant therapy, and preoperative neoadjuvant therapy with bevacizumab. Currently, several large multinational adjuvant trails utilizing the kinase inhibitors are in progress. When these results are available, comparison to bevacizumab is a strong consideration in view of the acceptable toxicity profile of this agent. In contrast, the potential role of bevacizumab in the neoadjuvant setting in patients with advanced RCC has been investigated. Jonasch et al⁷⁰ assessed the safety and efficacy of presurgical treatment with bevacizumab in metastatic RCC patients, and whether this would assist in patient selection for cytoreductive nephrectomy. 50 patients with clear cell carcinoma received either bevacizumab plus erlotinib (n = 23) or bevacizumab alone (n = 27) for 8 weeks followed by restaging. 42/50 patients underwent nephrectomy. Median PFS was 11.0 months (95% CI 5.5–15.6 months), and median OS 25.4 months (95% CI 11.4 months to not evaluated). Wound dehiscence required treatment discontinuation for three and treatment delay for two other patients. The investigators concluded presurgical treatment with bevacizumab yields clinical outcomes comparable to postsurgical treatment, but it may result in wound-healing delays. Prospective, randomized trials are now required to test the value of neoadjuvant bevacizumab.

Summary

Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to VEGF and inhibits VEGF activity. It has significant clinical benefits in patients with common solid tumors, including metastatic colorectal carcinoma,⁷¹ metastatic breast carcinoma,⁷² and nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. ⁷³ The available data now clearly demonstrate reproducible effects and benefit in patients with metastatic RCC. A series of phase 2 trials demonstrated that bevacizumab monotherapy has activity and is well tolerated in patients with both therapy-naïve and pre-treated mRCC.^33,42 In addition, experience from clinical trials indicates that bevacizumab does not increase the toxicity of concomitantly administered therapy.^71–73 Bevacizumab and IFN-α suppress tumor growth by direct and indirect mechanisms, and these two agents may have complementary and synergistic effects when combined. The results from two recently completed phase 3 trials, demonstrate bevacizumab plus IFN-α is a clinically useful treatment option for patients with good/intermediate risk metastatic clear cell carcinoma of the kidney.^5,6 When this regimen is employed, it should be administered as described in the recently published studies.^5,6 The choice of therapy for individual patients should be based on perceived risk/benefit ratio as well as the adverse event profile of the therapy. In the future comparative studies will be needed to define standards of care and assist physicians and patients with these therapeutic decisions.