A phase I dose escalation study of Nimotuzumab in combination with concurrent chemoradiation for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus

Nimotuzumab (h-R3) is a humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody. We conducted a phase I study to assess the safety, tolerance, maximal tolerance dose (MTD) and efficacy of h-R3 in combination with concurrent chemoradiation in patient with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma. Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus were eligible. A total dose of 61.2 Gy was delivered by conventional fractionation. Chemotherapy was concurrently administered with irradiation every 4 weeks with PF regimen (cis-platinum of 25 mg/m²/d, d1-3; 5-Fu of 1,800 mg/m², intravenously infusion in 72 h) for 4 cycles. h-R3 was administrated weekly during irradiation for 6 weeks. h-R3 dose escalation started with 100 mg/week, and followed by 200 mg/week and 400 mg/week. Three patients were enrolled in of each dose cohort. 11 patients were enrolled in the trial with 3, 4 and 4 in 100 mg/week, 200 mg/week and 400 mg/week cohort, respectively. 2 patients in 200 mg/week and 400 mg/week cohort were withdrawn due to patients’ own decisions. No dose limiting toxicity was observed. Grade 3–4 of esophagitis, Grade 3 of leucocytopenia and neutrocytopenia occurred in 18% (2/11), 18% (2/11) and 9% (1/11) of patients, respectively. For nimotuzumab-related toxicity only one patient experienced Grade 1 skin rash, and no Grade ≥3 of toxicity was noticed. In 9 patients, who completed planned treatments, 6-month and 1-year overall survival were 78% and 67%, respectively, and 1 year local progression-free survival, 100%. h-R3 of 400 mg/week administered concurrently with chemoradiation was well-tolerant. MTD has not been reached yet.