Rose Bengal (PV-10) at ASCO 2016

[Colored emphasis below is mine.]

A phase 2 study of intralesional PV-10 followed by radiotherapy for localized in transit or recurrent metastatic melanoma.

Author(s): Matthew C Foote, Bryan H Burmeister, Janine Thomas, Tavis Read, Bernard Mark Smithers; Princess Alexandra Hospital and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia

Background: Intralesional rose bengal (IL PV-10) can elicit ablation of injected tumors and a T-cell mediated abscopal effect in untreated lesions. Phase 2 testing in patients with Stage III-IV melanoma yielded a 51% objective response rate (ORR) with 50% complete response (CR) when all disease was injected. Three patients who progressed received external beam radiotherapy (XRT) to their recurrent lesions with an impressive response without an increased radiation reaction. Methods: An open-label, single-arm phase 2 study was performed to assess efficacy and safety of IL PV-10 followed by XRT. Eligibility included recurrent localized dermal, subcutaneous, in-transit or metastatic malignant melanoma (stage IIIb / IIIc) suitable for intralesional therapy and XRT. Patients received a single course of PV-10 into lesions treatable within a localized radiotherapy field. If CR was not achieved patients received 30 Gy (6 fractions of 5 Gy twice weekly over 3 weeks) 3D conformal radiotherapy (photons or electrons) commencing 6-10 weeks after PV-10. Outcome assessments included ORR and clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD) of in-field target lesions by RECIST criteria, toxicity using CTCAE V3.0, and progression free survival (PFS). Results: There were 15 patients enrolled with 13 completing the radiotherapy component. Two patients had rapidly progressive distant disease following PV-10 injection. The mean age of patients was 69 years. With a median follow up duration of 19.3 months the overall response rate was 87% (CR 33%, PR 53%) with 93% clinical benefit on an intent-to-treat basis. The mean time to best response was 3.8 months, mean duration of complete response (PFS) 12.2 months, overall loco regional progression rate 80% and melanoma specific survival 65.5 months. Size of metastases ( < 10mm) predicted potential for lesion complete response. Treatments were well tolerated with no treatment associated grade 4 or 5 adverse events. Conclusions: The combination of IL PV-10 and radiotherapy resulted in lesion specific, normal tissue sparing, ablation of melanoma tumors with minimal local or systemic adverse effects. The study results justify expanded evaluation in a randomized trial.

Intralesional rose bengal for treatment of melanoma.

Author(s): Sanjiv S. Agarwala, Robert Hans Ingemar Andtbacka, Kristen N. Rice, Merrick I. Ross, Charles Raben Scoggins, Bernard Mark Smithers, Eric D. Whitman, Eric Andrew Wachter; St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network and Temple University, Bethlehem, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Medcl Onc Assoc of San Diego, San Diego, CA; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; Princess Alexandra Hospital and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Atlantic Melanoma Ctr, Morristown, NJ; Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc, Knoxville, TN

Background: Intralesional rose bengal (PV-10) is an investigational small molecule ablative immunotherapy that can elicit primary ablation of injected tumors and secondary T-cell activation. Phase 2 testing in Stage III-IV melanoma yielded a 51% objective response rate (ORR) with 50% complete response (CR) when all disease was injected. PV-10 is currently undergoing phase 3 testing as a single agent in patients with locally advanced cutaneous melanoma and phase 1b testing in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition for more advanced disease. Methods: Study PV-10-MM-31 (NCT02288897) is an international multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial of PV-10 versus investigator’s choice of chemotherapy (dacarbazine or temozolomide) or oncolytic viral therapy (talimogene laherparepvec). A total of 225 subjects with locally advanced cutaneous melanoma (Stage IIIB or Stage IIIC recurrent, satellite or in-transit melanoma) randomized 2:1 will be assessed for progression free survival (PFS) by RECIST 1.1 (using blinded Independent Review Committee assessment of study photography and radiology data). Comprehensive disease assessments, including review of photography and radiology data, are performed at 12 week intervals; clinical assessments of progression status are performed at 28-day intervals. Study PV-10-MM-1201 (NCT02557321) is an international multicenter, open-label, sequential phase study of PV-10 in combination with pembrolizumab. Stage IV metastatic melanoma patients with at least one injectable cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion who are candidates for pembrolizumab are eligible. In the current phase 1b portion of the study, up to 24 subjects will receive the combination of PV-10 and pembrolizumab (PV-10 + standard of care). In phase 2 an estimated 120 participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either PV-10 and pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab alone. The primary endpoint for phase 1b is safety and tolerability with PFS a key secondary endpoint; PFS is the primary endpoint for phase 2. Clinical trial information: NCT02288897

$PVCT: PV-10 + Radiotherapy by Foote et al.

Recall the combination of PV-10 + radiotherapy: Foote et al.'s initial and ongoing work combining PV-10 and radiotherapy are showing dramatic improvement for patients with much later stage disease (Stage IV) and heavy tumor burden.

A recent article on Princess Alexandra Hospital (Australia) radiation oncologist Dr. Matthew Foote, MD highlighted stereotactic body radiation therapy, where radiation is delivered at sub-millimeter precision (1 millimeter is equal to about 4 hundredths of an inch) to treat cancerous tumors while minimizing harm to normal tissue. By beng precise in its direction, Dr. Foote is able to "...crank up the dose of radiation." Craig historically has held the view that other drugs killed cancers through toxicity rather than tumor tissue specificity, and thus had poor efficacy and problematic side effects. The drugs killed normal tissue, leaked out and systemically poisoned patients, preventing the proper and effective stimulation of the immune system. It is interesting to note "targeted radiotherapy" is better than less precisely delivered radiotherapy.

In the article, Dr. Foote is quoted as saying "There’s evidence that the body’s immune system can fight melanoma so a high radiation dose can actually help stimulate the patient’s immune system to then fight off the melanoma."

Also recall the work by Tan and Nehaus: "Novel use of Rose Bengal (PV-10) in two cases of refractory scalp sarcoma." In the two cases highlighted by the authors, the approach was backwards. Yet, the “backwards” approach yielded good results on refractory sarcoma. Why backwards? Recall Foote et al.’s past and current work: PV-10 first, followed by radiotherapy. That appears to be the right treatment order.

Perhaps Dr. Foote will try PV-10 first, followed by targeted radiotherapy.

When Provectus provided an update about Dr. Foote's PV-10 + radiotherapy trial in October 2012, 7 subjects were enrolled.

Around January 2013, it appeared at least 10 patients have been treated, a follow-up to the success of their initial work on 3 patients.

I gather [but not from the company] half of the contemplated 30-patient trial has been enrolled.