Phase I trial of a formulated IL-12 plasmid in combination with carboplatin and docetaxel chemotherapy in the treatment of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer

Abstract Objectives The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a formulated IL-12 plasmid administered intraperitoneally (IP) in conjunction with intravenous (IV) carboplatin/docetaxel in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients. Methods Escalating doses of IL-12 plasmid (phIL-12) formulated with the lipopolymer PEG-PEI-Cholesterol (PPC) were administered IP every 10–11 days for a total of four treatments and the highest dose was expanded to eight treatments. Patients also received IV carboplatin (AUC 5) and docetaxel (75 mg/m2 ) every 21 days. Patients were followed for safety, biological activity and antitumor activity after phIL-12/PPC treatment. Results All 13 patients enrolled in the study received both phIL-12/PPC and chemotherapy treatment. There were 49 plasmid-associated adverse events (AEs). The most common AEs were abdominal pain, transient hypotension, low grade fever, catheter site pain, chills, dysgeusia, infusion-related reaction, and nausea. These AEs appeared to be plasmid dose related. Grade 3 AEs included manageable abdominal pain and cytokine release syndrome. There were no dose limiting toxicities and the plasmid treatment did not augment the chemotherapy-associated AEs. The best overall antitumor response (17% CR, 33% PR, 42% SD and 8% PD) was typical of the patient population enrolled for the study. Translational studies showed rise in IFN-γ and TNF-α concentrations in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions The escalating doses and cycles of intraperitoneal phIL-12/PPC when combined with carboplatin/docetaxel chemotherapy in recurrent ovarian cancer patients were well tolerated and did not appear to exacerbate the side effects or attenuate the efficacy of the chemotherapy treatment.