Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Study of Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin With or Without PTK787/ZK 222584 in Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Purpose Treatment options for patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are limited, and treatments with differing mechanisms of action are needed. PTK787/ZK 222584 (PTK/ZK) is a novel oral angiogenesis inhibitor with therapeutic potential for the treatment of solid tumors. Methods Patients (N = 855) were randomly assigned to treatment with PTK/ZK or placebo once daily in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFOX4). Stratification factors included WHO performance status (PS; 0 v 1 to 2) and lactate dehydrogenase ([LDH] <= 1.5x the upper limit of normal [ULN] v > 1.5 x ULN). Treatment was given until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was overall survival (OS); secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of PTK/ZK. Results No statistically significant differences were seen between the treatment groups for the overall comparison of OS. With PTK/ZK and placebo, respectively, median OS was 13.1 and 11.9 months (hazard ratio [HR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.16; P = .957). Median PFS was longer with PTK/ZK than with placebo (5.6 and 4.2 months, respectively; HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96; P = .013). An exploratory, post hoc analysis demonstrated improved PFS in patients with high LDH, regardless of WHO PS (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.83; P = .001). Conclusion PTK/ZK in combination with FOLFOX4 did not improve OS of patients with pretreated mCRC but did improve PFS. The effect of PTK/ZK was more pronounced in patients with high LDH at baseline.