A phase II evaluation of pazopanib in the treatment of recurrent or persistent carcinosarcoma of the uterus: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Objective

Carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract, also called malignant mixed müllerian tumors, are aggressive biphasic tumors. Second-line treatment options in the recurrent/persistent setting have yielded marginal responses. Given the potential role of angiogenesis in the gynecological carcinomas, pazopanib, a VEGFR inhibitor, was investigated in the management of patients with recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus.

Methods

Eligible patients had histologically confirmed carcinosarcoma of the uterus, a maximum of two prior lines of therapy, adequate renal, hepatic and hematologic function and a performance status of 0–2. Pazopanib was administered orally at 800 mg. Two dose reductions were allowed. The primary objective was to ascertain the activity of pazopanib as measured by the proportion of patients who survive progression-free for at least six months and the proportion of patients that have objective tumor responses. Secondary objectives included the frequency and severity of adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0.

Results

Of the 22 enrolled patients, 19 were eligible and evaluable for toxicity and survival. No patients had a partial or complete response (90% confidence interval [CI]: 0%, 14.6%). Three patients (15.8%) had PFS ≥ 6 months (90% CI: 4.4%, 35.9%). The median PFS was 2.0 months (first and third quartiles were 1.6 and 4.0 months, respectively). The median overall survival was 8.7 months (first and third quartiles were 2.6 and 14.0 months, respectively).

Conclusion

Pazopanib demonstrated minimal activity as a second or third line treatment for advanced uterine carcinosarcoma. Potential clinical trial participation should be discussed with the patients.     

A Phase II evaluation of ixabepilone (IND #59699, NSC #710428) in the treatment of recurrent or persistent leiomyosarcoma of the uterus: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Objective

The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel is the standard first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma. There is no standard second-line therapy. Ixabepilone is a semi-synthetic analog of epothilone B that binds to the same site on beta tubulin as paclitaxel and may be a more potent polymerizer of tubulin. We sought to determine the activity of ixabepilone as a single agent as second-line treatment for patients with metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma who had received taxane based therapy.

Methods

Eligible women with unresectable uterine leiomyosarcoma progressing after prior cytotoxic therapy containing a taxane were treated with ixabepilone 40 mg/m² on day one of a 21 day cycle. Patients with prior pelvic radiation were treated without dose reduction. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) response was assessed by computed tomography (CT).

Results

Twenty-three of 26 women were evaluable (two wrong histology, one never treated) with two of 23 receiving 1 cycle of therapy. There were no complete or partial responses. Stable disease (SD) was seen in four patients (17.4%, median 3.4 months). Seventeen patients (73.9%) had increasing disease (PD) and two patients were inevaluable per RECIST. One patient had SD over 6 cycles of treatment. Median PFS for all 23 patients was 1.4 months and overall survival was 7.0 months. The predominant grade 3 or 4 toxicity was uncomplicated myelosuppression: neutropenia grade 3 (13%), grade 4 (17%), and anemia grade 3 (22%).

Conclusion

Ixabepilone as a single agent is not an active second-line therapy for uterine leiomyosarcoma previously treated with a taxane.     

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 evaluation of nintedanib (BIBF-1120) in the treatment of recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

IntroductionPatients presenting with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic endometrial cancer have limited treatment options. On behalf of the Gynecologic Oncology Group, we conducted this phase II trial of nintedanib (BIBF 1120), a potent small molecule triple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor of PDGFR α and β, FGFR 1/3, and VEGFR 1–3, in this population.ObjectivesThe primary objectives were to estimate event-free survival (EFS) at 6 months and the proportion of patients who have an objective tumor response. In addition, we sought to determine the nature and degree of toxicity. Secondary objectives were to estimate progression-free and overall survival.MethodsThis was a two-stage, single-arm phase II study. Eligible patients were treated with single-agent nintedanib at a dose of 200 mg twice daily.ResultsOf 37 patients enrolled, 32 were eligible. There were zero complete and three partial responses for an overall response rate of 9.4% (90% 2-sided CI = 2.6–22.5%). Seven patients (21.9%; 90% 2-sided CI = 10.7–37.2%) were EFS at 6 months, with one patient continuing on study at the time of this writing. Serious toxicity included the following grade 3 events: gastrointestinal toxicity (5), neutropenia (1), edema (1), hypertension (1), and liver function abnormalities (5).ConclusionsNintedanib lacked sufficient activity as a single agent to warrant enrollment to second stage. However, preclinical data indicate it may be synergistic with paclitaxel in a population of patients enriched for specific p53 mutations that result in loss of function. Subsequent studies may evaluate this agent in combination with paclitaxel.     

Phase II evaluation of topotecan in carcinosarcoma of the uterus: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the antitumor activity of topotecan in patients with persistent or recurrent carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed mullerian tumors) of the uterus and to determine the nature and degree of toxicity of topotecan in this cohort of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable advanced or recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus. Topotecan at a target dose of 1.5 mg/m(2) was administered IV daily for 5 days, every 3 weeks, until progression of disease or adverse affects prohibited further therapy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven member institutions entered 51 patients. Of the patients entered, 48 were eligible. Patient characteristics included a median age of 65, with 33% having prior radiation and 92% having prior chemotherapy. Twenty-six patients (54%) had a performance status (PS) of 0, 18 (38%) had a PS of 1, and four (8%) had a PS of 2. Patients received from 1 to 21 (with a median of 2) courses of treatment. The most frequently observed grade 4 toxicities were neutropenia seen in 35 (73%) patients, leukopenia in 14 (29%), and thrombocytopenia in 10 (21%). Three (6%) patients developed neutropenic sepsis and died shortly after their first treatment cycle. There were five (10%) complete responses; 13 (27%) patients maintained stable disease, 26 (54%) experienced increasing disease, and reassessment did not occur in four (8%). CONCLUSION: Topotecan at this dose and schedule does not appear to have major activity in patients with advanced or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma previously treated with chemotherapy.     

Iniparib plus paclitaxel and carboplatin as initial treatment of advanced or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Objective

To estimate the activity and tolerability of iniparib plus paclitaxel and carboplatin as initial therapy of uterine carcinosarcoma.

Methods

Eligible patients had advanced, persistent or recurrent carcinosarcoma of the uterus, measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy. Patients received paclitaxel 175 mg/m² IV over 3 h followed by carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) = six over 30 min on day one of 21 day cycles plus iniparib 4 mg/kg IV over 1 h twice weekly beginning on day one. Treatment continued until disease progression or adverse effects prohibited further therapy. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v3.0 was used to grade adverse events. The primary endpoint was tumor response. The study was conducted with a 2-stage group sequential design, targeting 20 and 25 patients in each stage. The study was designed to distinguish between 45% versus 65% responding with alpha = 10% and 90% power.

Results

Twenty-two patients were entered onto the study with five excluded from analysis, leaving 17 evaluable for analysis. Treatment resulted in the expected hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities of the paclitaxel-carboplatin backbone. The observed proportion responding was 23.5% (4/17 patients). The two-sided, 90% confidence interval for the true probability of response was 8.5-46.1%. The required minimal number of responses to proceed to second stage was eight.

Conclusions

Iniparib plus paclitaxel and carboplatin did not show significant activity to warrant further study. The rate of exclusion upon central pathology review (23%) suggests that review of pathology slides for confirmation of eligibility is important in this tumor type.     

A randomized phase II study of cabozantinib versus weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of persistent or recurrent epithelial ovarian,fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study

IntroductionCabozantinib is a receptor tyrosine kinases inhibitor that targets MET (c-MET), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), RET, AXL, KIT, FLT-3, and TIE-2 and previously showed promising single agent activity in recurrent ovarian cancer.MethodsThis was an open label, 1:1 randomized study of cabozantinib 60 mg orally (PO) daily versus weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m² given 3 out of 4 weeks (NCT01716715); 111 patients were enrolled. Eligibility included persistent or recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma and at least one but no >3 prior chemotherapy regimens.ResultsMedian PFS was similar for both treatment groups and was 5.3 months for cabozantinib and 5.5 months for weekly paclitaxel (HR 1.11 (90% CI 0.77–1.61, p = 0.64)). Secondary analyses of overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) showed that cabozantinib did not perform as well as weekly paclitaxel. Median OS for cabozantinib was 19.4 months and was not reached for weekly paclitaxel (HR 2.27 (90% CI 1.17–4.41, p = 0.04). EFS was also worse in the cabozantinib arm, 3.5 months, compared to weekly paclitaxel at 5.0 months (HR 1.81 (90% CI 1.24–2.63, p = 0.01). Overall response rate (ORR) was less for cabozantinib compared to weekly paclitaxel (7% versus 24.1%). Gastrointestinal toxicities, specifically nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain were worse in the cabozantinib arm.ConclusionsMedian PFS was similar for cabozantinib and weekly paclitaxel. However, OS, EFS, and ORR were worse for cabozantinib compared to weekly paclitaxel. Cabozantinib given at this dose and schedule cannot be recommended as a treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer.     

A phase 2 study of alisertib (MLN8237) in recurrent or persistent uterine leiomyosarcoma: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study 0231D

Objective

This two-stage Phase II study assessed the activity of single agent alisertib in patients with recurrent/persistent uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS).

A phase II evaluation of weekly docetaxel in the treatment of recurrent or persistent endometrial carcinoma: a study by the Gynecologic Oncology Group

ObjectiveA phase II study was conducted to evaluate the anti-tumor activity and adverse effects of weekly docetaxel in patients with previously treated endometrial cancer.MethodsEligible patients were to have measurable disease with no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen. Docetaxel 36 mg/m² was administered intravenously over 1 h on days 1, 8 and 15. Cycles were repeated every 28 days until progression of disease or adverse effects prohibited further therapy.ResultsTwenty-seven patients were entered onto this study, of whom 26 were eligible and evaluable. All patients had received prior platinum with twenty (76.9%) having received prior treatment with paclitaxel. There were two (7.7%) partial responses, eight patients (30.8%) with stable disease, and fourteen patients (53.8%) with increasing disease. The most frequently reported adverse events were leucopenia, neutropenia, gastrointestinal, constitutional and peripheral neuropathy. Grade 3 and 4 adverse events were uncommon.ConclusionsDocetaxel, at the dose and schedule tested, has modest activity in this patient population.     

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.     

Dactinomycin in the treatment of recurrent or persistent endometrial carcinoma: A Phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group

OBJECTIVES: The search for effective systemic chemotherapy for endometrial cancer is ongoing. Complete responses to current drugs or regimens are infrequent, and overall survival for patients with disease not amenable to surgery or radiation therapy is poor. Dactinomycin has proven activity against a wide variety of solid tumors but has not been tested against endometrial cancer. Using pharmacokinetic data supporting an intermittent, single-dose schedule, this Phase II Gynecologic Oncology Group study was conducted to determine the antitumor activity and toxicity of dactinomycin in patients with persistent or recurrent endometrial adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Eligibility was limited to patients with measurable disease, adequate renal, hepatic, and bone marrow function, and no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen. Treatment consisted of 2 mg/m(2) slow intravenous push of dactinomycin over 15 min with courses repeated every 4 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients were entered in this study between April 1996 and September 1996; all were evaluable for toxicity and 25 were evaluable for response. Overall, 12/25 (48%) patients had received prior radiation therapy and all had received prior chemotherapy. Sites of measurable disease were pelvis (9 patients) and distant (16 patients). There was 1 complete response and 2 partial responses for an overall objective response rate of 12%. Aside from emesis (grade 3, 2 patients; grade 4, 2 patients) significant nonhematologic toxicity was rare. The most common toxicity was neutropenia (grade 3, 2 patients; grade 4, 10 patients). CONCLUSION: Toxicity was deemed acceptable but the limited effectiveness of dactinomycin precludes further clinical development in this patient population.     

Trimetrexate in the treatment of recurrent or advanced leiomyosarcoma of the uterus: a phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the objective response of trimetrexate in patients with advanced or recurrent leiomyosarcoma of the uterus. METHODS: Eligibility was restricted to patients with measurable disease who had received no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen, who had adequate bone marrow, renal, and hepatic function, and who had recovered from previous therapy. Trimetrexate was begun at 5 mg/m2/day orally for 5 days every other week, with dose modifications specified by study design. RESULTS: Of 28 patients entered into the study, 27 were evaluable for toxicity and 23 for response. Prior therapy included radiation (7 patients) and/or chemotherapy (10 patients). Measurable disease was extrapelvic in 20 cases and confined to the pelvis in 3. The overall response rate was 4.3%; there were no complete responses and 1 partial response. Toxicities were mild to moderate with no treatment-related deaths. Hematological toxicity was most common, consisting of leukopenia (grade 1 to 2, 8 patients; grade 3 or 4, 2 patients), thrombocytopenia (grade 1 to 2, 10 patients; grade 3 or 4, 1 patient), and anemia (grade 1 to 2, 6 patients; grade 3 or 4, 4 patients. Severe (grade 3 or 4) nonhematologic toxicity was uncommon: nausea/vomiting/gastrointestinal (3 patients) and neurological (1 patient). Progression-free and overall survival, in months, was 2.2 (range: 0.9-13.4) and 7.2+ (range: 1.0-13.4+), respectively. CONCLUSION: Although toxicity is acceptable, trimetrexate at this dose and schedule is ineffective therapy for patients with recurrent leiomyosarcoma. Further development of this specific regimen for this indication is unwarranted.     

Phase II evaluation of dasatinib in the treatment of recurrent or persistent epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Objective

To determine whether CA-125 velocity is a statistically significant predictor of ovarian cancer and develop a classification rule to screen for ovarian cancer.

Methods

In the ovarian component of the PLCO cancer screening trial, 28,038 women aged 55-74 had at least two CA-125 screening tests. Ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 72 (0.26%) women. A multiple logistic regression model was developed to evaluate CA-125 velocity and other related covariates as predictors of ovarian cancer. Predictive accuracy was assessed by the concordance index and measures of discrimination and calibration while the fit of the model was assessed by the Hosmer and Lemeshow's goodness-of-fit χ² test.

Results

CA-125 velocity decreased as the number of CA-125 measurements increased but was unaffected by age at baseline screen and family history of ovarian cancer. The average velocity (19.749 U/ml per month) of the cancer group was more than 500 times the average velocity (0.035 U/ml per month) of the non-cancer group.

Conclusion

Among six covariates used in the model, CA-125 velocity and time intervals between baseline and second to last screening test and between last two screening tests were statistically significant predictors of ovarian cancer. The chance of having ovarian cancer increased as velocity increased, and the chance decreased when the time intervals between baseline and the second to last screening test and between last two screening tests of an individual increased.     

A phase II evaluation of belinostat and carboplatin in the treatment of recurrent or persistent platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Background

Patients with recurrent ovarian cancer have limited options, especially in the context of relapse less than six months from primary platinum-based therapy. This Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, belinostat, in combination with carboplatin in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Methods

Eligible patients had measurable, recurrent disease within six months of their last dose of a platinum-based combination. Belinostat was dosed at 1000 mg/m² daily for five days with carboplatin AUC 5 on day three of 21-day cycles. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR), using a two-stage design.

Results

Twenty-nine women enrolled on study and 27 were evaluable. The median number of cycles given was two (range 1-10). One patient had a complete response and one had a partial response, for an ORR of 7.4% (95% CI, .9%-24.3%). Twelve patients had stable disease while eight had increasing disease. Response could not be assessed in five (18.5%). Grade 3 and 4 events occurring in more than 10% of treated patients were uncommon and limited to neutropenia (22.2%), thrombocytopenia (14.8%), and vomiting (11.1%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.3 months and overall survival was 13.7 months. PFS of at least six months was noted in 29.6% of patients. Due to the lack of drug activity, the study was closed after the first-stage.

Conclusions

The addition of belinostat to carboplatin had little activity in a population with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.     

A phase II evaluation of AMG 102 (rilotumumab) in the treatment of persistent or recurrent epithelial ovarian,fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Objective

This open-label, multi-institutional phase II trial evaluated activity and safety of rilotumumab (AMG 102), a monoclonal antibody that targets HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), the ligand for the MET receptor, in women with recurrent or persistent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.

Patients and methods

Women were eligible for treatment with rilotumumab if they had measurable disease, a performance status of 0, 1 or 2, previously received platinum-based therapy with a progression-free interval of < 12 months or a second recurrence, and adequate bone marrow and organ function. Patients received rilotumumab 20 mg/kg IV every 14 days until evidence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. The study utilized co-dual primary endpoints of tumor response and six-month PFS to assess the efficacy of rilotumumab. Secondary endpoints included the frequency and severity of adverse events and the duration of progression-free and overall survival.

Results

Thirty-one women enrolled and received rilotumumab. All were eligible for analysis. One patient achieved a complete response (3.2%; 90% CI 0.2–14%), and two women had 6-month PFS (6.5%; 90% CI 1.1–19%). Most adverse events were grade 1 or 2, with no grade 4 adverse events. Grade 3 adverse events were gastrointestinal (4), metabolic (3) anemia (3), a thromboembolic event (1), ventricular tachycardia (1), hypotension during infusion (1) and fatigue (1). The study was stopped after the first stage of accrual.

Conclusion

Rilotumumab was well-tolerated, but had limited activity. The level of activity does not warrant further evaluation of rilotumumab as a single agent in patients with ovarian cancer.     

Adjuvant ifosfamide and cisplatin in patients with completely resected stage I or II carcinosarcomas (mixed mesodermal tumors) of the uterus: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: To determine progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in women with completely resected stage I or II carcinosarcoma of the uterus treated with adjuvant ifosfamide and cisplatin, and to assess the toxicity of this regimen. METHODS: Eligible patients had histologically confirmed carcinosarcoma (mixed mesodermal tumor) and no postoperative radiotherapy following complete resection for clinical stage I or II disease. They were to have adequate renal, hepatic, and hematologic functions and performance status of 2 or less. Study entry was to be within 8 weeks of hysterectomy. Patients with previous chemotherapy, or other noncutaneous malignancies, were ineligible. Ifosfamide was administered 1.5 g/m2 intravenously (IV) over 1 h and cisplatin was given 20 mg/m(2) over 15 min followed by mesna 120 mg/m2 IV bolus, then 1.5 g/m2/24 h as a continuous infusion. Initial doses (daily x 5 every 21 days x 3 cycles) were reduced by 20% (to 4 days) for myelotoxicity. RESULTS: Nine of seventy-six patients enrolled were deemed ineligible and another two who did not receive protocol treatment were inevaluable. Of the 65 evaluable patients, median age was 65 years; 50 patients (77%) were stage I and 15 (23%) were stage II. PFS and OS, respectively, were 69% and 82% at 24 months, and 54% and 52% at 84 months. Overall 5-year survival was 62%. Leukopenia was the most commonly reported, but manageable, toxicity. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant ifosfamide and cisplatin after primary surgery for stage I or II carcinosarcoma of the uterus is tolerable. In the absence of concurrent controls, the impact on PFS and OS is unclear. Pelvic relapse remains problematic.     

A phase III trial of ifosfamide with or without cisplatin in carcinosarcoma of the uterus: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to substantiate the previously reported activity of ifosfamide in patients with advanced, persistent, or recurrent carcinosarcoma (mixed mesodermal sarcoma) of the uterus, and to determine whether the addition of cisplatin results in an improved response or survival. Secondarily, we sought to determine the toxicity of ifosfamide-cisplatin in this patient population. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive ifosfamide (1.5 g/m(2)/day) times 5 days every 3 weeks for eight courses with mesna uroprotection, with or without cisplatin (20 mg/m(2)/day) times 5 days. No patient had received previous chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of 224 patients entered on this study, 30 were ineligible for a variety of reasons, leaving 194 evaluable patients. Early in the study, the dose of the combination regimen was reduced by 20% (1 day) because of toxicity. The investigational arms were balanced for age, grade, and Gynecologic Oncology Group performance status. Percentages of adverse effects reported in 191 patients receiving chemotherapy included (ifosfamide/cisplatin-ifosfamide) grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia (36/60), grade 3 or 4 anemia (8/17), grade 3 or 4 central nervous system toxicity (19/14), and grade 3 or 4 peripheral neuropathy (1/12). Treatment may have contributed to the deaths of 6 patients treated with full doses of ifosfamide and cisplatin for 5 days. The proportion of patients responding to ifosfamide alone versus ifosfamide-cisplatin therapy was (0.36 versus 0.54) overall, 0.47 versus 0.61 for pelvic, 0.21 versus 0.54 for lung, and 0.33 versus 0.40 for "other" metastatic sites of measurable disease. The relative odds ratio of response adjusted for measurable sites of disease was 1.82 (P = 0.03, one-tailed test; 95% lower confidence limit, 1.06). Progression-free survival (PFS) and survival data suggest that the combination offers a slight prolongation of PFS (relative risk, 0.73; 95% upper confidence limit, 0.94; P = 0.02, one-tailed test), but no significant survival benefit (relative risk, 0.80, 95% upper confidence limit, 1.03; P = 0.071, one-tailed test). CONCLUSION: The addition of cisplatin to ifosfamide appears to offer a small improvement in progression-free survival over ifosfamide alone in the management of advanced carcinosarcoma of the uterus; the added toxicity may not justify the use of this combination.     

A phase II evaluation of tirapazamine plus cisplatin in the treatment of recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the anti-tumor activity, nature and degree of toxicity of tirapazamine in combination with cisplatin in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian or primary peritoneal cancers. METHODS: Eligible consenting patients had to have recurrent epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal carcinoma with measurable disease. Patients were not allowed to have received any additional cytotoxic chemotherapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease, including re-treatment with initial chemotherapy regimens. Patients must have been platinum-sensitive, meaning a treatment-free interval of >6 months after response to a platinum-based regimen. The RECIST criteria were used for parameters of response. Tirapazamine was administered at a dose of 390 mg/m2 IV over 2 h followed 1 h later by cisplatin 60 mg/m2 IV every 3 weeks until disease progression or adverse effects prohibited further therapy. RESULTS.: Between June 2001 and February 2004, 65 patients were entered onto this study by 27 institutions; one patient was excluded due to ineligible tumor type. Twenty-six patients (41%) received six or more cycles of therapy; however, 16 (25%) received one course of therapy (mainly due to side effects or patient request). There were six (9%) complete responders and 28 (44%) partial responders for a total response rate of 53%. Only two patients (3%) developed increasing disease on this protocol, and response could not be assessed in 18 patients (28%). The median progression-free and overall survival for all patients is 10.9 and 26.4 months, respectively. The regimen did not cause major hematologic toxicity, however, it did cause frequent constitutional (23%) and gastrointestinal (mostly nausea/vomiting) (44%) grade 3 or 4 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of tirapazamine and cisplatin has definite activity in the treatment of recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer. However, toxicity, primarily non-hematologic, was substantial. Reducing the toxicity of a tirapazamine-platinum combination should be pursued in future trials.