Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Clinical Studies

Exposure-response relationship of cabozantinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated in routine care

Abstract

Background

Interindividual pharmacokinetic variability may influence the clinical benefit or toxicity of cabozantinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We aimed to investigate the exposure-toxicity and exposure-response relationship of cabozantinib in unselected mRCC patients treated in routine care.

Methods

This ambispective multicenter study enrolled consecutive patients receiving cabozantinib in monotherapy. Steady-state trough concentration (Cmin,ss) within the first 3 months after treatment initiation was used for the PK/PD analysis with dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and survival outcomes. Logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to identify the risk factors of DLT and inefficacy in patients, respectively.

Results

Seventy-eight mRCC patients were eligible for the statistical analysis. Fifty-two patients (67%) experienced DLT with a median onset of 2.1 months (95%CI 0.7–8.2). In multivariate analysis, Cmin,ss was identified as an independent risk factor of DLT (OR 1.46, 95%CI [1.04–2.04]; p = 0.029). PFS and OS were not statistically associated with the starting dose (p = 0.81 and p = 0.98, respectively). In the multivariate analysis of PFS, Cmin, ss > 336 ng/mL resulted in a hazard ratio of 0.28 (95%CI, 0.10–0.77, p = 0.014). By contrast, Cmin, ss > 336 ng/mL was not statistically associated with longer OS.

Conclusion

Early plasma drug monitoring may be useful to optimise cabozantinib treatment in mRCC patients treated in monotherapy, especially in frail patients starting at a lower than standard dose.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3: Survival in patients treated in the second-line or later-line (n = 71) according to cabaozantinib plasma exposure.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Hsieh JJ, Purdue MP, Signoretti S, Swanton C, Albiges L, Schmidinger M, et al. Renal cell carcinoma. Nat Rev Dis Prim. 2017;3:17009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Choueiri TK, Escudier B, Powles T, Mainwaring PN, Rini BI, Donskov F, et al. Cabozantinib versus everolimus in advanced renal-cell carcinoma. N. Engl J Med. 2015;373:1814–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Choueiri TK, Powles T, Burotto M, Escudier B, Bourlon MT, Zurawski B, et al. Nivolumab plus cabozantinib versus sunitinib for advanced renal-cell carcinoma. N. Engl J Med. 2021;384:829–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Buil-Bruna N, López-Picazo J-M, Martín-Algarra S, Trocóniz IF. Bringing model-based prediction to oncology clinical practice: a review of pharmacometrics principles and applications. Oncologist. 2016;21:220–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Schmidinger M, Danesi R, Jones R, McDermott R, Pyle L, Rini B, et al. Individualized dosing with axitinib: rationale and practical guidance. Future Oncol Lond Engl. 2018;14:861–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lacy S, Nielsen J, Yang B, Miles D, Nguyen L, Hutmacher M. Population exposure-response analysis of cabozantinib efficacy and safety endpoints in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Chemother Pharm. 2018;81:1061–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Castellano D, Pablo Maroto J, Benzaghou F, Taguieva N, Nguyen L, Clary DO, et al. Exposure-response modeling of cabozantinib in patients with renal cell carcinoma: Implications for patient care. Cancer Treat Rev. 2020;89:102062.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Krens SD, van Erp NP, Groenland SL, Moes DJAR, Mulder SF, Desar IME, et al. Exposure-response analyses of cabozantinib in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer. BMC Cancer. 2022;22:228.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Cerbone L, Combarel D, Geraud A, Auclin E, Foulon S, Alves Costa Silva C, et al. Association of cabozantinib pharmacokinetics, progression and toxicity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: results from a pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics study. ESMO Open. 2021;6:100312.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Lacy S, Yang B, Nielsen J, Miles D, Nguyen L, Hutmacher M. A population pharmacokinetic model of cabozantinib in healthy volunteers and patients with various cancer types. Cancer Chemother Pharm. 2018;81:1071–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Eisenhauer EA, Therasse P, Bogaerts J, Schwartz LH, Sargent D, Ford R, et al. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). Eur J Cancer Oxf Engl 1990. 2009;45:228–47.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lacy SA, Miles DR, Nguyen LT. Clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cabozantinib. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2017;56:477–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Choueiri TK, Escudier B, Powles T, Tannir NM, Mainwaring PN, Rini BI, et al. Cabozantinib versus everolimus in advanced renal cell carcinoma (METEOR): final results from a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016;17:917–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Albiges L, Fléchon A, Chevreau C, Topart D, Gravis G, Oudard S, et al. Real-world evidence of cabozantinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results from the CABOREAL Early Access Program. Eur J Cancer Oxf Engl 1990. 2021;142:102–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mueller-Schoell A, Groenland SL, Scherf-Clavel O, van Dyk M, Huisinga W, Michelet R, et al. Therapeutic drug monitoring of oral targeted antineoplastic drugs. Eur J Clin Pharm. 2021;77:441–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Puisset F, Mseddi M, Mourey L, Pouessel D, Blanchet B, Chatelut E, et al. Therapeutic drug monitoring of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of advanced renal cancer. Cancers. 2023;15:313.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Gan CL, Dudani S, Wells JC, Donskov F, Pal SK, Dizman N, et al. Cabozantinib real-world effectiveness in the first-through fourth-line settings for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results from the international metastatic renal cell carcinoma database consortium. Cancer Med. 2021;10:1212–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Krens SD, van Boxtel W, Uijen MJM, Jansman FGA, Desar IME, Mulder SF, et al. Exposure-toxicity relationship of cabozantinib in patients with renal cell cancer and salivary gland cancer. Int J Cancer. 2022;150:308–16.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Tran BD, Li J, Ly N, Faggioni R, Roskos L. Cabozantinib exposure-response analysis for the phase 3 CheckMate 9ER trial of nivolumab plus cabozantinib versus sunitinib in first-line advanced renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Chemother Pharm. 2023;91:179–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Corianò M, Giannarelli D, Scartabellati G, De Giorgi U, Brighi N, Fornarini G, et al. Tailoring treatment with cabozantinib or pazopanib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: does it affect outcome? Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2023;23:545–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Arrondeau J, Mir O, Boudou-Rouquette P, Coriat R, Ropert S, Dumas G, et al. Sorafenib exposure decreases over time in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Invest N. Drugs. 2012;30:2046–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ozbey AC, Combarel D, Poinsignon V, Lovera C, Saada E, Mir O, et al. Population pharmacokinetic analysis of pazopanib in patients and determination of target AUC. Pharm Basel Switz. 2021;14:927.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sharma A, Elias R, Christie A, Williams NS, Pedrosa I, Bjarnason GA, et al. Extended disease control with unconventional cabozantinib dose increase in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Kidney Cancer Clifton Va. 2022;6:69–79.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Mir O, Touati N, Lia M, Litière S, Le Cesne A, Sleijfer S, et al. Impact of concomitant administration of gastric acid-suppressive agents and pazopanib on outcomes in soft-tissue sarcoma patients treated within the EORTC 62043/62072 trials. Clin Cancer Res J Am Assoc Cancer Res. 2019;25:1479–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ha VH, Ngo M, Chu MP, Ghosh S, Sawyer MB, Chambers CR. Does gastric acid suppression affect sunitinib efficacy in patients with advanced or metastatic renal cell cancer? J Oncol Pharm Pr Publ Int Soc Oncol Pharm Pr. 2015;21:194–200.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Nguyen L, Holland J, Mamelok R, Laberge M-K, Grenier J, Swearingen D, et al. Evaluation of the effect of food and gastric pH on the single-dose pharmacokinetics of cabozantinib in healthy adult subjects. J Clin Pharm. 2015;55:1293–302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Rassy E, Cerbone L, Auclin E, Benchimoll-Zouari A, Flippot R, Alves Costa Silva C, et al. The effect of concomitant proton pump inhibitor and cabozantinib on the outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Oncologist. 2021;26:389–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Buti S, Tommasi C, Scartabellati G, De Giorgi U, Brighi N, Rebuzzi SE, et al. The impact of proton-pump inhibitors administered with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Anticancer Drugs. 2023;34:178–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Lee C-H, Shen M-C, Tsai M-J, Chang J-S, Huang Y-B, Yang Y-H, et al. Proton pump inhibitors reduce the survival of advanced lung cancer patients with therapy of gefitinib or erlotinib. Sci Rep. 2022;12:7002.

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. McGregor B, Mortazavi A, Cordes L, Salabao C, Vandlik S, Apolo AB. Management of adverse events associated with cabozantinib plus nivolumab in renal cell carcinoma: a review. Cancer Treat Rev. 2022;103:102333.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

BB, AJ, JM, and YV designed the study. All authors participated in the collection and assembly of data. AJ performed the statistical analysis. BB, AJ, and YV drafted the manuscript. All authors revised the work, approved its final version, and agreed to be accountable for all its aspects.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benoit Blanchet.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

BB has received consulting and speaking fees (Bristol Myers Squibb, Clovis Oncology, Janssen, Pierre Fabre, Pfizer and Promise). SO has received honoraria (Sanofi, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Merck, Novartis, Ipsen, Astellas, Janssen and Bayer), travel and accommodation expenses (Sanofi, Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Merck, Novartis, Ipsen, Astellas, Janssen and Bayer) and research grants (Sanofi, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Bayer and Roche). YV has received honoraria (Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Ipsen, Pfizer and Eisai) and research grants (Bristol Myers Squibb and Ipsen). CJ has received honoraria (Ipsen, Astellas, Bayer and Janssen). RF has received honoraria (Bayer, Astellas, Janssen, Ipsen, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Merck). AP has received speaking fees (Bristol Myers Squibb and Pierre Fabre). LM has received honoraria (Sanofi, Astellas, Janssen, MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Astra Zeneca and Merck, Novartis) and travel and accommodation expenses (Sanofi, Astellas, Janssen, Bristol Myers, Ipsen, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, MSD). LA has received honoraria (Novartis, Astellas, Janssen, MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Eisai, Pfizer and Merck, Roche) and travel and accommodation expenses (Bristol Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Pfizer, MSD). OH has received honoraria (Sanofi, Bayer, MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Pfizer, Eisai, Janssen, Astra Zeneca and Merck). XD has received consulting honoraria (Inflectis Biosciences, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, MAPREG and Merck). JM has received consulting honoraria (Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, Lilly Eli, MSD and Pfizer) and travel and accommodation expenses (Lilly Eli, Gilead and Seattle Genetics).AXV, AJ, FP, DC, FLL, FT, MT, TP, CT, JC, EC, MV and FG declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the local ethics committee in oncology (CLEP number: AAA-2022–08055). Informed consent was obtained from all patients prior to inclusion.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Blanchet, B., Xu-Vuilard, A., Jouinot, A. et al. Exposure-response relationship of cabozantinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated in routine care. Br J Cancer 130, 961–969 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-024-02585-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-024-02585-y

Search

Quick links