Phase II study of echinomycin in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma ECOG study E2885

Summary Seventeen patients were treated with echinomycin for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Echinomycin is a bifunctional DNA intercalating agent with broad preclinical antitumor activity. It was given at 1200 mg/m² by intravenous infusion over 30–60 min weekly for 4 weeks. The treatment was repeated every 6 weeks. There were no responses observed in the study. No life threatening or lethal toxicity was documented in 13 eligible patients. The median survival of these patients was 13.7 months. We conclude that echinomycin is not active against metastatic renal cell carcinoma at the dose and schedule tested.     

Pyridoxine therapy for palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia associated with continuous 5-fluorouracil infusion

Summary The limiting toxicity of low dose continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (200–300 mg/m²/day) is often palmarplantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE). PPE developed in 16/25 patients (exact 95% confidence interval of 42% –82%) with metastatic colon cancer enrolled in a phase II trial. In this trial, 5-FU was given continuously at a dose of 200 mg/m²/day until toxicity or progressive disease forced discontinuation.The first signs of the syndrome developed at a median of 2 months following infusion initiation and, unless treatment was interrupted, became progressively worse. The incidence of moderate to severe PPE was 71% in the 14 previously untreated patients (exact 95% confidence intervals of 42–92%). Seventy-eight percent of the responders in the no prior treatment group developed PPE. The incidence of moderate to severe PPE was only 27% in the 11 previously treated patients (exact 95% confidence intervals of 6–61%). The higher incidence of PPE in the previously untreated patients probably resulted from a longer total infusion time (median = 7.3 months) than the previously treated (median = 4.5 months). The longer infusion time in turn was a result of the higher response rates (64 vs 18%) in the previously untreated versus treated groups.Five previously untreated patients who developed PPE received 50 or 150 mg of pyridoxine/day when moderate PPE changes were noted. Reversal of PPE without interruption of the 5-FU was seen in 4/5 patients. Four of these patients who received pyridoxine had responded to 5-FU treatment. No adverse affect of pyridoxine on clinical response was noted.The five previously untreated patients who received pyridoxine for PPE continued 5-FU for a median of 6 months after development of the syndrome. The six previously untreated patients who did not receive pyridoxine when they developed PPE were able to continue 5-FU for a median of only 2.5 months after development of the syndrome. A similar number of clinical responders to 5-FU were present in both groups.Considering the high incidence of PPE and response in previously untreated colon cancer patients who receive protracted continuous 5-FU, prophylactic pyridoxine in conjunction with this treatment modality might be useful.     

Phase II evaluation of merbarone in renal cell carcinoma

Summary The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) studied the response rate and toxicity of merbarone (1,000 mg/m² IV continuous infusion days 1–5, q 21 days) in patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Among 36 eligible patients, there was one partial response for a response rate of 3% (95% C.I. 0.1–15%). There were no mixed responses. There were no treatment related deaths or adverse drug reactions. Significant anemia, diarrhea, and hypercalcemia were observed. Mild to moderate degrees of malaise/fatigue/lethargy, dizziness/vertigo, hyperglycemia, creatinine increase, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, pedal edema, dyspnea, and granulocytopenia were noted. Merbarone does not have significant activity as a single agent in advanced renal cell carcinoma.     

A phase II trial of pemetrexed in patients with metastatic renal cancer

Background. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rising in incidence but remains difficult to treat. This clinical trial evaluated the effects of pemetrexed (multitargeted antifolate, ALIMTA®) for the treatment of metastatic RCC. Patients and methods. Patients were required to have histological diagnosis of metastatic RCC with measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy. In addition, patients were required to have a World Health Organization (WHO) performance status of 0–2 and adequate bone marrow reserve. Patients received pemetrexed at a dose of 600mg/m² as a 10min infusion every 3 weeks. Patients did not receive folic acid or vitamin B₁₂ supplementation. Results. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled and thirty two were evaluable for response. Three patients had a partial response for a response rate of 9% (95% CI 2–25%). The median time to progressive disease was 10.5 months. Of the nonresponders, twenty two had stable disease (median duration was 5.8 months; range 1.5–27.7) and seven had progressive disease (median time to progression was 5.4 months). Median time to progression for all qualified patients was 5.7 months. Common toxicities experienced were diarrhea and infection. Fatigue, stomatitis, and rash were also reported. The most common hematologic toxicity was grade 3/4 lymphopenia in 76% of patients. Leukopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia were also frequently reported. Conclusion. Single-agent pemetrexed has moderate activity in the treatment of metastatic RCC and should be investigated in combination with other potential active agents, as first-line treatment.     

Raltitrexed (tomudex) administration in patients failing multiple prior chemotherapy regimens in advanced colorectal cancer: a pilot study

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy of Raltitrexed, a specificthymidilate synthase inhibitor, in patients with advancedcolorectal cancer (ACC) failing multiple prior chemotherapyregimens (e.g. 5-FU+LV, CPT-11, etc). Methods: 20 patients with ACC; 13 males/7 females,median age 64 (range: 53–69), median Karnovsky PS: 80 (70–90), and sites of metastases; liver: 16, lung: 6, lymph nodes:9, peritoneal: 8 and a life expectancy of at least 3 months,were entered in the present pilot study of Raltitrexedadministration. All patients had progressed after priorchemotherapy with 5-FU+LV and subsequently CPT-11, and somehad received further infusional 5-FU. Raltitrexed wasadministered at a dose of 3 mg/m² i.v. every 21 days. Results: 3 patients obtained stable disease (SID), 15%,with tumor marker decline (CEA, CA-19.9). Time-to-progressionwas 4.8 months (2.2–7) and survival 7.4 months (6.0–7.8).Toxicity was in general not severe and consisted mainly ofmyelosuppression; neutropenia (WHO) grade 2: 45% and grade 3:22%, and anemia grade 1–2: 40%. Conclusion: Response to treatment with Raltitrexed islimited in patients with ACC failing multiple priorchemotherapy regimens, however, a limited percentage ofpatients with SD derived clinical benefit.     

Phase II trial of daily oral etoposide in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Forty-six previously untreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were entered into a Hoosier Oncology Group phase II trial of daily oral etoposide 50 mg/m²/d. The dose limiting toxicity was granulocytopenia. The non-hematologic toxicity was mild, with only 19% of patients developing Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia. Two partial responses of 10 and 16 weeks duration were seen in 43 evaluable patients, for an overall response rate of 4%. We conclude that daily oral etoposide has minimal activity in advanced NSCLC, and does not improve response rates over conventional 1–5 day intravenous etoposide administration.from the Hoosier Oncology Group, the Walther Cancer Institute, Indianapolis, IN; Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USADr. Einhorn is the Walther American Cancer Society Professor of Clinical Oncology.     

A Phase II trial of weekly infusional 5-fluorouracil in combination with lowdose leucovorin in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

Exogenous leucovorin is a source of reduced folate which enhances the inhibition of thymidylate synthase that results from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration. Extracellular reduced folate concentrations of 1 M have been reported to yield maximal enzyme inhibition in several cell lines treated with 5-FUin vitro. Clinical studies indicate that low doses of leucovorin have equivalent efficacy to higher doses in successfully modulating 5-FU in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Based on pharmacokinetics at higher doses, steadystate total plasma reduced folate concentrations of 1 M would be expected from the administration of leucovorin 50 mg/m² by 24 h infusion. This dose was admixed with 5-FU 2300 mg/m² and administered by 24 h infusion weekly to 38 patients with advanced colorectal cancer, of whom 32 are evaluable for response. Disease sites included liver (33 patients), lung (12 patients), and bone (4 patients). Toxicity was mild to moderate, except for grade 3 diarrhea in 5 patients, and chest pain in 2 patients. Among the 32 evaluable patients, there were 14 partial remissions for a total response rate of 44% (95% confidence interval 27–61%). The median duration of response was seven (range 1 to 20+) months, and median duration of survival 16 months. These results support the use of low doses of leucovorin to modulate weekly infusional 5-FU in colorectal cancer, and provide a basis for the integration of this regimen with other modulators of 5-FU.     

5-Fluorouracil vs. epirubicin vs. 5-fluorouracil plus epirubicin in advanced gastric carcinoma

From January, 1985, through January, 1987, 165 patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomized to receive epirubicin (E) alone (90 mg/m² day 1), 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) alone (500 mg/m² days 1–5), or the combination of E (90 mg/m² day 1) and 5-FU (400 mg/m² days 1–5). Courses were repeated every four weeks. Patients were stratified by extent (locally advanced vs. metastatic), evaluability (measurable vs. non-measurable) and by history of prior radiotherapy (yes vs. no). Randomization to single arm epirubicin was stopped after 26 patients were enrolled. Objective responses occurred in only 1/16 (6%) of the patients treated with E alone, 1/40 (5%) with 5-FU alone and 4/33 (12%) with both 5-FU and E. There were no significant differences in all eligible patients with respect to time to progression or overall survival in the three treatment arms. Toxicity was primarily hematologic and more pronounced in the combination arm. Neither 5-FU alone, epirubicin alone, or the combination have a major impact in the treatment of gastric carcinoma.     

A phase II and pharmacokinetic study of 6S-leucovorin plus 5-fluorouracil in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Summary Leucovorin (LV) is commonly used as a modulator of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity. In patients with colon cancer, the addition of LV to 5-FU improves response rates, and in some trials has improved survival in advanced disease and in the adjuvant setting. Leucovorin is generally administered as a racemic mixture, but the isomers differ substantially in pharmacokinetics and biological activity, with 6S-LV the predominant active component. The current study was undertaken to determine the effect of 6R on the pharmacokinetics of 6S-LV, and to characterize the toxicity and antitumor effect of 5-FU when administered with 6S-LV to patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Thirty patients were treated with weekly 5-FU plus high dose 6S-LV. To determine the effects of 6R-LV on the pharmacokinetics of 6S-LV, 20 patients were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg/m² 6S-LV or 500 mg/m² 6R,S-LV as a 2 hour IV infusion on day –2, and the other preparation on day –1, with pharmacokinetics measured each day. The presence of 6R-LV had no effect on the AUC, Cl_p, C_max, or terminal phase t_1/2 of 6S-LV. The overall response rate was 40% (C.I. 23–60%). The most frequent toxicities were gastrointestinal. In this small cohort, scheduled and delivered dose intensity was positively associated with response (p=0.05). These results show that there is no pharmacokinetic advantage to the use of 6S-LV rather than 6R,S-LV as a modulator of 5-FU.     

Phase II trial of fenretinide in advanced renal carcinoma

Summary Purpose: Fenretinide, a synthetic form of retinoid, induced apoptosis even in chemotherapy resistant cell lines. A phase II study was hence conducted to evaluate toxicity and efficacy of fenretinide in metastatic renal cancer. Methods: Eligibility included unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), adequate organ function and Zubrod performance status 2. Prior immunotherapy and a maximum of one prior chemotherapy regimen were allowed. Fenretinide was administered at a dose of 900 mg/m² twice daily orally for 7 days in a 21-day cycle. Toxicity was assessed at the start of each cycle, and response every 2 cycles. Results: Nineteen eligible patients enrolled of which fifteen had visceral/bone metastases. Seventeen patients had prior nephrectomy and 11 had prior immunotherapy. 76 cycles of therapy were delivered. Therapy was very well tolerated with few severe toxicities consisting of thrombosis in 1 individual and grade 3 fatigue, nausea and diarrhea in 1 patient. 5 patients had grade 2 nyctalopia and 3 patients had transient grade 2 visual toxicity. No objective responses were noted. Stable disease was seen in seven of nineteen cases (37%, 90% C.I. 0.21–0.59). Median time to progression was 1.5 months and median duration of stable disease was 5.8 months (90% C.I. 3.0–8.4). Median survival was 10 months. Tumor fenretinide levels were obtained in three patients and were in the lower end of the therapeutic range. Conclusion: Fenretinide was well tolerated but demonstrated minimal activity that was consistent with results of intratumoral drug measurements. Strategies are needed that will increase systemic and tumor levels of fenretinide.Supported in part by NCI Cancer Center Support Grant CA-22453.     

Leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil,and gemcitabine: A phase I study

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy agent with efficacy in the treatment of lung, pancreas, bladder and breast cancer. It inhibits DNA synthesis by interfering with cytidine triphosphate production and also inhibits the activity of ribonucleotide reductase. Gemcitabine may potentiate fluorouracil's inhibition of thymidylate synthase. This inhibition would be expected to be sequence dependent, occurring only if gemcitabine were administered following fluorouracil (5FU).The combination of leucovorin, 5-FU, and gemcitabine was assessed in this phase I trial. Eligibility requirements included refractory solid tumor malignancy; adequate hematologic, renal and hepatic reserve; no prior therapy with the combination of leucovorin and 5FU, or with gemcitabine; ECOG performance status 0–2, and signed informed consent.Eleven men and nine women were eligible. The median age was 52.5 years and the median performance status was 1. All but three patients had prior chemotherapy. The starting doses were leucovorin 20 mg/m², 5FU 255 mg/m² and gemcitabine 600 mg/m². 5FU and gemcitabine were escalated in tandem to 340 mg/m² and 800 mg/m² and thereafter to 425 mg/m² and 1000 mg/m², respectively. Gemcitabine administration always followed that of 5FU by 30 minutes. The median number of cycles was 2 (range 1–32). Two patients at the starting dose had disease progression within the first cycle with one death on day 28. One patient with cholangiocarcinoma had a partial response and remained on study for 40 months. There were no other responses.The maximum tolerated dose is leucovorin 20 mg/m², 5FU 340 mg/m², and gemcitabine 800 mg/m². The impact of drug sequence remains undetermined.     

Phase II trial of vinblastine in advanced ovarian carcinoma

Summary A phase II trial of vinblastine in patients with refractory epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma of the ovary was conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) between March 9, 1988 and July 7, 1988. Vinblastine was administered in a dose of 9 mg/m² intravenously every three weeks until disease progression or toxicity supervened. Twenty patients were entered initially. One was ineligible due to a previous primary cancer. Thus, 19 patients are evaluable for toxicity and response. All patients had cisplatin-combination chemotherapy and four had prior radiotherapy. Median age was 63 years (range 40–75 years). Thirteen patients had disease in the pelvis and six had extrapelvic metastases. Ten patients had grade 3 lesions and seven had grade 2. A median of two courses (range: 1–6) were administered. Toxicity was moderate. Seven patients (36.8%) experienced GOG grade 3 or 4 leukocytopenia and six had grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia. Median nadir WBC was 2,000 cells/1 (range 600–3,500) and platelet nadirs for the three patients with thrombocytopenia were 60,000, 116,000, and 147,000. Other toxicity included grade 3 gastrointestinal and renal toxicity in one patient each. Seven patients (36.8%) had stable disease on therapy and 12 had increasing disease. No responses were observed. Vinblastine in this dose and schedule is inactive in patients with resistant epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma progressing on first-line chemotherapy. Responsible author: Dr. Gregory P. Sutton, Indiana University Medical Center, Section of Gyn. Oncology, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 926 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46223, USA.     

Phase II Trial of Aminocamptothecin (9-AC/DMA) in Patients with Advanced Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer

Fourteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received 9-AC/DMA infusions of 850 mg/M²/day over 72 hours. Eligibility criteria included good performance status, advanced disease incurable by conventional means, no prior treatment of metastatic disease, and measurable lesions for objective response assessment. The infusions wererepeated at 21 day intervals until progression or prohibitive toxicity occurred.A median of 3 cycles (range 1–7) was given. No objective responses wereobserved. Median survival of the group was 6 months. Toxicity was hematologicwhich was modest and promptly reversible. 9-AC/DMA is inactive against this tumortype at the dose and schedule employed in this study.     

Phase I/II trial of dipyridamole, 5-fluorouracil,leukovorin, and mitoxantrone in metastatic breast cancer

Summary Based upon the hypothesis that dipyridamole would potentiate the cytotoxicity of mitoxantrone and the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leukovorin, we performed a phase I/II trial of the combination of dipyridamole, 5-FU, leukovorin, and mitoxantrone in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The dose of dipyridamole was fixed at 175 mg/m² by mouth every 6 h (700 mg/m²/day), based upon a previous phase I trial of oral dipyridamole with 5-FU and leukovorin. Dipyridamole therapy began 24 h prior to the first dose of chemotherapy and continued until 24 h after the last dose of chemotherapy for each course of treatment. At the initial dose level, leukovorin 200 mg/m² was given intravenously immediately prior to 5-FU 375 mg/ m² intravenously on days 1–5. Mitoxantrone 6 mg/m² was given as a single dose on day 3. Unacceptable toxicity was observed at this dose level, leading to successive dose decrements rather than dose increments. The maximum tolerated dose was leukovorin 200 mg/m² days 1–2, 5-FU 375 mg/m² days 1–2, mitoxantrone 6 mg/m² on day 2, and dipyridamole 175 mg/m² every 6 h on days 0–3. Two responses were produced in 15 patients. This regimen is not recommended for further investigation in the treatment of breast cancer.     

Phase II trial of CI-980 in patients with disseminated malignant melanoma and no prior chemotherapy. A Southwest Oncology Group study

Malignant melanoma is increasing infrequency at a rapid rate in the UnitedStates. Metastatic disease ischemoresistant with DTIC considered themost active single agent. CI-980 is asynthetic mitotic inhibitor that blocks theassembly of tubulin and microtubules. Ithas shown cytotoxic activity against abroad spectrum of murine and human tumorcell tines. CI-980 can cross the bloodbrain barrier, is effective when givenorally or parenterally, and is activeagainst multidrug resistant cell linesoverexpressing P-glycoprotein. In thistrial, patients with disseminated melanomawith measurable disease, SWOG performancestatus of 0–1, no prior chemotherapy orimmunotherapy for metastatic disease, andadequate hepatic and renal function, wereenrolled. Treatment with CI-980 was givenby 72 h continuous IV infusion at a doseof 4.5 mg/m²/day, days 1–3 every 21 days. Twenty-four patients were registered onthis study with no patients ineligible. They ranged in age from 33–78 withperformance status of 0 in 15 patients and1 in 9 patients. Nineteen patients hadvisceral disease with 12 having liverinvolvement. There were no confirmedresponses. The overall response rate was0% (95% CI 0%–14%). The medianoverall survival is eleven months (95% CI4–14 months). The most common toxicitieswere hematologic and consisted ofleukopenia/granulocytopenia and anemia,with nausea/vomiting andmalaise/fatigue/weakness also frequent. CI-980 administered at this dose andschedule has insufficient activity in thetreatment of disseminated malignantmelanoma to warrant furtherinvestigation.     

Phase II trial of echinomycin for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma

Summary Forty-nine patients with metastatic or recurrent renal cell carcinoma were treated on a phase II trial of Echinomycin. Treatment consisted of Echinomycin 1.25 mg/m² intravenously every 28 days. Among the 47 evaluable patients there were no complete responses and only one partial response for an overall response rate of 2% (95% confidence interval, 0–11%). Eighteen patients (38%) experienced toxicity of grade 3 or worse. The most common toxicities were nausea and vomiting. The results of this study indicate that Echinomycin is not sufficiently active to warrant further trials for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.     

Polyethylene glycol conjugated interleukin-2: Clinical and immunologic effects in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Summary Recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) modified with monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (PEG IL-2) was utilized in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in two separate multi-institutional trials. PEG IL-2 was administered as an I.V. bolus days 1, 8, 15, and 22 with cycles repeated every six weeks. The two trials employed different dose levels: A) 20x10⁶ I.U./m² day 1 followed by 12x10⁶ I.U./m² days 8, 15, 22; and B) 12x10⁶ I.U./m² days 1, 8, 15, 22. Thirty-five patients were entered and 31 were evaluable for response (A–15/18, B–16/17). Two of 31 patients had partial responses. Median therapy duration was four weeks (range 1–15), and dose reduction for grade III or IV toxicity was required in 14/35 patients (A-6/18, B-8/17). Toxicity ( grade III) seen included: hypotension 51%, dyspnea 17%, seizures 6%, and mental status changes 11%. No differences in response or toxicity between the two schedules were noted. Hematologic changes included lymphocytosis and eosinophilia in the majority of patients. PEG IL-2 given once weekly has significant toxicity, and may produce tumor regression in patients with renal cell carinoma.     

High dose folinic acid/etoposide/5-fluorouracil in advanced gastric cancer — a phase II study in elderly patients or patients with cardiac risk

Summary Thirty-four consecutive patients with measurable advanced gastric cancer were treated in a disease oriented Phase II study with high-dose folinic acid (HDFA) 300 mg/m² 10 min. inf., followed immediately by etoposide 120 mg/m² 50 min. inf., followed immediately by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/m² 10 min. inf., given on day 1,2,3 (ELF). Courses were repeated every 22–28 days. All patients who entered this study were older than 65 years or had underlying cardiac disease. Thirty-three patients were evaluable for response and toxicity ( 1 course). One patient was lost to follow up. The overall response rate was 48% (16/33) including 12% (4/33) complete remissions. Eight patients had minor responses or no change and 9 had progressive disease. Five of six patients with locally advanced and non-resectable disease had an objective response (1 CR, 4 PR's). The response rate in patients with metastatic disease was 41% (11/27). After a median observation time of 6.5 months, the median survival time was 10.5 months, with a median remission (CR + PR) duration of 8 months. Toxicity was manageable and included mild to moderate myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicities. One episode of life-threatening (Grade IV) leukopenia, and two episodes of severe diarrhea requiring hydration were noted. No treatment related death occurred.ELF is an effective combination in advanced gastric cancer and can be safely administered to elderly patients and patients with cardiac risk.     

A phase I trial of ametantrone acetate (NSC-287513)

Ametantrone acetate is an intensely blue anthracenedione undergoing clinical trials in man. In this Phase I study, 20 patients received 39 courses of drug as a single IV dose given daily for five days and repeated every three weeks (21 days). Dosage escalations proceeded from 15 mg/m² to 35 mg/m². Predictable and reversible leukopenia was the dose limiting toxicity. One previously untreated patient with renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the lungs and right arm experienced a partial response of 51 days duration. Nine patients had pharmacokinetic studies performed during the study. Ametantrone was extensively distributed (apparent volume of distribution, 26.3 1/m²) and demonstrated a short half-life (harmonic mean half-life, 0.38 hour). The maximum tolerated dose in this study was 35 mg/m². Recommended doses for Phase II trials are 30 mg/m² in good risk patients and 25 mg/m² in poor risk patients. Because of the partial response seen in one patient with renal cell carcinoma, Phase II trials should include this tumor category in order to better define the activity of ametantrone in this disease. In addition, since the total amount of drug that could be given to patients receiving the five day schedule (125–150 mg/m²) was approximately the same amount that could be administered as a single dose (140 mg/m²), it would appear that the only advantage of the daily times five day dosage schedule would be in the lower incidence of bluish skin discoloration.     

A Phase I Trial of Cisplatin Plus Decitabine, a New DNA-Hypomethylating Agent, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors and a Follow-Up Early Phase II Evaluation in Patients with Inoperable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The authors describe a phase I trial of cisplatin plusdecitabine, a novel DNA-hypomethylating agent, in patients withadvanced solid tumors, which was followed by an early phase IIevaluation of the combination in patients with inoperablenon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the phase I trial,cisplatin was studied at a fixed dose of 33 mg/m²,while decitabine was escalated in four (I–IV) doseescalation levels (45, 67, 90 to 120 mg/m²,respectively) in consecutive groups of at least 3 patients perdose level. Decitabine was administered to the patients as atwo-hour intravenous infusion, while cisplatin was givenintravenously immediately after the end of decitabine infusion.Both agents were given on days 1–3 every 21 days.Twenty-one patients were included in the phase trial. Dose levelIV (120 mg/m² decitabine) was considered the maximumtolerated dose (MTD), while the dose-limiting toxicities wereneutropenia, thrombocytopenia and mucositis. The recommendeddoses for phase II trials in good- and poor-risk patients were90 (level III) and 67 mg/m² (level II), respectively.One short-lasting partial response was observed in a patient withcervical cancer, while two minor regression were documented ina patients with NSCLC and cervical cancer, respectively. Doselevel II was selected for the phase II trial in patients withinoperable NSCLC. Fourteen consecutive patients were included inthis part of the study. The median age of the patients was 57years (range, 39–75), male/female ratio of –11/3 anda median WHO performance status 1 (0–2). The stage ofdisease were IIIB (5) and IV (9). Prior irradiation to the chestwas given in one case. A total of 30 treatment courses wereevaluable for toxicity and response, with a median of 2 coursesper patient (1–4). Grade 3–4 neutropenia andthrombocytopenia were observed in about half of the cases.Mucositis, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and skin rash were alsoobserved in some patients. Three minor responses were documented,which lasted for 4, 16 and 36 weeks. Median survival of patientswas 15 weeks (4–38). In conclusion, the cisplatin plusdecitabine combination did not exhibit significant antitumoractivity in patients with NSCLC at the dose and schedule appliedin this trial to justify its further evaluation in this patientpopulation.