Phase II Study of NGR-hTNF in Combination With Doxorubicin in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer

Considering the safety/toxicity profile of NGR-hTNF characterized by mild-to-moderate constitutional symptoms, the reversibility of these adverse events generally occurring only during the infusion time; the absence of overlapping toxicities with chemotherapeutic agents; the safety and preliminary antitumor activity observed in previous trial with doxorubicin; and the objective response rate (RR) registered in a phase II trial in previously treated ovarian cancer patients seems justified to evaluate in a randomized phase II trial the efficacy of NGR-hTNF against a doxorubicin-based option in advanced ovarian cancer patients progressing or recurrent after a standard platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Histologically-proven ovarian cancer, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer in advanced or metastatic stage
• Patients previously treated with a maximum of two platinum-based regimen plus paclitaxel and with documented progressive disease on treatment (refractory patient population) or within 6 months from last chemotherapy cycle (resistant patient population)
• ECOG Performance status 0 - 2
• Life expectancy of 12 weeks or more
• Normal cardiac function
• Adequate baseline bone marrow, hepatic and renal function defined as follows:

• Neutrophils ≥ 1.5 x 109/L; platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L; hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN
• AST and/or ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN in absence of liver metastasis or ≤ 5 x ULN in presence of liver metastasis
• Serum creatinine < 1.5 x ULN
• At least one (not previously irradiated) target lesion or non-measurable disease only, according to RECIST criteria
• Patients may have had prior therapy providing the following conditions are met:

• Surgery and radiation therapy: wash-out period of 14 days
• Systemic anti-tumor therapy: wash-out period of 21 days
• Patients must give written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Patients must not receive any other investigational agents while on study
• More than two previous chemotherapy lines and previous treatment with anthracycline
• Patients with myocardial infarction within the last six months, unstable angina, New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade II or greater congestive heart failure, or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
• Prolonged QTc interval (congenital or acquired) > 450 ms
• History or evidence upon physical examination of CNS disease unless adequately treated
• Patients with active or uncontrolled systemic disease/infections or with serious illness or medical conditions, which is incompatible with the protocol
• Known hypersensitivity/allergic reaction to human albumin preparations or to any of the excipients
• Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol
• Pregnancy or lactation.