Table 1 Failed clinical trials for MAPK pathway inhibitors in HNSCC patients.

From: Precision drugging of the MAPK pathway in head and neck cancer

Clinical trial ID

Clinical trial (tumor type; N)

Target(s)

Drug(s)

No. of HNSCC patients

HNSCC patient outcome

Outcomes of non-HNSCC patients

Ref

NCT00454090

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 82)

MEK1/2

AZD8330

8

Not specified

Manageable toxicity at 20 mg BID (MTD); 1 melanoma case with partial response; 22 other patients with stable disease (>3mo).

24

NCT00085787

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 57)

MEK1/2

Selumetinib

2

Not specified

19 patients had stable disease at the end of cycle 2 (≥ 5mo of stable disease in 9 patients).

25

NCT02586987

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 58)

MEK1/2

Selumetinib [with MEDI4736; with MEDI4736 + Tremelimumab (anti-CTLA4 antibody)]

N.A.

N.A.

“Completed” but result unavailable.

N.A.

NCT00467779

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 97)

MEK1/2

Cobimetinib

5

No objective responses reported

In melanoma patients, 1 complete and 6 partial responses.

26

NCT03264066

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 88)

MEK1/2

Cobimetinib [with Atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1 antibody)]

N.A.

N.A.

“Completed” but result unavailable.

N.A.

NCT00948467

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 51)

MEK1/2

TAK-733

1

No objective responses reported

2 partial responses (cutaneous melanoma).

27

NCT01358331

Phase I (multiple solid tumors; N = 25)

ERK1/2

MK-8353

1

Discontinued after 56 days of treatment (200 mg BID) due to progression

3 BRAF p.V600E-mutant melanoma patients out of 15 evaluable patients demonstrated partial responses.

28