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Lack of Therapeutic Effect of the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Vorinostat in Patients with Metastatic Radioiodine-Refractory Thyroid Carcinoma

Departments of Internal Medicine (J.A.W., R.T.K., M.D.R., D.A., M.C., M.G., M.V.-C., M.H.S.) and Radiology (R.T.K.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210; and Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (J.A.Z.), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Manisha H. Shah, M.D., A438 Starling-Loving Hall, 320 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210. E-mail: manisha.shah{at}osumc.edu.

Context: Aberrant histone deacetylase activity is seen in a variety of malignancies, and histone deacetylase inhibitors such as vorinostat have been shown to induce cell death and sensitize cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy in thyroid cancer cell lines. This phase II study was undertaken to assess objective response to vorinostat in patients with advanced thyroid cancer.

Experimental Design: A total of 19 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (n = 16) and medullary thyroid cancer (n = 3) were enrolled in the study. Patients received oral vorinostat at a starting dose of 200 mg twice daily, with dose adjustments allowed as necessary for toxicity. Patients were treated for 2 wk, followed by 1 wk off therapy (3-wk cycle) until disease progression or study withdrawal. Responses were measured by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria and correlated with tumor markers.

Results: No patient achieved a partial or complete response. Median duration of therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer was 17 wk, whereas in medullary thyroid cancer patients it was 25 wk. Reasons for termination included progression of disease by RECIST criteria (n = 7), clinical progression (n = 3), and adverse events (AEs) (n = 9). AEs were primarily grade 1–3; no clinical grade 4 or grade 5 events were observed. Clinical grade 3 AEs consisted of fatigue, dehydration, ataxia, pneumonia, bruises, and deep vein thrombosis. Severe thrombocytopenia was seen in seven patients (grade 3, n = 5; grade 4, n = 2) and was associated with minor bleeding or bruises.

Conclusions: Vorinostat at this dose and schedule is not an effective treatment for advanced thyroid cancer.

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