Molecular Dx Significance 7/10

First-in-Human KAT6A/B Inhibitor Shows Durable Activity in ER-Positive Breast Cancer

PF-07248144, a selective KAT6A/KAT6B inhibitor, achieved a 30% response rate and 10.7-month median PFS combined with fulvestrant in heavily pretreated ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. This first clinical proof of concept for histone acetyltransferase inhibition establishes KAT6A/B as druggable epigenetic targets and may drive future companion diagnostic development for patient selection based on epigenetic profiling.

The original study

Inhibition of lysine acetyltransferase KAT6 in ER

Authors
Mukohara T, Park YH, Sommerhalder D, Yonemori K, Hamilton E, Kim SB, et al.
Journal
Nature medicine
Type
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Phase I, Multicenter Study
PMID
38824244
Read the original study →

Original abstract

Inhibition of histone lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) KAT6A and KAT6B has shown antitumor activity in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer preclinical models. PF-07248144 is a selective catalytic inhibitor of KAT6A and KAT6B. In the present study, we report the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, efficacy and biomarker results from the first-in-human, phase 1 dose escalation and dose expansion study (n = 107) of PF-07248144 monotherapy and fulvestrant combination in heavily pretreated ER+ human epidermal growth factor receptor-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). The primary objectives of assessing the safety and tolerability and determining the recommended dose for expansion of PF-07248144, as monotherapy and in combination with fulvestrant, were met. Secondary endpoints included characterization of PK and evaluation of antitumor activity, including objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Common treatment-related adverse events (any grade; grades 3-4) included dysgeusia (83.2%, 0%), neutropenia (59.8%, 35.5%) and anemia (48.6%, 13.1%). Exposure was approximately dose proportional. Antitumor activity was observed as monotherapy. For the PF-07248144-fulvestrant combination (n = 43), the ORR (95% confidence interval (CI)) was 30.2% (95% CI = 17.2-46.1%) and the median PFS was 10.7 (5.3-not evaluable) months. PF-07248144 demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and durable antitumor activity in heavily pretreated ER+HER2- mBC. These findings establish KAT6A and KAT6B as druggable cancer targets, provide clinical proof of concept and reveal a potential avenue to treat mBC. clinicaltrial.gov registration: NCT04606446 .