A phase II trial of daily perillyl alcohol in patients with advanced ovarian cancer: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E2E96

OBJECTIVE: This was a phase II study of perillyl alcohol in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the 6-month progression-free rate of perillyl alcohol as compared with historic controls. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the objective response rate, time to progression and survival, dropout rate, and number of cycles administered; define the qualitative nature of acute and chronic toxicities; and evaluate the effect of perillyl alcohol on triglycerides and total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels. Methods. Women who had received prior platinum-based therapy and had residual or recurrent disease were eligible. Perillyl alcohol was administered orally, four times daily, at a dose of 1200 mg/m(2). This was repeated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity was experienced. RESULTS: The 6-month progression-free rate was 17%. None of the patients achieved a complete or partial response. The median progression-free survival was 1.7 months. The median overall survival was 9.1 months. Compliance was greater than 90% but gastrointestinal toxicity (grade 1-2 nausea, satiety, eructation in 70%) and fatigue (grade 1-2 in 40%) were common and limited the ability to escalate the dose from 1200 to 1500 mg/m(2). CONCLUSION: Perillyl alcohol administered at this dose and formulation did not exhibit signs of extending the time-to-progression in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.     

Phase II trial of amonafide in previously treated patients with advanced ovarian cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

Twenty-three patients with metastatic or recurrent Stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer who were refractory to or relapsed following previous chemotherapy with cisplatin or a cisplatin analog were entered into a phase II study of amonafide. The starting dose of amonafide was 300 mg/m2 delivered daily over 1 hr by intravenous infusion. In the absence of myelosuppression, the dose of amonafide was escalated by increments of 75 mg/m2 to a maximum of 450 mg/m2. There were 19 eligible and 17 fully evaluable patients. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurred in 14 (74%) patients and grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia in 6 (32%) patients. No objective complete or partial responses were observed. Four patients had stable disease for 3, 4, 4.5, and 6 months, respectively. Therefore, amonafide in the doses used in the present trial does not have significant activity in previously treated patients with ovarian cancer.     

Phase II trial of paclitaxel and nedaplatin in patients with advanced/recurrent uterine cervical cancer: a Kansai Clinical Oncology Group study

Objective

A multicenter phase II trial was conducted to evaluate the activity and toxicity of paclitaxel and nedaplatin (cis-diammineglycolatoplatonum) in patients with advanced/recurrent uterine cervical cancer.

Methods

Patients were required to have measurable disease. Histologic confirmation of the primary diagnosis as uterine cervical cancer was mandatory. The treatment consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m² over 3 hours and nedaplatin 80 mg/m² intravenously over 1 hour on day 1 every 28 days until progressive disease or adverse effects prohibited further therapy.

Results

Fifty patients were enrolled into the study protocol from October 2007 to February 2010. 45 patients(90%) were eligible for assessment of response (RECIST version 1.0) to treatment; 31 patients (62%) received prior radiotherapy and 23 patients (46%) received prior chemotherapy. The overall response rate was 44.4% (11 complete responses and 8 partial responses) with 22.2% of patients having stable disease. Grades 3 or 4 adverse events (NCI-CTCAE ver 3) included neutropenia (n = 16, 32.7%), febrile neutropenia (n = 1, 2.0%), anemia (n = 9, 18.4%), but there was no significant thrombocytopenia. Non-hematologic toxicity was generally not serious and without a dominant pattern. The median progression-free survival was 7.5 months (95% C.I., 5.7, 9.4) and overall survival was 15.7 months (95% C.I., 9.4, 21.9).

Conclusions

Paclitaxel 175 mg/m² and nedaplatin 80 mg/m² intravenously on day 1 every 28 days in patients with advanced/recurrence uterine cervical cancer demonstrated easy administration, favorable antitumor activity, and the toxicity profile of this regimen would be decreased compared with cisplatin-containing combinations. Evaluation of this regimen in phase III trials is warranted.     

A phase II trial of didemnin B (NSC No. 325319) in advanced and recurrent cervical carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

Didemnin B was administered to 24 women with recurrent squamous cell cervical carcinoma. The initial dose was 4.2 mg/m2, intravenously, repeated every 28 days. Twenty-three patients were evaluable for toxicity and twenty-one for response. Toxicity was mild, consisting mainly of nausea and vomiting. There were no objective responses; 43% had stable disease for at least 3 months. Didemnin B, when given in this dosage schedule, appears to have minimal effect against this tumor.     

A phase II trial of thalidomide in patients with refractory endometrial cancer and correlation with angiogenesis biomarkers: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: A phase II trial was conducted to evaluate the anti-tumor activity and adverse effects of thalidomide in persistent or recurrent endometrial cancer refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy and to correlate angiogenesis biomarker expression with clinical outcome. METHODS: Consenting patients were treated until progression or intolerable toxicity with an oral starting dose of 200 mg thalidomide/day that was to increase by 200 mg every 2 weeks to a target dose of 1000 mg/day. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF), and soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) were analyzed by ELISA in pre and post-treatment specimens. RESULTS: Twenty-four of twenty-seven patients enrolled in the study were eligible, of whom 2 reached the target dose, 8 progressed before achieving the target dose, and 14 refused or had toxicity that prohibited escalation. Two patients (8.3%) remained progression-free>or=6 months. There were 3 (12.5%) with partial responses, 2 (8.3%) with stable disease, 15 (62.5%) with increasing disease, and 4 (16.7%) who were inevaluable for response. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.7 months and 6.3 months, respectively. No grade 4 toxicities were observed. Common grade 3 toxicities included hematologic (n=3), cardiovascular (n=3), constitutional (n=3), and neurologic (n=4). Thalidomide did not decrease VEGF or bFGF levels but reduced sEPCR levels in serum. Elevated plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels were associated with increased risk of progression and death. CONCLUSIONS: Thalidomide demonstrated limited ability to delay progression (as measured by PFS at 6 months), produce objective responses, or reduce angiogenic marker levels in chemotherapy refractory endometrial cancer. VEGF level appears to be prognostically significant in such patients, independent of thalidomide treatment.     

A phase II trial of anastrozole in advanced recurrent or persistent endometrial carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

BACKGROUND: Some endometrial cancers are hormonally dependent. A principal source of circulating estrogen is conversion of adrenal androstenedione by aromatase. Anastrozole (Arimidex) is an oral nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor which is active in recurrent breast cancer. This Phase II study was undertaken to evaluate anastrozole in recurrent endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer not curable with either surgery or radiation therapy and with measurable disease, a GOG (Zubrod) performance status of < or = 2, no more than one prior hormonal therapy regimen, and no prior chemotherapy were eligible. Anastrozole was administered at a dose of 1 mg/day orally for at least 28 days. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were entered on this trial. On central pathology review, 9 of them had grade 2 and 14 had grade 3 tumors. One to 24 courses (median: 1) of therapy were administered. Two partial responses were noted (9%; 90% confidence interval 3 to 23%). Two additional patients had short-term stable disease. With the exception of 1 case of venous thrombosis, the toxicity profile was mild. Median durations of progression-free survival and overall survival are 1 and 6 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Anastrozole has minimal activity in an unselected population of patients with recurrent endometrial cancer.     

Teniposide or carboplatin in patients with recurrent or advanced cervical carcinoma: A randomized phase II trial

Thomsen TK, Pfeiffer P, Bertelsen K. Teniposide or carboplatin in patients with recurrent or advanced cervical carcinoma: A randomized phase II trial. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 310–314.
The aim of the present study was to investigate response rates, time to progression, and survival with teniposide or carboplatin in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer and to estimate the toxicity of each drug regimen.
Twenty-eight patients with recurrent or advanced cervical cancer entered the study. Two patients were ineligible (severe renal impairment, n = 1; performance status 3, n = 1) and were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 26 patients were randomized to either carboplatin (400 mg/m² on day 1, intravenously every four weeks) or teniposide (125 mg/m² on days 1, 2 and 3, intravenously every four weeks). Twelve patients were randomized to the carboplatin arm and 14 patients to the teniposide arm. They were all comparable with respect to age, performance status, histology, primary FIGO stage, and prior therapy.
Response was seen in four patients in each group (33% and 29%, respectively), all but one being partial. (One patient in the teniposide group had complete response). Time to progression and median survival were similar in the two groups (median time to progression 20/17 weeks and median survival 40/41 weeks, respectively.)
In general, toxicity was moderate. Leukopenia (WHO grade 3 or 4) was seen in one patient treated with teniposide, and thrombocytopenia (WHO grade 3 or 4) in one patient treated with carboplatin. Eleven patients (79%) in the teniposide group had alopecia requiring a wig. The study implies that both drugs have some activity in cervical cancer. Carboplatin has the advantage that it can be administered on an out-patient basis.     

A phase II trial of thalidomide in patients with refractory uterine carcinosarcoma and correlation with biomarkers of angiogenesis: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of thalidomide in previously-treated, measurable, persistent or recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus, and to explore associations between angiogenic markers with patient demographics and clinical outcome.

Methods

Eligible, consenting patients were treated until disease progression or toxicity intervened with daily starting dose of 200 mg thalidomide/day that was increased by 200 mg every 2 weeks to a target dose of 1000 mg/day. Endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) ≥ 6 months (primary), toxicity, response, overall PFS and survival. Pre- and post-treatment plasma were evaluated for a panel of angiogenic biomarkers and assessed against clinical outcomes.

Results

Of 55 enrolled patients, 45 were evaluable for toxicity and survival. Two patients (4%; 90% CI 1-13%) experienced a partial response, and 8 (18%; 90% CI 9-30%) had PFS ≥ 6 months. Median PFS was 1.9 months and median survival was 5.9 months. Grade 2-3 sensory neuropathy was noted in 6 patients, and 4, 3, and 3 patients experienced grade 3 sedation, fatigue, and constipation, respectively. Three patients had grade 4 adverse events (2 thromboembolic, 1 anemia). High pre-treatment VEGFA levels were associated with poorer PFS and survival.

Conclusions

Treatment with thalidomide met the protocol specified goal of prolonging PFS at 6 months. However, based on results with newer agents, the activity was insufficient to support further investigation. Association between pre-treatment VEGFA and prognosis in this population supports further evaluation of anti-angiogenic therapies in uterine carcinosarcoma.     

A phase II trial of brivanib in recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Purpose

Brivanib, an oral, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) was investigated as a single agent in a phase II trial to assess the activity and tolerability in recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer (EMC).

Patients and Methods

Eligible patients had persistent or recurrent EMC after receiving one to two prior cytotoxic regimens, measurable disease, and performance status of ≤ 2. Treatment consisted of brivanib 800 mg orally every day until disease progression or prohibitive toxicity. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) at six months and objective tumor response. Expression of multiple angiogenic proteins and FGFR2 mutation status was assessed.

Results

Forty-five patients were enrolled. Forty-three patients were eligible and evaluable. Median age was 64 years. Twenty-four patients (55.8%) received prior radiation. Median number of cycles was two (range 1–24). No GI perforations but one rectal fistula were seen. Nine patients had grade 3 hypertension, with one experiencing grade 4 confusion. Eight patients (18.6%; 90% CI 9.6%–31.7%) had responses (one CR and seven PRs), and 13 patients (30.2%; 90% CI 18.9%–43.9%) were PFS at six months. Median PFS and overall survival (OS) were 3.3 and 10.7 months, respectively. When modeled jointly, VEGF and angiopoietin-2 expression may diametrically predict PFS. Estrogen receptor-α (ER) expression was positively correlated with OS.

Conclusion

Brivanib is reasonably well tolerated and worthy of further investigation based on PFS at six months in recurrent or persistent EMC.     

A phase II trial of JM-216 in cervical cancer: an NCIC CTG study.

OBJECTIVE: BMS-182751 (JM-216) is an orally bioavailable platinum compound with activity in platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant preclinical models. The objective was to determine its activity in recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. METHODS: We conducted a phase II study of BMS-182751 given at a dose of 30 mg/m(2) daily for 14 days every 5 weeks. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (pts) with advanced/recurrent squamous cancer of the cervix not amenable to curative therapy with measurable disease who had received no prior chemotherapy for systemic disease were entered, all of whom are evaluable for response and toxicity. Median age was 47 years (35-74 years); all pts had received prior pelvic irradiation (RT); 4 pts had received cisplatin as adjustment therapy with radiation; PS was 0 (6 pts), 1 (7 pts), and 2 (5 pts); sites of disease included nodes (10 pts), pelvis (5 pts), lung (4 pts), and bone (3 pts). Median number of cycles was two (1-6) with 8 pts receiving three or more cycles. Toxicity was modest and usually grade 1 or 2 in severity with the most frequent drug related toxicity being nausea (56%), fatigue (50%), anorexia (39%), diarrhea (39%), vomiting (39%), constipation (28%), and altered taste (22%). Six pts had grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia and only 1 pt, grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. Two pts had grade 2 or 3 creatinine increases. There were no treatment-related deaths. One pt with a treatment-free interval of 30 years achieved a partial response, while 12 pts had a best response of stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: BMS-182751 is generally well tolerated, but has limited activity in pts with recurrent cervical cancer.     

Quality of life and survival in advanced cervical cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Purpose

To determine associations between pretreatment health-related quality of life subscales with progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced and recurrent cervical cancer.

Patients and Methods

Patients included those participating in Gynecologic Oncology Group advanced or recurrent cervical cancer phase III treatment trials who completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for patients with cervical cancer (FACT-Cx) and a single-item pain scale at study entry. The FACT-Cx includes five domains: physical (PWB), emotional (EWB), social (SWB), functional well being (FWB), and cervix cancer subscale (CCS). A high quality of life (QoL) score reflects better QoL. After stratifying by protocol and adjusting for patient and disease characteristics, a Cox proportional hazards model was fitted for each subscale as a continuous variable. If statistically significant, (p < 0.05), an analysis on mean item scores (MIS) was performed.

Results

Nine-hundred-ninety-one patients were enrolled from 1997 to 2007. The majority (87%) had recurrent disease. After adjustment for covariates and predictors, only the PWB domain (better physical QoL) was associated with improved OS [HR 0.96 95% CI 0.95-0.98; p < 0.001]. When classifying patients based on the MIS of each subscale, the patients with the lowest risk of death were likely to report less compromised QoL (MIS > 3) for PWB [HR 0.44 (0.33-0.58) P < 0.001], FWB [0.49 (0.38-0.62) P < 0.001], and CCS [0.48 (0.38-0.61) P < 0.001].

Conclusion

The pretreatment patient-reported PWB as measured by the PWB subscale of the FACT-Cx, is significantly associated with survival in advanced cervical cancer trials, even after controlling for known prognostic factors.     

A phase II clinical trial of topotecan and carboplatin in patients with newly diagnosed advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

A phase II clinical trial conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topotecan and carboplatin as first-line therapy for women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer was the objective of this study. Patients had histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer with at least one measurable lesion. Patients received topotecan 1.5 mg/m(2) on days 1-3 and carboplatin at an area under the curve (AUC) of 5 on day 3 every 21 days for six cycles. All 42 patients enrolled were evaluable for response and toxicity. Median number of cycles delivered was six. Overall response rate was 71%, with 19 clinical complete responses (45%) and 11 clinical partial responses (26%). Median survival time was 47 months and 5-year survival was 42%. Myelosuppression was the predominant toxicity, with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurring in 100% of patients. However, this toxicity was transient and easily manageable; no patients experienced febrile neutropenia. The combination of topotecan and carboplatin is active in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Delay of therapy by 1 week or topotecan dose reduction to 1.25 mg/m(2) is the first-choice option to reduce topotecan toxicity without affecting the efficacy. Moreover, a chemotherapy regimen using weekly topotecan, which is currently being tested, should be considered.     

The significance of thrombocytosis in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of thrombocytosis and its possible impact on survival probability among women with locally advanced cervical carcinoma. METHODS. The database of 294 patients with Stages IIB-IVA cervical carcinoma without periaortic node metastasis who were treated with standardized radiation therapy and concurrent hydroxyurea or misonidazole was analyzed. Pretreatment platelet counts were available for 291 patients who are the subject of this study. RESULTS. Thrombocytosis (platelet count >400 x 10(9)/liter) was present in 86 (29.6%) of the 291 patients. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that patients without extrapelvic disease and with thrombocytosis had a 55% greater chance of dying than those without thrombocytosis (relative risk = 1.55, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.21). Patients with thrombocytosis had larger tumors and more frequently had bilateral parametrial involvement, tumor fixation to the sidewall, and positive pelvic lymph nodes than patients without thrombocytosis. Thrombocytosis was not found to be a prognostic factor in patients with positive pelvic nodes. However, in patients with negative pelvic nodes, the presence or absence of thrombocytosis was related to survival. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytosis is a frequent finding among patients with advanced cervical carcinoma and seems to be related to tumor burden. Among patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma who had negative pelvic nodes, those with thrombocytosis had a poorer survival.     

A phase II trial of CI-958 in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the antitumor efficacy of CI-958 in patients with measurable recurrences of platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma and to determine the nature and degree of toxicity of CI-958 in these patients. METHODS: Patients received CI-958 560 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks and tumor measurements were performed every one to two cycles. RESULTS: Of 23 patients entered in the study, there was one complete response and 10 patients had stable disease with short response durations. CONCLUSIONS: CI-958 has minimal activity in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma at the dose and schedule tested.     

Phase II trial of danazol in advanced,recurrent, or persistent endometrial cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the activity and toxicity of danazol in advanced, recurrent, or persistent endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Eligible patients with advanced, recurrent, or persistent endometrial carcinoma not amenable to curative therapy were treated with danazol at a dose of 100 mg four times per day until disease progression or toxicity necessitated discontinuation. Eligibility criteria included the presence of measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy. Immunohistochemical analysis of metastatic tumor tissue for estrogen and progesterone receptors was required. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled and 3 were excluded. Six patients had tumors staining positive for both estrogen and progesterone receptors. There were no responders among 22 eligible patients. Six patients (27%) demonstrated stable disease as their best response. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.9 and 14.4 months, respectively. A median total dose of 21.7 (range: 1.4 to 67.2) of danazol was administered. Therapy was discontinued in 5 eligible patients due to toxicity. Four of these patients experienced hepatic toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Danazol has minimal activity in advanced, recurrent, or persistent endometrial carcinoma.     

A phase II trial of dolastatin-10 in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the antitumor efficacy of dolastatin-10 in patients with measurable recurrences of platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma and to determine the nature and degree of toxicity of dolastatin-10 in these patients. METHODS: Patients received dolastatin-10 400 microg/m(2) intravenously every 3 weeks and tumor measurements were performed every one to two cycles. RESULTS: Of 28 patients evaluable for response, there were no complete or partial responses. Seven patients had stable disease and 21 patients had increasing disease. CONCLUSION: Dolastatin-10 has minimal activity in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma at the dose and schedule tested.     

Phase II trial of vinblastine in previously treated patients with ovarian cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group Study

Sixty-eight patients with relapsing, epithelial type ovarian carcinoma were entered into a Phase II study of vinblastine. Vinblastine was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion over five days at a starting dose of 1.7 mg/m2/day every 3 weeks. There were 44 fully evaluable and 6 partially evaluable patients. Forty-one of these patients had had only one prior treatment regimen. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurred in 12 patients (24%), but Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in only 2 patients. There were two clinical complete responses of 18 and 36 weeks duration and one partial response of 6 weeks for an overall response rate of 7%. We conclude that vinblastine, administered in optimal dose and schedule, has little clinical activity in previously treated patients with ovarian cancer.