A phase II study of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil in metastatic pancreatic cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study (E3296)

Gemcitabine has recently been compared favorably to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as the standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreas cancer. Based on phase I data that combining gemcitabine with 5-FU is safe and has evidence for clinical activity, a phase II trial was conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Patients with metastatic disease, good performance status and organ function were eligible and enrolled after providing informed consent. Patients were given gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2)) followed by 5-FU (600 mg/m(2)) weekly for 3 weeks of every 4. Of 37 patients enrolled over a 3-month period, 36 were eligible. Partial responses were seen in 5 patients (14%). Median survival was 4.4 months with a 1-year survival rate of 8.6%. A randomized trial of the combination of 5-FU and gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone is currently accruing patients in ECOG.     

A multicenter phase II study of a five-day regimen of oral 5-fluorouracil plus eniluracil with or without leucovorin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Purpose:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a five-day regimenof oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus eniluracil (776C85) in patients withmetastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods:Seventy-five patients with metastatic CRCthat was previously untreated or refractory to 5-FU–leucovorin (LV) wereenrolled and divided into two strata based upon their treatment history.Twenty-four had not previously received chemotherapy or had received adjuvantchemotherapy that ended >6 months prior to enrollment on study (previouslyuntreated stratum). Fifty-one patients had disease refractory to intravenous(i.v.) 5-FU–LV (previously treated stratum). All patients received sevenconsecutive daily doses of eniluracil (20 mg/day) with once daily oral 5-FUgiven on days 2–6, repeated every four weeks. One-half of the patientsin each stratum also received 50 mg/day oral LV on days 2–6. The 5-FUdose was 25 mg/m² when administered without LV and 20mg/m² when administered with LV. Results:Partial response (PR) was noted in 2 of 12 patientsreceiving eniluracil–5-FU and in 3 of 12 patients receivingeniluracil–5-FU–LV in the previously untreated stratum. Noresponses were observed in the refractory disease stratum, however, 15patients (30%) demonstrated stable disease over 2–18+ courses oftherapy. Non-hematologic toxicities were mild; only 7% of patientsexperienced grade 3 diarrhea. Myelosuppression was frequent and dose limiting.Neutropenic sepsis was reported in 13.5% of patients. Conclusions:Eniluracil with 5-FU administered orally with orwithout LV on a five-day schedule is active and well tolerated when given asprimary therapy to patients with metastatic CRC.     

Multicenter phase II study to evaluate a 28-day regimen of oral fluorouracil plus eniluracil in the treatment of patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of fluorouracil (5-FU) plus eniluracil when administered to patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this single-arm phase II study, patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer received oral eniluracil plus 5-FU (10:1 dose ratio), at 5-FU doses of 1.00 mg/m(2) or 1.15 mg/m(2) twice daily (every 12 hours) for 28 consecutive days repeated every 5 weeks (one cycle). Treatment continued until there was documented disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Thirty and 25 patients were enrolled at a starting dose of 1.00 mg/m(2) and 1.15 mg/m(2), respectively. Fourteen (25%) of 55 patients (95% confidence interval, 15% to 39%) had a partial response, and 20 patients (36%) had stable disease. The median durations of the partial responses and stable disease were 23.9 weeks (range, 12.3 to 52.1+ weeks) and 24.1 weeks (range, 17.1 to 55.6+ weeks), respectively. The median durations of progression-free and overall survival were 22.6 weeks (range, 21.0 to 29.0 weeks) and 59 weeks (range, 4 to 84+ weeks), respectively. The response rate in the 1.15 mg/m(2)-dose group was similar to the 1.00 mg/m(2)-dose group (28% v 23%, respectively). Severe (grade 3/4) nonhematologic treatment-related toxicity included diarrhea (nine patients), nausea/vomiting (one patient each), mucositis (two patients), and anorexia (one patient). Severe hematologic toxicities were rare. At the 1.15 mg/m(2)-dose level, two patients exhibited grade 3 granulocytopenia, and two patients had grade 3 anemia. CONCLUSION: The response rate with oral 5-FU plus eniluracil is comparable with that observed with infusional 5-FU or bolus 5-FU and leucovorin. The toxicity profile of this oral regimen is acceptable for use in an outpatient home-based setting.     

Biweekly oxaliplatin combined with oral capecitabine (OXXEL regimen) as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients: a Southern Italy Cooperative Oncology Group phase II study

Oxaliplatin 100 mg/m² iv on day 1, and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m² orally bid from day 1 (evening) to day 11 (morning) were administered every 2 weeks (OXXEL regimen) to 38 patients as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal carcinoma. A total of 318 cycles were administered, with a median of 8 (range, 4–12) cycles per patient. Response rate (RR) was 45% (95% confidence interval (CI), 29%–62%), with 7 complete responses and 10 partial responses; furthermore, 12 patients showed a stable disease, so that a disease control was achieved in 29 (76%) patients. RR was greater among patients with performance status 0 (52%), without weight loss (52%), younger than 65 years (50%), and previously unexposed to adjuvant chemotherapy (48%), while no correlation was found with the actually delivered oxaliplatin dose intensity. Overall, haematological side effects were negligible, with no case of grade 4 toxicity, and only one patient suffering from an episode of grade 3 neutropenic fever. Severe anaemia occurred in 4 (11%) patients, and grade 3 neuropathy affected 9 (24%) patients. Median progression-free survival was 7.9 (95% CI, 6.2–9.6) months, and median overall survival has not been reached yet. In conclusion, the OXXEL regimen resulted safe and active, and it deserves further evaluation in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.     

Phase II trial of weekly ixabepilone in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (E3803): a trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

PurposeBMS-247550 (ixabepilone) is an epothilone B analogue with activity in taxane-resistant cancer cell lines. Here we report the activity and toxicity of ixabepilone, administered by using a weekly schedule, in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).Experimental DesignPatients with metastatic CRPC received ixabepilone at 20 mg/m² intravenous weekly x 3, in 4-week cycles. This noncomparative study stratified patients to either a chemotherapy naive (CN), prior taxane (Tax) only, or 2 prior cytotoxic (TCx) chemotherapy arm. The primary endpoint was prostate-specific antigen response by using PCWG (Prostate Cancer Working Group) 1 criteria. Secondary endpoints included radiographic response when using RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors).ResultsIn total, 124 patients were enrolled, of whom, 109 were eligible (35 CN, 42 Tax, and 32 TCx) for the primary response determination in this study. Prostate-specific antigen responses were seen in 12 (34.3%) of 35, 12 (28.6%) of 42, and 7 (21.9%) of 32 patients with the partial objective response in 5 (22.7%) of 22, 2 (8.0%) of 25, and 0 (0.0%) of 24 patients for the CN, Tax, and TCx arms, respectively. Significant (grade 3/4) neutropenia was seen in 6 (15.4%), 7 (14.6%), and 9 (25.0%); and grade 3/4 sensory neuropathy was seen in 8 (20.5%), 12 (25.0%), and 12 (33.3%) for CN, Tax, and TCx, respectively. Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia was infrequent and seen in only one patient on the CN and the TCx arm.ConclusionIxabepilone was found to have an acceptable toxicity profile when administered by using a weekly schedule with less myelosuppression compared with prior studies when using the every 3-week schedule. Single-agent activity was observed and met prespecified activity levels for the Tax treated arm.     

Phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil plus eniluracil in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

BACKGROUND: Eniluracil is a potent, irreversible inactivator of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, the major catabolic enzyme for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Pretreatment with eniluracil significantly increases plasma half-life, plasma concentration and oral bioavailability of 5-FU. This multicenter phase II trial was designed to estimate the 6-month survival rate in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with 5-FU and eniluracil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixteen patients (61 with no prior chemotherapy and 55 with prior chemotherapy) were registered for treatment with eniluracil 50 mg (total dose) p.o. on days 1-7 and 5-FU 20 mg/m(2)/day p.o. on days 2-6 of a 28-day treatment cycle. RESULTS: In 106 patients evaluable for survival, the 6-month survival rate was 34% [95% confidence interval (CI) 22% to 47%, median survival 3.6 months] for patients who had not been treated previously with chemotherapy and 29% (95% CI 16% to 42%, median survival 3.4 months) for those who had received prior chemotherapy. For those patients with measurable disease, the confirmed response rates were 8% and 2%, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (29% of patients) and diarrhea (12% of patients). Overall, 69% of patients experienced a grade 3 or worse adverse event during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the combination of a 7-day course of eniluracil and a 5-day course of oral 5-FU has limited activity in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and is associated with a high frequency of clinically significant adverse events.     

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group experience with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil (CAF) in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Data on 162 women (90 premenopausal and 72 postmenopausal) with metastatic breast cancer randomized to receive cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and 5-fluorouracil (CAF) on two Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) protocols were analyzed. Twenty-three percent had complete remission; 39% had partial remission; 28% had no change; and 3% had disease progression. Of those patients in whom receptors were known, response rates were 65% for estrogen (ER)-receptor positive and 70% for ER-negative patients. The median duration of response was 11.4 months. The median survival time from the start of CAF was 20.2 months. The response rate, time to treatment failure (TTF), and median survival time were superior in the premenopausal women. These differences ceased, however, to be statistically significant in logistic models. Factors significantly associated with longer TTF and longer survival were as follows: one or two organs with metastases (TTF, P less than 0.0001; survival, P less than 0.0001); dominant site other than soft tissue (TTF, P less than 0.0001; survival, P = 0.05); and an initial good performance status (TTF, P = 0.007; survival, P = 0.02). Patients with ER-positive disease had a significantly longer median survival time (P = 0.003).     

A phase II trial of oral eniluracil/5-fluorouracil in patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma

Only a minority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may benefit from curative treatments, whereas there is no standard therapy for the remaining patients. The objective of this multicentre, open label phase II study was to estimate the objective tumour response rate of a 28-day regimen of oral eniluracil/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with chemotherapy-naı̈ve, or anthracycline-refractory, inoperable HCC. 45 patients received courses of twice daily oral 5-FU (1.0 mg/m²) and eniluracil (10 mg/m²) for the first 28 days of each 5-week course. Patients were assessed at regular intervals to determine the tumour response and to evaluate toxicity. Patients were followed-up for a minimum of 6 months. No patient showed a partial or complete tumour response, and 18 patients (40%) had a best response of stable disease (95% confidence interval (CI) 25%, 55%). The median duration of progression-free survival (PFS) was 13.7 weeks (95% CI 10.0–20.0 weeks), and the median duration of overall survival (OS) was 50.3 weeks (range 1.1–64.1+ weeks). The combination of eniluracil/5-FU was well tolerated and had an acceptable safety profile. Only 7 patients (16%) reported at least one adverse event (AE) of grade 3 or 4 intensity considered reasonably attributable to the study medication. In conclusion, oral eniluracil/5-FU had minimal, if any, activity in patients with inoperable HCC, but the safety profile was acceptable.     

Combination of irinotecan (CPT-11) plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRI regimen) as first line treatment for elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a phase II trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of irinotecan (CPT-11) in combination with bolus and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) (FOLFIRI regimen) as first-line treatment of elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCC). METHODS: Thirty consecutive, previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, aged (median 76 years; range 70-84) were enrolled. The performance status (WHO) was 0 in 8, 1 in 16 and 2 in 6 patients; 19 (63%) patients had prior surgery and 8 (27%) adjuvant chemotherapy. CPT-11 (180 mg/m(2) as a 90 min i.v. infusion) was administered on day 1, LV (200 mg/m(2) as a 2-hour i.v. infusion), 5-FU (400 mg/m(2)/d i.v. bolus followed by 600 mg/m(2)/d as a 22-hour i.v. continuous infusion) were given on days 1 and 2 every 2 weeks. RESULTS: Complete response was achieved in one (3.3%) patient and partial response in 10 (33.3%) (overall response rate: 36.6%; 95% C.I.: 26.6-48.4%); 11 (36.6%) patients had stable disease and, 8 (26.6%) disease progression. The median duration of response was 7.5 months and the median time to disease progression 7.0 months. After a median follow-up period of 17 months, the median overall survival was 14.5 months. Main toxicities were: grade 3-4 neutropenia (n = 6; 20%), grade 3 thrombocytopenia (n = 1; 3.3%), grade 2 anemia (n = 9; 30%), grade 3-4 diarrhea (n = 5; 17%) and grade 3 asthenia (n = 3; 10%). There was one treatment-related death due to neutropenic sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: The FOLFIRI combination is an active regimen with manageable toxicity as front-line treatment in patients above 70 years of age.     

Phase II trial of cisplatin, etoposide, and 5-fluorouracil in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study (PB586)

Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains an incurable disease despite significant progress in chemotherapy. We conducted a phase II clinical trial to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a cisplatin, etoposide, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combination in advanced metastatic and/or recurrent NSCLC. Forty patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic, measurable NSCLC were treated with cisplatin, 60 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) on day 1; etoposide, 120 mg/m2/day i.v. on days 1, 2, and 3; and 5-FU. 1,000 mg/m2/day i.v. continuous infusion on days 1 through 5. Treatment was administered in 4-week cycles. Thirty patients had distant metastases and were previously untreated, and 10 patients had recurrent disease after prior treatment with either surgery (1 patient), radiation therapy (5 patients), or both treatments (4 patients). Twenty-nine patients were evaluable for response. Seven (24%) patients achieved a partial remission (PR), 18 (62%) had stable disease (SD), and 8 (14%) had progressive disease (PD). Overall median survival was 7.9 months (range, 0.4-27.4 months). Patients who achieved a PR had a median survival of 23.5 months (9.3-27.4 months). In contrast, patients with SD had a median survival of 9.9 months (2.5-25.3 months), and patients with PD had a median survival of 2.1 months (1-9.3 months). Median duration of response of 27.1 weeks (4.9-76.5 weeks) for patients with PR, and time to progression was 13.4 weeks (3.7-54.5 weeks) for patients with SD. Toxicity was primarily hematologic and gastrointestinal, and there were three deaths due to infection. The combination of cisplatin, 5-FU, and etoposide as administered in this study appears to have considerable toxicity and does not appear to be superior to other cisplatin-containing regimens used for the treatment of advanced NSCLC.     

Randomized, open-label, phase III study of a 28-day oral regimen of eniluracil plus fluorouracil versus intravenous fluorouracil plus leucovorin as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic/advanced colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of eniluracil (EU)/fluorouracil (5-FU) with that of 5-FU/leucovorin (LV) as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic/advanced colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III study (FUMA3008) conducted in the United States and Canada compared the safety and efficacy of EU/5-FU (11.5 mg/m(2)/1.15 mg/m(2) twice daily for 28 days every 35 days) with that of intravenous 5-FU/LV (425 mg/m(2)/20 mg/m(2) once daily for 5 days every 28 days) in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. Overall survival (OS) was the primary end point. RESULTS: A total of 981 patients were randomized and 964 patients received treatment (485 EU/5FU, 479 5FU/LV). Survival for EU/5-FU was not statistically equivalent (but not statistically inferior) to that for 5-FU/LV (hazard ratio, 0.880; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.03). Median duration of survival was 13.3 months in the EU/5-FU group and 14.5 months in the 5-FU/LV group. Median duration of progression-free survival for EU/5-FU was statistically inferior to that of the control group (20.0 weeks [95% CI, 19.1 to 20.9 weeks] v 22.7 weeks [95% CI, 18.3 to 24.6 weeks]; P =.01). Both treatments were well tolerated. Diarrhea was the most common nonhematologic toxicity in both groups; treatment-related grade 3 or 4 diarrhea occurred in 19% of patients treated with EU/5-FU and 16% of patients receiving 5-FU/LV (P =.354). Grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia occurred in 5% of EU/5-FU patients and 47% of 5-FU/LV patients. CONCLUSION: Safety profiles of both treatments were acceptable. Although antitumor activity was observed, EU/5-FU did not meet the protocol-specified statistical criteria for equivalence to 5-FU/LV in terms of OS.     

Second-line chemotherapy with weekly oxaliplatin and high-dose 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid in metastatic colorectal carcinoma: A Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) phase II feasibility study

Backround:Oxaliplatin is a novel platinum derivative, which,combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and folinic acid (FA), demonstratessynergistic activity in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCC). The HeCOGperformed a multicenter phase II study of a weekly oxaliplatin administrationschedule in patients with previously treated MCC to evaluate the antitumorefficacy and toxicity of this combination. Patients and methods:Eligible patients included those whorelapsed after or during chemotherapy with 5-FU and FA and/or irinotecan.Prior radiotherapy was accepted provided that measurable disease was outsidethe radiation fields. Other eligibility criteria included written informedconsent, a WHO performance status 2 and adequate bone marrow, liver andrenal function. Treatment consisted of Oxaliplatin 50 mg/m² bytwo-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion followed by FA 500 mg/m²(two-hour i.v. infusion) and 5-FU 2500 mg/m² (24-hour continuousi.v. infusion) on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36. The regimen was repeated every50 days. Results:Thirty-two patients (Median age 61 years, range25–76) entered the trial. The majority (75%) had progressed afterreceiving first-line chemotherapy.Diarrhea was the main non-hematologic toxicity. More than half of thepatients (53%) developed grades 3 or 4 diarrhea. Due to this sideeffect only 29% of cycles were given with at least 90% of theplanned dose of 5-FU. Hematologic toxicity included grade 3 neutropenia andthrombocytopenia (10% for each), and grade 4 thrombocytopenia(3%). Two patients (6%) died of sepsis, one related toneutropenia and one due to urinary tract sepsis. Sixteen patients (50%)developed grades 1 and 2 neurotoxicity in the form of sensory neuropathy,which was mild and transient. The objective response rate was 13%(95% CI: 3%–29%). All four responses were partial.Twelve patients (38%) had stable disease and 8 (25%) progressivedisease. The median time to progression was three months and the mediansurvival was nine months from the start of therapy. The Kaplan–Meierestimated probability of one-year survival for the group as a whole was32%. Conclusions:The weekly administration of oxaliplatin with 5-FUand FA was associated with considerably less neurotoxicity than otherschedules. However, the high percentage of diarrhea suggests that a dosereduction of 5-FU in this regimen may result in better therapeutic synergy.     

A phase II study of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and interferon-alpha in the treatment of patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric carcinoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study (E5292)

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy has a limited impact on adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Although biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by leucovorin (LV) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has improved the outcomes of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma compared with 5-FU alone, this approach has not been extensively evaluated in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with bidimensionally measurable, metastatic gastric carcinoma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 received the combination of IFN-alpha (5 million U/m2 administered subcutaneously daily on Days 1-7), LV (500 mg/m2 administered intravenously over 30 minutes immediately after IFN-alpha on Days 2-6), and 5-FU (370 mg/m2 given as an intravenous bolus 60 minutes after LV on Days 2-6), with treatment repeated every 4 weeks. Oral cryotherapy was administered routinely before each dose of 5-FU to reduce the incidence of severe stomatitis. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 58 years (range, 20-76), and 22 patients had residual, unresectable primary lesions. The median number of cycles received was 3 (range, 1-11). Of 24 patients who received at least 2 cycles of treatment, 15 (62.5%) did not require dose reduction for toxicity during the initial 2 cycles. The predominant toxicities were gastrointestinal: diarrhea and stomatitis of Grade 3-4 occurred in 28.6% and 35.7% of patients, respectively. Other severe (Grade 3-4) toxicities were granulocytopenia (which occurred in 21.4% of patients) and fatigue (in 10.7%). Fever and flu-like symptoms were common but usually mild. Of 24 patients who were evaluable for response, 3 had partial responses (PR) of 16, 23, and 33 weeks' duration, respectively, for a response rate of 12.5% (95% confidence interval = 2.7-32.4%). Two additional patients had reductions in tumor size sufficient for PR, but scans to document the minimum required response duration of 4 weeks were not obtained before progressive disease occurred. The median progression-free and overall survivals were 2.5 and 7.8 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although this regimen can be administered safely with appropriate supportive care to patients with good performance status, it has limited therapeutic activity in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.     

m-AMSA in refractory lymphoma. A phase II trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

m-AMSA (4'-[9'-acridinylamino]-methansulfon-m-anisidide) is an acridine derivative which has shown a wide spectrum of activity in preclinical testing. The mechanism of action is thought to be via interference with synthesis and integrity of DNA chains by intercalation between base pairs and external binding. Initial phase I clinical trials revealed granulocytopenia to be the dose limiting toxicity with occasional thrombocytopenia. Phlebitis, liver function abnormalities, and cardiac abnormalities have also been noted. Early reports suggested activity in leukemia and lymphoma. Based on these results ECOG evaluated m-AMSA in a phase II trial of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.     

Phase II trial of gemcitabine in patients with advanced sarcomas (E1797): a trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to evaluate the antitumor activity and toxicity of gemcitabine in patients with advanced sarcoma. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with advanced sarcomas, who previously were untreated for metastatic disease, were treated on an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Phase II study. Patients ranged in age from 27 to 79 years, with a median age of 59 years. The most common histology was leiomyosarcoma (54%). The grades of the tumors were high in 40%, moderate in 24% and low in 12%. Gemcitabine was given at a dose of 1250 mg/m(2) as a 30-minute infusion weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest. RESULTS: One of the 25 patients (4%) (90% confidence interval [90% CI], 0-18%) achieved a partial response lasting 8 months. The estimated overall median survival was 15 months. The 1-year estimated survival rate was 63% (90% CI, 47-84%). The estimated median progression-free survival (PFS) was 13 months with a 1-year PFS rate of 56% (90% CI, 41-76%). Grade 3-4 toxicities (by CTC criteria) were observed in all 25 patients. No lethal toxicity (Grade 5) related to treatment was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrated that gemcitabine given at this schedule and dose in this population of patients with advanced sarcoma had limited activity.     

Phase II trial of doxorubicin and docetaxel plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in metastatic breast cancer: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E1196.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this multi-institutional phase II trial was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of doxorubicin and docetaxel plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The primary objective was to determine whether the combination produced a response rate of at least 50%. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with metastatic breast cancer received doxorubicin (60 mg/m(2) by intravenous [IV] injection) followed 1 hour later by docetaxel (60 mg/m(2) by IV infusion over 1 hour) every 3 weeks for up to eight cycles. All patients also received G-CSF. RESULTS: Objective response occurred in 29 (57%) of 51 eligible patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 42% to 70%), including three patients who had a complete response (6%; 95% CI, 1% to 16%). The median response duration was 7 months (95% CI, 6.0 to 15.0 months), median time to treatment failure was 7. 6 months (95% CI, 6.2 to 9.9 months), and the median survival was 27. 5 months (95% CI, 21.5 months to upper limit not reached). The median cumulative doxorubicin dose was 395 mg/m(2) (range, 60 to 480 mg/m(2)). Fifteen patients (28%) were documented to have a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction below normal, and three patients (6%; 95% CI, 1% to 15%) developed congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: Using criteria that we had defined a priori, the doxorubicin-docetaxel regimen as used in this study was sufficiently active and tolerable to justify a phase III comparison with doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide in early-stage breast cancer.     

A phase II trial of capecitabine in combination with the farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib in patients with anthracycline-treated and taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study (E1103)

Capecitabine produces an objective response rate of up to 25% in anthracycline-treated, taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib inhibits Ras signaling and has clinical activity when used alone in MBC. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of tipifarnib-capecitabine combination in MBC patients who were previously treated with an anthracycline and progressed on taxane therapy. Eligible patients received oral capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 twice daily plus oral tipifarnib 300 mg twice daily on days 1-14 every 21 days. The primary endpoint was ORR. The trial was powered to detect an improvement in response rate from 25 to 40%. Among 63 eligible, partial response occurred in six patients (9.5%; 90% CI 4.2-17.9%), median progression-free survival was 2.6 months (95% CI 2.1-4.4), and median overall survival was 11.4 months (95% CI 7.7-14.0). Dose modifications were required for 43 patients (68%) for either tipifarnib and/or capecitabine. Grades 3 and 4 toxicities were seen in 30 patients (44%; 90% CI 44.4-67.0%) and 11 patients (16%; 90% CI 10.8-29.0%), respectively. The most common grade 3 toxicities included neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting; and the most common grade 4 toxicity was neutropenia (8 out of 11 cases). The tipifarnib-capecitabine combination is not more effective than capecitabine alone in MBC patients who were previously treated with an anthracycline and taxane therapy.     

A phase I/II trial of 5-fluorouracil and etoposide in metastatic colorectal carcinoma

Twenty-two patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma were treated in a Phase I-II study of combination therapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and etoposide (VP-16). Treatment consisted of weekly intravenous VP-16, 100-120 mg/M2, followed by 5-FU, 400-480 mg/M2, in 28-day cycles. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity with a mean nadir leukocyte count of 3,600/mm3 and a mean nadir thrombocyte count of 101,000/mm3. There were no episodes of sepsis or bleeding. The tolerable dose for this regimen is VP-16, 110 mg/M2, and 5-FU, 440 mg/M2, weekly. A total of 63 cycles of chemotherapy were given. Although 10 patients had stabilization of disease, no partial or complete responses were documented. We conclude that there is no clinical support for the in vitro synergy observed with this combination. Further trials of this combination using this schedule in colorectal carcinoma are not indicated.     

Hyaluronan-Irinotecan improves progression-free survival in 5-fluorouracil refractory patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a randomized phase II trial

Purpose

The objective of this study was to conduct a randomised phase II study in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer with the purpose of confirming preliminary clinical data indicating that the formulation of irinotecan with the drug carrier, hyaluronan (HA) reduced toxicity of the drug.

Methods

Irinotecan-na?ve patients were randomized to receive either irinotecan (350?mg/m²) or HA-Irinotecan (HA 1,000?mg/m² and irinotecan at 350?mg/m²) every 3?weeks for a maximum of eight cycles.

Results

Seventy-six patients (41 HA-Irinotecan and 35 irinotecan-alone) were enrolled. There was no significant difference in any individual, or overall, grade 3 or 4 toxicity. There was a trend for increased diarrhea in the HA-Irinotecan-treated patients (20 versus 9%; P?=?21), potentially explained by a disproportionate number of baseline toxicity-associated risk factors in this treatment group. The median number of cycles completed was six for HA-Irinotecan patients and two for irinotecan-alone patients (P?=?0.005). When compared to the control arm, HA-Irinotecan patients had a significantly longer median progression-free survival of 5.2 versus 2.4?months (P?=?0.017) and time to treatment failure (4 vs. 1.8?months; P?=?0.007). Median overall survival was 10.1?months for HA-Irinotecan compared to 8.0?months for irinotecan patients (P?=?0.196).

Conclusion

Further studies are required to define the safety of the formulation of irinotecan with HA. While this study was not adequately powered to demonstrate survival differences, these phase II data indicated HA-Irinotecan to be a promising therapy demonstrating improved efficacy compared to irinotecan-alone.