Ipatasertib for Cancer

This trial tests a drug called ipatasertib to determine its effectiveness in treating cancers with specific genetic changes known as AKT mutations. Ipatasertib aims to stop cancer cells from growing and potentially kill them. Suitable candidates for this trial have cancer with an AKT mutation, excluding breast cancer, and should not have certain other genetic mutations like KRAS or BRAF. The trial excludes individuals with a history of inflammatory bowel diseases or those who have previously taken similar treatments. Participants will take ipatasertib daily in cycles and undergo regular scans and tests to monitor progress. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of people.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop all current medications, but you cannot have taken strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4/5 within 2 weeks before starting the study. If you have castration-resistant prostate cancer, you should continue your current treatment with GnRH agonists or surgical castration, and you can continue abiraterone acetate/prednisone if you just progressed on it.

Research has shown that ipatasertib is generally well-tolerated by patients. One study found that when combined with treatments like palbociclib and fulvestrant, the side effects were expected and manageable with standard care.

Another study involving patients with specific genetic mutations reported that most of the 50 participants tolerated the treatment without severe issues. Although some side effects occurred, they were manageable for most.

Ipatasertib has also been tested in men with prostate cancer. When combined with abiraterone, it effectively slowed disease progression. The side effects were significant but expected, and doctors managed them well.

Ipatasertib is unique because it targets a specific protein called Akt, which is involved in cancer cell growth and survival. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which attacks rapidly dividing cells indiscriminately, ipatasertib is more selective, potentially leading to fewer side effects. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it offers a more targeted approach, potentially improving outcomes for patients with certain cancers that have been resistant to other treatments.

Research has shown that ipatasertib, the treatment under study in this trial, may help treat certain cancers with AKT mutations. In previous studies, adding ipatasertib to other cancer treatments reduced the risk of progression in prostate cancer patients. It also prolonged the period before breast cancer worsened when combined with fulvestrant. Evidence indicates that it works well against some cancers, such as endometrial cancer, when tumors have specific AKT mutations. These findings suggest that ipatasertib could be effective for certain cancers with these genetic changes.²⁴⁶⁷⁸