Phase I Study of Aprotinin in Advanced Breast Cancer

Trial Information

Phase I Study of Aprotinin in Advanced Breast Cancer

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease whose physiologic function
is to catalyze the conversion of plasminogen to the active proteolytic form, plasmin, for
participation in processes which require tissue remodeling such as wound healing,
embryogenesis and inflammatory responses. uPA is among numerous tissue proteases also found
in association with neoplastic disease, playing a pathologic role in tumor growth and
metastasis. The activity of uPA can be neutralized by a specific inhibitor, plasminogen
activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) which forms inactive complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry with
the plasminogen activators. Through inhibition of uPA and tPA, PAI-1 inhibits plasmin; the
inhibitory effect should limit the extent of extracellular matrix protein degradation and
reduce activation of MMP's and angiogenic growth factors such as VEGF. However, tissue
overexpression of PAI-1 correlates with more aggressive clinical behavior of the malignancy.
In fact, the upregulation of PAI-1 may be a cellular attempt to return to homeostasis,
which is disrupted by activation of uPA or other factors. Upregulation of PAI-1 may be an
indicator that uPA or some other pathway is contributing to an aggressive phenotype.
Co-expression of uPA and PAI-1 in primary breast tumor tissue is associated with a greater
risk of locoregional and distant recurrence, a poorer response to adjuvant hormonal or
chemotherapy, and a shorter survival. Elevation of circulating PAI-1 in patients with
metastatic breast cancer is associated with a shorter survival.

We hypothesize that uPA activation is in part responsible for the clinical progression of
malignancy. Inhibition of uPA is therefore a rational strategy for the control of advanced
breast cancer. Aprotinin is a safe and effective protease inhibitor of both uPA and
plasmin. Aprotinin is approved for the treatment of septic shock, and for the prevention of
blood loss in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. In patients undergoing
cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, Aprotinin blunts the acute increase in fibrinolytic activity
caused by uPA, and decreases the expression of counter-regulatory PAI-1. In several in vivo
tumor models, Aprotinin inhibits tumor growth, invasiveness, and metastasis. Limited
experience in patients with cancer suggests prolongation of survival in patients treated
with a single or multiple doses of Aprotinin. We hypothesize that Aprotinin would delay
disease progression by decreasing the chronic activation of uPA and PAI-1, and that delay of
tumor progression would correlate with inhibition of laboratory measures of fibrinolysis.

This is a Phase I trial. Patients with metastatic breast cancer will receive escalating
doses of Aprotinin in one of four dose cohorts, ranging from 2.0 x 106 KIU to 6.0 x 106 KIU.
Three to six patients will be entered at each dose cohort, and the maximum tolerated dose
will be defined as the highest dose at which fewer than 33% of patients experience a dose
limiting toxicity. A total of nine patients will be entered at the maximum tolerated dose.
The extent of disease will be assessed radiologically at baseline, and again at 6, 12, 18,
and 24 weeks after treatment with Aprotinin. Coagulation parameters, including PT/PTT,
D-Dimer, FDP's, uPA, and PAI-1 will be assayed at baseline, and at several intervals out to
30 days after treatment with Aprotinin.