Pre-surgical trial of the AKT inhibitor MK-2206 in patients with operable invasive breast cancer: a New York Cancer Consortium trial

Introduction The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an oncogenic driver in breast cancer (BC). In this multi-center, pre-surgical study, we evaluated the tissue effects of the AKT inhibitor MK-2206 in women with stage I–III BC. Materials and methods Two doses of weekly oral MK2206 were administered at days − 9 and − 2 before surgery. The primary endpoint was reduction of pAkt Ser473 in breast tumor tissue from diagnostic biopsy to surgery. Secondary endpoints included changes in PI3K/AKT pathway tumor markers, tumor proliferation (ki-67), insulin growth factor pathway blood markers, pharmacokinetics (PK), genomics, and MK-2206 tolerability. Paired t tests were used to compare biomarker changes in pre- and post-MK-2206, and two-sample t tests to compare with prospectively accrued untreated controls. Results Despite dose reductions, the trial was discontinued after 12 patients due to grade III rash, mucositis, and pruritus. While there was a trend to reduction in pAKT after MK-2206 ( p = 0.06), there was no significant change compared to controls ( n = 5, p = 0.65). After MK-2206, no significant changes in ki-67, pS6, PTEN, or stathmin were observed. There was no significant association between dose level and PK ( p = 0.11). Compared to controls, MK-2206 significantly increased serum glucose ( p = 0.02), insulin ( p < 0.01), C-peptide ( p < 0.01), and a trend in IGFBP-3 ( p = 0.06). Conclusion While a trend to pAKT reduction after MK-2206 was observed, there was no significant change compared to controls. However, the accrued population was limited, due to toxicity being greater than expected. Pre-surgical trials can identify in vivo activity in the early drug development, but side effects must be considered in this healthy population.