Brigatinib in NF2-Related Schwannomatosis with Progressive Tumors

N Engl J Med. 2024 Jun 27;390(24):2284-2294. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2400985. Epub 2024 Jun 21.

Abstract

Background: NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN, formerly called neurofibromatosis type 2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome that is manifested by multiple vestibular schwannomas, nonvestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas. The condition is relentlessly progressive with no approved therapies. On the basis of preclinical activity of brigatinib (an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases) in NF2-driven nonvestibular schwannoma and meningioma, data were needed on the use of brigatinib in patients with multiple types of progressive NF2-SWN tumors.

Methods: In this phase 2 platform trial with a basket design, patients who were 12 years of age or older with NF2-SWN and progressive tumors were treated with oral brigatinib at a dose of 180 mg daily. A central review committee evaluated one target tumor and up to five nontarget tumors in each patient. The primary outcome was radiographic response in target tumors. Key secondary outcomes were safety, response rate in all tumors, hearing response, and patient-reported outcomes.

Results: A total of 40 patients (median age, 26 years) with progressive target tumors (10 vestibular schwannomas, 8 nonvestibular schwannomas, 20 meningiomas, and 2 ependymomas) received treatment with brigatinib. After a median follow-up of 10.4 months, the percentage of tumors with a radiographic response was 10% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3 to 24) for target tumors and 23% (95% CI, 16 to 30) for all tumors; meningiomas and nonvestibular schwannomas had the greatest benefit. Annualized growth rates decreased for all tumor types during treatment. Hearing improvement occurred in 35% (95% CI, 20 to 53) of eligible ears. Exploratory analyses suggested a decrease in self-reported pain severity during treatment (-0.013 units per month; 95% CI, -0.002 to -0.029) on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 3 (severe pain). No grade 4 or 5 treatment-related adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Brigatinib treatment resulted in radiographic responses in multiple tumor types and clinical benefit in a heavily pretreated cohort of patients with NF2-SWN. (Funded by the Children's Tumor Foundation and others; INTUITT-NF2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04374305.).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Hearing Disorders / drug therapy
  • Hearing Disorders / etiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurilemmoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurilemmoma / drug therapy
  • Neurofibromatoses
  • Neurofibromatosis 2* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurofibromatosis 2* / drug therapy
  • Neurofibromatosis 2* / therapy
  • Organophosphorus Compounds* / administration & dosage
  • Organophosphorus Compounds* / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Pyrimidines* / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimidines* / adverse effects
  • Quality of Life
  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • brigatinib
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines

Supplementary concepts

  • Schwannomatosis

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04374305