First-In-Man Clinical Trial of the Oral Pan-AKT Inhibitor MK-2206 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
December 2011
in “
Journal of clinical oncology
”
TLDR MK-2206 was safe and effectively blocked AKT signaling in cancer patients, warranting more trials.
The first-in-man clinical trial of the oral pan-AKT inhibitor MK-2206 in 33 patients with advanced solid tumors established the maximum-tolerated dose at 60 mg due to dose-limiting toxicities like skin rash and stomatitis. MK-2206 was generally well-tolerated and showed evidence of AKT signaling blockade, with significant declines in phosphorylated AKT in tumor biopsies and suppression in hair follicles. Preliminary antitumor efficacy was observed, including a notable case of a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma showing a 60% decrease in cancer antigen 19-9 levels and 23% tumor shrinkage. The results supported further rational combination trials to enhance clinical benefits.