Tolerability of nintedanib (BIBF 1120) in combination with docetaxel: a phase 1 study in Japanese patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: This phase I, open-label study evaluated the safety/tolerability and maximum tolerated dose of second-line nintedanib combined with docetaxel in Japanese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Methods: Eligible patients received docetaxel 60 or 75 mg/m(2) (day 1) plus nintedanib 100, 150, or 200 mg twice daily (bid; days 2-21) in 21-day cycles. Standard 3 + 3 dose escalations were performed separately in patient cohorts with a body surface area (BSA) of less than 1.5 m(2) (BSA <1.5) and BSA greater than or equal to 1.5, respectively.

Results: Forty-two patients (17 BSA <1.5, 25 BSA ≥ 1.5) were treated. The maximum tolerated dose of nintedanib was 150 and 200 mg bid in patients with BSA less than 1.5 and BSA greater than or equal to 1.5 (BSA ≥ 1.5), respectively, in combination with 75 mg/m(2) of docetaxel. Dose-limiting toxicities (all grade 3 hepatic enzyme elevations) occurred in 12 patients (six per cohort). Drug-related adverse events included neutropenia (95%), leukopenia (83%), fatigue (76%), alopecia (71%), decreased appetite (67%), and elevations in alanine aminotransferase (64%) and aspartate aminotransferase (64%). All hepatic enzyme elevations were reversible and manageable with dose reduction or discontinuation. Among 38 evaluable patients, 10 (26%) had a partial response and 18 (47%) had stable disease.

Conclusion: Continuous treatment with second-line nintedanib combined with docetaxel was manageable and showed promising signs of efficacy in Japanese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.