Missing the Target?—Targeted Therapy in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Karin R. Purshouse

University of Edinburgh, Old College, Edinburgh, UK.

DOI: 10.4236/alc.2014.33008                

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer [SCLC] is a devastating form of cancer, with most patients harbouring extensive disease at diagnosis and survival of less than 5% at five years. Progress in novel therapies has been limited. This specialist review explores current targeted therapy options and potential areas of development.

Keywords

Oncology, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Targeted Therapy, Drug Development

1. Introduction

Lung cancer causes 1.59 million deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly a fifth of all cancer deaths in the world. In 2012 alone, there were over 14 million new diagnoses of lung cancer globally [1] . Tobacco is the key causative agent, with rates of lung cancer continuing to increase in areas where smoking prevalence is rising, such as Asia and Africa [2] [3] .

Commonly divided into small [SCLC] and non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC], SCLC represents around 10% - 15% of lung cancers [4] . Diagnosis is often late in the disease, when 5-year survival is less than 5% [5] . The prevalence of SCLC is decreasing due to the global overall reduction in smoking, but estimates suggest that smoking prevalence will only decrease from 23.7% to 22% by 2030, leaving 872 million remaining smokers [6] . In the UK, despite a fall in smoking in the last five decades, 20% of the population continues to smoke [7] . Although the primary cause of SCLC is smoking, others include asbestos, silica and air pollution exposure.

SCLC arises from the kulchitsky cells of the APUD endocrine system. These are neuroendocrine cells of the bronchial tree. SCLC tumours demonstrate rapid growth and dissemination, with a cell doubling time of 25 - 217 days and early metastasis [8] . They classically grow as a large, bulky central mass with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which can often be seen on a chest x-ray. They commonly metastasise to the liver, brain and bone, and are further characterised by paraneoplastic syndromes such as syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion [SIADH] and ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]. Suspicion is usually raised by a combination of symptoms [including cough, shortness of breath, haemoptysis] and chest x-ray findings as outlined above. A diagnosis is made by further imaging, usually computed tomography [CT], which can be extended to abdomen, pelvis and brain as part of staging, and tissue diagnosis, ideally by bronchoscopically obtained biopsy.

Staging is broadly limited [LD—within one hemithorax] or extensive disease [ED—beyond hemithorax], with around one-third diagnosed at the former and two-thirds at the latter stage. Very few patients present early enough for surgical resection. SCLC is acutely chemo-sensitive. LD patients are managed by chemotherapy [etoposide and cisplatin] and thoracic radiotherapy, and ED patients by chemotherapy [as above] alone. Prophylactic cranial radiation should be considered following initial treatment. Further chemotherapy [anthracyclines and topotecan are among those recommended] and palliative radiotherapy should be considered on recurrence. Treatment has stagnated in recent decades, and survival from diagnosis remains around 2 years for LD and less than a year for ED [9] .

An explosion in understanding about carcinogenesis, summarised by the ten hallmarks of cancer (Figure 1), has seen the advent of targeted therapy in cancer care in the last two decades [10] . This has created a revolution not only in therapeutics, but also the methods of drug discovery, pharmaceutical economics and drug regulation. Epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] targeted therapy in the form of erlotinib and gefinitib is now recommended for use in NSCLC [11] . No targeted therapies are currently recommended for SCLC in the UK.

This specialist review explores the targeted therapies currently being investigated for SCLC. A summary of the pathways being targeted is shown in Figure 2, with a summary of targeted therapies shown in Table1

Table 1. Summary of targeted therapies, examples and current indications of potential success.

Figure 1. The ten hallmarks and characteristics of cancer. Adapted from Ref. [10] .

Figure 2. Abbreviated summary of key pathways for targeted therapies in SCLC. Adapted from Ref. [26] [p. 539] Abbreviations: BAX-BCL2—associated X protein Bcl2-B-cell lymphoma 2; CDK4—cyclin dependent kinase 4, EGF-R—Endothelial growth factor receptor; ERK—extracellular signal regulated kinase; HGF/MET—Hepatic growth factor/MET]; Hh—Hedgehog; IGF-R—Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1; mTOR—mammalian target of rapamycin; MDM2—murine double minute 2; MEK—mitogen activated protein kinase; PI3K—Phosphoi-nositide 3-kinase; PTEN—phosphatase and tensin homolog; p16/INK4a—cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p16; p21—cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1; PKC—protein kinase C; PP2A—protein phosphatase 2A RB1-retinoblastoma 1; RAS—rat sarcoma; VEGF-R—Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.

· 2. Growth and Proliferation

• EGFR-Tyrosine Kinase [TK]—Gefitinib and erlotinib are small molecule inhibitors [SMIs] of the EGFR-TK used in NSCLC; however SCLC harbours a lower incidence of EGFR mutations. Indicative of this, a 19-patient phase II study of gefitinib did not improve outcome of SCLC [12] . Case studies suggest patients harbouring a mutation may respond to EGFR inhibition, suggesting further studies are needed in this patient population [13] [14] .

• Insulin-like growth factor receptor [IGFR] TK—Due to its important role in cell signalling and its interactions with EGFR, IGFR-TK inhibition has shown some promise in vitro, including increasing sensitivity to chemotherapy. [15] The results of a phase I/II trial with chemotherapy and IGFR-TK inhibitor AMG 479 or c-MET inhibitor AMG 102 are awaited [Clinical trial: 20060534].

• C-kit receptor TK—Imatinib, a drug more commonly known to target the bcr-abl fusion protein in chronic myeloid leukaemia, also targets c-kit, a protein over-expressed in 27.9% - 83.3% of ED SCLC [16] [17] . However, in phase II trials both selective and non-selective for patients harbouring c-kit overexpression, no benefit has been demonstrated in addition to chemotherapy [18] [19] .

• C-MET receptor TK-c-MET mutations have been demonstrated in SCLC with positive in vitro c-MET inhibition studies. [20] In SCLC the only trial recently undertake is that outlined above, with results awaited.

• Farnesyltransferase—important for intracellular RAS signalling, farnesyltransferase inhibition by monotherapy tipifarnib in a phase II trial showed no benefit [21] .

• Src kinase—Src has a role in Akt suppression, and may enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy [22] . A phase II trial of the multikinase [including src] inhibitor dasatinib had to be terminated early due to lack of efficacy [23] .

• Mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR]—Inhibition of this frequently activated pathway in single-agent studies with everolimus and temsirolimus showed limited efficacy but was well tolerated [24] [25] . Combination therapy studies are ongoing [26] .

• Phosphoinositide 3-kinase [PI3K]—PI3K is commonly activated in SCLC either by a subunit catalytic mutation or loss of PTEN tumour suppressor gene. A pre-clinical study of PI3K inhibitor PF-4989216 showed some promise for patients harbouring PI3K mutations [27] .

• Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors [PARPi]—PARP is an enzyme needed for DNA repair and olaparib inhibits this process, leading to cell death. A clinical trial has recently commenced for relapsed SCLC with olaparib [Clinical trial: LU2006].

• Hedgehog [Hh]—Hh is involved in a range of pathways promoting cell propagation, in part through activation of the wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Vismodegib is among the most promising, although a phase I trial demonstrated limited anti-tumour activity in SCLC [28] .

2.1. Angiogenesis

A more vascular cancer than NSCLC, SCLC harbours more vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptors and VEGF [26] .

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)—

o  Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody against the VEGF-A receptor, and has been investigated in a number of phase II trials. Single-arm trials for LD and ED SCLC have shown some promising results in both maintenance studies and in combination with chemotherapy [29] [30] . However, a randomised phase II trial of fifty-two patients showed improved progression free survival, but not overall survival [31] . Other studies suggest this could be useful in advanced, chemoresistant patients in a second-line treatment study [32] .

o  Other VEGF inhibitors: SMIs Cediranib and Vandetanib have both reached phase II trials in recurrent disease and post-chemotherapy respectively, neither of which demonstrated survival benefit ] [34][33] . Aflibercept is a novel fusion protein that binds, and thus blocks, VEGFA/B. A phase II trial with Topotecan is ongoing [Clinical trial: NCT00828139].

• Matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs]—these enzymes are involved in extracellular matrix remodelling, tumour growth and metastasis. [26] The last trials were over a decade ago, with no survival benefit [35] [36] .

• Thalidomide—Despite an unknown mechanism, thalidomide reached phase III trials owing to its antiangiogenic effects. The Intergroup study demonstrated a survival benefit in patients with a better performance status, however all trials have shown significant rates of thrombotic events ] [38[37] . Balancing adequate dosing with toxicity is a key limitation.

• Platelet-derived Growth Factor receptor [PDGFR]—multikinase inhibitors Sorafenib and Sunitinib inhibit VEGFR in addition to PDGFR, and also target raf kinase [sorafenib] and kit [sunitinib] amongst others. Sorafenib has shown significant toxicity and limited efficacy in Phase II trials with chemotherapy and as maintenance therapy [39] . Sunitinib recently demonstrated improved progression free survival versus placebo as maintenance therapy with a trend towards improved overall survival in a randomised phase II trial [40] .

• 2.2. Apoptosis

• Bcl-2—Bcl-2 is found at higher concentrations in SCLC in its role as an apoptosis inhibitor. Bcl-2 inhibitors include an antisense Bcl-2 oligonucleotide and BH3-mimetics. [26] Of the latter, AT-101 has reached phase I/II clinical trial in relapsed SCLC patients. It did not show any treatment response, but BH3-mimetics remain the most promising anti-apopotic agents [41] .

• Proteosome inhibitors—the 26S ubiquitin-proteosome complex promotes the Bcl-2 pathway. Bortezomib inhibits this complex, although a phase II monotherapy trial in relapsed SCLC patients did not improve outcomes [42] .

• Polo-like kinase [PLK1]—PLK1 is involved with various stages of mitosis, and its inhibition induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. A monotherapy phase II trial of PLK1-inhibitor Bi2536 was ended early as there was a lack of efficacy [43] . The mechanism of Histone deacetylase inhibitors [HDACi] includes Plk1 inhibition (see Table 1) [44] .

• HDAC—epigenetic modulation is among the most exciting targeting options. HDAC is required for acetylation of histones and other proteins, thereby affecting gene and protein expression. Animal studies suggest SCLC may be particularly sensitive to HDACi [45] . Numerous trials are ongoing, such as a trial of vorinostat with chemotherapy [Clinical trial: NCT00702962].

• 2.3. Drug Resistance

• Multidrug-resistance proteins: To address chemotherapy resistance, therapy targeting drug resistance mechanisms, including P-glycoprotein and multi-drug resistance-associated protein-1 [MDR-1], has been explored. A trial of biricodar with chemotherapy was terminated early due to lack of efficacy [Clinical trial: NCT00003847].

• Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]—Pre-clinical studies suggest HER2 is up regulated in chemoresistant SCLC and recent research suggests trastuzumab could inhibit this effect via antibody-dependent cell-mediated toxicity [46] . This is yet to reach in vivo studies.

• 2.4. Immune System

• CD56—a novel DM1-conjugated anti-CD56 antibody, BB-10901, targets this marker on SCLC cells. Early phase studies suggest some benefit in a second-line treatment setting, although formal results are awaited [47] .

• CTLA-4—CTLA-4 on T-cells switches off the binding of T-cells to cancer cells. Ipilimumab binds and blocks CTLA-4, which maintains T-cell destruction of cancer. It is licensed in melanoma, but is currently in a multi-centre phase III trial in the USA for SCLC [Clinical trial: CA184-156].

• GD3—GD3 gangliosides are on most SCLC cells, and BEC2 is a GD3-mimicking, IgG2b monoclonal antibody. When used with bacille Calmette-Guerin [bCG], it triggers an immune response against GD3. A phase III trial in LD patients showed no benefit [47] [48] .

• P53—a key gatekeeper in the cell cycle, p53 is often mutated in SCLC. This is exploited via a vaccine, which promotes an immune response against p53. A clinical trial showed a correlation between immunological activation and chemotherapy response [49] . Another vaccine under investigation is against alltrans retinoic acid [The ICE trial: Clinical trial: NCT00617409].

3. Discussion

Treatment options for SCLC have progressed little in the last few decades. Research is more heavily weighted towards NSCLC, and novel therapies have seen less success in SCLC. The majority of early phase clinical trials have been unsuccessful, mirroring a trend in cancer therapeutics that sees only 5% of drugs entering trial stage gaining approval and a 70% attrition rate at Phase I trial [50] . Lack of efficacy and toxicity are the major causes of failure in cancer trials. Coupled with systemic inefficiency in drug discovery and design, the rocketing cost of drug discovery and rising patient expectations, the challenges faced by targeted in SCLC reflect challenges in other clinical fields.

Of the therapies outlined above, bevacizumab and potentially IGFR inhibitors may show greatest promise. Thalidomide dose is limited by toxicity despite evidence of clinical benefit, and some of the proliferation targeting therapies, such as EGFR and c-kit, and immunotherapies may prove successful in a selected patient population. Many of these drugs remain at the trial stage, making any conclusions difficult.

The search for surrogate treatment markers, such as biomarkers and other drug response indicators, may be a method of expediting targeted therapy trials to reduce the timescale and risk of harm to patients [51] . Computational drug design methods could also help to screen for potential drugs and design them to overcome toxicity and pharmacokinetic barriers, such as the recently described Boolean in-silico model [52] .

4. Conclusion

There are no current targeted therapies licensed for use in SCLC. Of those under investigation, bevacizumab and IGFR inhibitors may offer the greatest potential, but many others are at a trial stage. Novel drug design methods may increase the efficiency of targeted drug design in SCLC.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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