| Background | Figitumumab is a fully humanized IgG2 mAb against IGF-1R. Its recommended dose is 20 mg/kg repeated weekly. In phase I trials treatment-related toxicities were generally mild. The most common adverse events reported were hyperglycemia, anorexia, nausea, elevation of liver function tests, diarrhea, hyperuracemia and fatigue. Figitumumab had shown significant activity against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and it was planned to be evaluated in combination with chemotherapy in a randomized phase III trial in patients with metastatic NSCLC. However, the study was early discontinued on December 2009 because an independent monitoring committee concluded that the combination of figitumumab plus chemotherapy would be unlikely to meet the primary endpoint of improving overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone. Additionally, there were also some concerns that hyperglycemia could be a potential contributor of increased patients’ morbidity. In regard to breast cancer, figitumumab was planned to be tested in phase I trials as neo-adjuvant treatment, but the trial was withdrawn prior initiation, although there are preclinical data showing a additive and/or synergistic effect of figitumumab with chemotherapy in basal breast cancer subtype. |
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