Phase I study of twice-weekly gemcitabine and concurrent thoracic radiation for patients with locally advanced non–small-cell lung cancer

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity of twice-weekly gemcitabine and concurrent thoracic radiation in patients with Stage IIIa/IIIb non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods and Materials: Seventeen patients with histologically confirmed Stage IIIa and IIIb NSCLC were studied. Gemcitabine was administered via a 30-min i.v. infusion twice weekly for 6 weeks concurrent with 60 Gy of thoracic radiation. Gemcitabine, starting at a twice-weekly dose of 10 mg/m² (20 mg/m²/week), was escalated in 10–15 mg/m² increments in successive cohorts of 3 to 6 patients until dose-limiting toxicity was observed.

Results: Of the 17 patients entered, 16 were evaluable for toxicity. The dose-limiting toxicity at 50 mg/m² given twice weekly (100 mg/m²/week) was Grade 3 pneumonitis observed in 1 patient, Grade 3 pulmonary fibrosis in a second patient, and Grade 4 esophagitis observed in two additional patients. Twice-weekly gemcitabine at a dose of 35 mg/m² was determined to be the MTD. The overall response rate for the 16 evaluable patients was 88%. The median survival for the entire group is 16.0 months.

Conclusions: The MTD of twice-weekly gemcitabine is 35 mg/m² (70 mg/m²/week) given with thoracic radiation. A Phase II study within the Cancer and Leukemia Group B to ascertain the potential efficacy of this treatment regimen is in development.     

局部晚期鼻咽癌洛铂单周方案同期放疗初探

目的 探讨局部晚期鼻咽癌洛铂单药单周方案同期放疗中洛铂最大耐受剂量(MTD)。方法 选择18例Ⅲ-ⅣA期鼻咽癌初治患者,采用根治性IMRT同时进行洛铂剂量递增试验。洛铂初始剂量10 mg/m²,组间递增剂量为5 mg/m²,每个剂量组至少3位受试者。如无剂量限制性毒性反应则进入下一剂量组直至MTD,定期评价疗效及不良反应。结果 10、15 mg/m²剂量组各3例,20、25 mg/m²剂量组6例。25mg/m²组出现2例剂量限制性毒性反应,因此MTD确定为20 mg/m²。患者治疗结束后3个月,鼻咽部肿瘤和颈部阳性淋巴结临床缓解率为100%。主要毒性反应为骨髓抑制。结论 洛铂单药周方案同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的MTD为20mg/m²,该方案疗效可靠安全性较好,值得开展进一步临床研究。     

局部晚期鼻咽癌洛铂单周方案同期放疗初探

目的 探讨局部晚期鼻咽癌洛铂单药单周方案同期放疗中洛铂最大耐受剂量(MTD)。方法 选择18例Ⅲ-ⅣA期鼻咽癌初治患者,采用根治性IMRT同时进行洛铂剂量递增试验。洛铂初始剂量10 mg/m²,组间递增剂量为5 mg/m²,每个剂量组至少3位受试者。如无剂量限制性毒性反应则进入下一剂量组直至MTD,定期评价疗效及不良反应。结果 10、15 mg/m²剂量组各3例,20、25 mg/m²剂量组6例。25mg/m²组出现2例剂量限制性毒性反应,因此MTD确定为20 mg/m²。患者治疗结束后3个月,鼻咽部肿瘤和颈部阳性淋巴结临床缓解率为100%。主要毒性反应为骨髓抑制。结论 洛铂单药周方案同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的MTD为20mg/m²,该方案疗效可靠安全性较好,值得开展进一步临床研究。     

Phase I study of CT-2103, a polymer-conjugated paclitaxel, and carboplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CT-2103 (poly L-glutamic acid-paclitaxel) in combination with carboplatin in patients with histologically proven solid tumors that were either refractory to conventional treatment or for which no conventional therapy was available. Patients and Methods: Twenty-two adult patients with advanced solid tumors were treated in this dose escalation study. Patients were treated every 21 days with CT-2103 at 175, 210, 225, or 250 mg/m² (doses expressed as units of conjugated-paclitaxel) via 10-20 minute intravenous (IV) infusion, followed one hour later with carboplatin administered at AUC 5 or 6 via 30 minute IV infusion. No prophylaxis for hypersensitivity was administered with initial treatment. Doses were administered every 21 days until progressive disease or dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed. Toxicity was evaluated using NCI Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events v2.0 (CTCAE v2.0); response to treatment was evaluated using Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Results: The MTD was determined to be 225 mg/m². DLTs observed at 250 mg/m² were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. No hypersensitivity reactions were observed. Three patients achieved partial responses (PR). Fifteen patients received at least 3 cycles of treatment without observation of progressive disease. Median survival time was 5.9 months. Patients that demonstrated partial responses were all ovarian cancer patients that had previously failed paclitaxel therapy. The only Grade 4, nonhematologic treatment-related toxicity was febrile neutropenia. Grade 4 neutropenia (9 patients) was observed across all dose groups. Twelve patients developed thrombocytopenia (Grade 3/4) while receiving combination therapy. All had resolution of thrombocytopenia with discontinuation of carboplatin, suggesting that carboplatin, and not CT-2103, contributed mainly to platelet toxicity. Conclusion: CT-2103 administered at 225 mg/m² every 21 days in combination with carboplatin administered at AUC 6 has a manageable safety profile in patients with solid tumors; further clinical investigation is recommended, especially in patients with ovarian or non-small cell lung cancer.     

A phase I trial of docetaxel based induction and concomitant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of docetaxel based induction and concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) after using the FHX platform (5 = 5-FU, H = hydroxyurea, X = Radiation). Patients with Stage III/IV locally advanced HNSCC were enrolled. Induction chemotherapy (carboplatin/docetaxel) was followed by 5 cycles of concomitant docetaxel based CRT. No DLTs were observed in dose levels 1/2 for induction and CRT. Dose level 2 was expanded. The overall survival CR rate after CRT was 79 percent. Median overall (OS) has not been reached and 2-year OS is 80.7 percent. The recommended Phase II dose of docetaxel with FHX CRT is 25 mg/m² and 35 mg/m² in combination with carboplatin induction (AUC = 6).     

A Phase I dose-finding study using an innovative sequential biweekly schedule of irinotecan followed 24 hours later by capecitabine

Background: Irinotecan and capecitabine have a broad spectrum of activity in human malignancy and are synergistic in an animal model when irinotecan precedes capecitabine. Patients and Methods: A Phase I design of the combination of irinotecan IV Day 1 with capecitabine on Days 2-8 every 2 weeks was evaluated in 27 adult patients with solid tumors. Two sequential schema were used: Arm A fixed the dose of irinotecan at 100 mg/m² and escalated capecitabine in cohorts, and arm B fixed the dose of capecitabine at 750 mg/m² PO BID and escalated the dosage of irinotecan. Results: Neutropenia was dose limiting with nausea and diarrhea as the most common nonhematological toxicities. Significant interpatient variation in toxicity occurred despite uniform dosing. No Grade IV toxicities were encountered. Grade III toxicity occurred in first cycle in 15 percent (3/20) patients in arm A and 29 percent (2/7) of patients in arm B. All toxicities were reversible. Repetitive dosing was feasible with prolonged disease stabilization in 8 patients. Conclusions: The suggested Phase II dose of this combination and schedule is irinotecan 100 mg/m² and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² BID. Some patients tolerated a capecitabine dose as high as 1250 mg/m² BID.     

Phase I study of Doxil and vinorelbine in patients with advanced malignancies

Introduction. This study was designed to define the maximum tolerated dose of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®) and multiday vinorelbine (VNB), without and with prophylactic filgrastim, and to identify antineoplastic effect. Patients and Methods: Patients with resistant cancers were treated with Doxil 50 mg/m² every four weeks, and with VNB 15 mg/m² on the same day. The VNB dose escalations were accomplished in subsequent patient cohorts by adding VNB doses on consecutive days. When the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of VNB with Doxil was defined, prophylactic filgrastim was added to define a second MTD. Results. Of 29 patients entered, two had early adverse events, and 27 received at least one full cycle with at least one month follow-up. The MTD of VNB, combined with Doxil 50 mg/m², was 15 mg/m² on day 1, with neutropenia as the dose-limiting toxicity. With prophylactic filgrastim, the MTD was15 mg/m² daily for two days, with neutropenia and stomatitis as dose-limiting toxicities. Palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia occurred frequently, usually after the third cycle. Objective responses were documented in six patients, all of whom received multiday VNB. Conclusion. Doxil 50 mg/m² on day 1 of a 28-day cycle can be safely combined with VNB 15 mg/m2 day 1, or with VNB 15 mg/m² days 1 and 2 with filgrastim prophylaxis. Antineoplastic activity was observed in this heavily pretreated population. Future studies of Doxil 35-40 mg/m² with multiday VNB may be worthwhile, especially in metastatic breast cancer.     

Phase I and pharmacodynamic study of Triapine,a novel ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor,in patients with advanced leukemia

In a phase I study, 24 patients with refractory leukemia received Triapine^®, a novel ribonucleotide reductase (RR) inhibitor, as a continuous intravenous infusion over 96 h beginning on days 1 and 15 or days 1 and 8. On the days 1 and 15 regimen, the starting dose was 120 mg/m² per day, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 160 mg/m² per day. Three of eight patients receiving 160 mg/m² per day in the first course, and one patient escalated to this dose in a second course, developed hepatic dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). For the days 1 and 8 regimen, the first 96 h infusion was administered at a fixed dose of 140 mg/m² per day. The dose of the second infusion beginning on day 8 was escalated from 120 to 160 mg/m² per day without observing DLT. No objective responses occurred. Over 70% of patients had a >50% reduction in white blood cell counts. The steady-state levels of Triapine were between 0.6 and 1 μM. As expected from the in vitro studies, at these plasma concentrations there was a decline in dATP and dGTP pools and a decrease in DNA synthetic capacity of the circulating leukemia cells. Based on these clinical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic data, Triapine warrants further study in patients with hematologic malignancies.     

Phase I clinical trial of topotecan and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of combination topotecan and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) administered in 4- or 3-week cycles in patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors. Patients and Methods: Patients were treated with intravenous topotecan (0.75-1.25 mg/m²) for 3 days followed by PLD (25-40 mg/m²) on Day 4. The following dose combinations (topotecan/PLD, mg/m²) were explored: 0.75/40, 1.0/40, and 1.25/40 every 28 days; and 1.0/25 and 1.0/30 every 21 days. Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled, and all had received prior chemotherapy. Most (84 percent) patients had ovarian cancer. A total of 157 cycles (median, 4 cycles; range, 1-19 cycles) of chemotherapy were administered. Dose-limiting toxicities were Grade 4 neutropenia and death at dose level 3 (1.25/40 mg/m² every 28 days), and neutropenic fever, Grade 3 stomatitis, and Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy (all in one patient) at dose level 5 (1/30 mg/m² every 21 days). Myelosuppression was the most common serious toxicity. Twenty-six patients were evaluable for response and 7 (27 percent) had partial responses. All responses were seen in patients with ovarian cancer. Conclusions: This combination is feasible and well tolerated; encouraging activity was observed in heavily pretreated patients with ovarian cancer. The recommended regimens for a Phase II study are topotecan 1.0 mg/m² on Days 1-3 followed by PLD 40 mg/m² on Day 4 of a 28-day cycle, and topotecan 1.0 mg/m² on Days 1-3 and PLD 30 mg/m² on Day 4 of a 21-day cycle.     

早期宫颈癌术后每周紫杉醇+顺铂同步3DCRT的Ⅰ期临床研究

目的 明确中国人每周紫杉醇和顺铂同步盆腔放疗早期宫颈癌术后患者的MTD。方法 顺序选择有高中危因素的早期宫颈癌术后患者25例,ECOG≤2。盆腔采用6、10 MV X线4个野3DCRT,照射剂量为40 Gy分20次后予盆腔中央挡铅,宫旁加量10~20 Gy分5~10次;¹⁹²Ir高剂量率腔内照射,参考点为阴道黏膜下0.5 cm,处方剂量为5 Gy/次共2~4次。化疗起始剂量为每周紫杉醇 10 mg/m²、顺铂 20 mg/m²,共6个周期。利用3+3设计方法,每3例患者进行剂量递增直至达到DLT水平。结果 入组患者均在7周内完成外照射和腔内照射。第7剂量组4例患者中2例4周期后出现DLT即3级腹泻。3、4级血液学反应主要为白细胞、中性粒细胞减少,主要发生在4~6周期化疗后。第6剂量组1例出现4级白细胞、中性粒细胞减少,但额外增加的3例未出现4级反应。同步化疗未延迟治疗时间。25例患者中22例完成了6周期化疗。中位随访时间59.5个月,3例患者死于复发转移,1例死于呼吸衰竭。结论 早期宫颈癌术后盆腔照射联合每周紫杉醇和顺铂的同步放化疗安全、耐受性好。中国人的MTD为6周期的每周顺铂35 mg/m²和紫杉醇30 mg/m²。     

Etoposide, Cisplatin, Bleomycin, And Cyclophosphamide (Ecbc) As First-Line Chemotherapy for Poor-Risk Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumors

Sixty-one patients with advanced metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumors were treated with etoposide 120 mg/m², cisplatin 30 mg/m², bleomycin 12 mg/m², and cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m² daily for four days; and additional bleomycin bolus injection of 15 mg was given on day 1. Fifty patients (82%) were treated with four to six courses at 3-week intervals. Forty patients (66%) attained complete remission, and further 7 patients (11%) achieved a marker-negative partial remission accounting for a favorable response rate of 77%). Hematologic toxicity was considerable and there were two treatment-related deaths. After a median observation time of 47 months (range 12 to 108 months), 43 patients were alive, of which 38 had continuous complete remission, one a second complete remission, two marker-negative stable disease and two progressive disease. Our results are similar to those reported by other investigators for poor-risk metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumors treated with dose-intensified regimens.     

Phase I trial of gemcitabine and paclitaxel in advanced solid tumors

Purpose. Gemcitabine and paclitaxel are chemotherapeutic agents with clinical antitumor activity in a broad range of malignant solid tumors. Because of preclinical synergy, unique mechanisms of action and resistance, and nonoverlapping toxicities, gemcitabine and paclitaxel combinations are attractive for testing in clinical trials. Prior weekly gemcitabine and paclitaxel regimens administered on a 28-day cycle have been limited by cumulative hematological toxicity on day 15, thus reducing the planned gemcitabine dose intensity. We therefore conducted a phase I trial of a 21-day schedule of weekly gemcitabine and paclitaxel to determine the tolerability, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and preliminary estimates of efficacy of this regimen. Patients and Methods. Forty-one patients with advanced malignant solid tumors were accrued. Gemcitabine was given at a fixed dose of 1000 mg/m² while paclitaxel was administered at an initial dose of 60 mg/m², then escalated by 15 mg/m² increments over seven dose levels to a prospectively planned maximum dose of 150 mg/m². Both agents were infused intravenously on days one and eight every 21 days. At least three patients were enrolled per dose level. No intrapatient dose escalation was allowed. Results. All patients were assessable for toxicity and 31 were assessable for response. The regimen was generally well-tolerated. Dose-limiting thrombocytopenia was observed in one patient at a paclitaxel dose of 135 mg/m²/week (dose level 6). After expansion of this dose level by 14 additional patients, no further dose-limiting toxicities were observed although one patient at dose level seven died of neutropenic sepsis after completing three cycles. There were eight partial responders for an overall response proportion of 26% (95% CI: 11, 41). Twelve patients (39%) had stable disease. Conclusion. This 21-day schedule of gemcitabine and paclitaxel is safe, well-tolerated, and active. The recommended phase II dose is gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² and paclitaxel 150 mg/m² on days one and eight every 21 days. The antitumor activity observed with this regimen warrants further investigation.     

洛铂联合固定剂量多西紫杉醇二线及以上治疗晚期实体肿瘤的剂量递增研究

背景与目的：恶性肿瘤一线化疗后多出现复发或转移,需要二线及以上治疗。本研究旨在确定洛铂联合固定剂量多西紫杉醇治疗化疗后进展的实体肿瘤时洛铂的最大耐受剂量(maximum-tolerated dose,MTD),并评价其不良反应。方法：应用改良的Fibonacci法进行洛铂剂量递增,固定多西紫杉醇剂量为60 mg/m²,洛铂初始剂量为30 mg/m²,组间递增剂量为5 mg/m²,每21天重复。每组至少3例,如1个剂量组中3例均无剂量限制性毒性(dose-limiting toxicity,DLT)出现,则进入下1个剂量组,直至出现DLT,DLT的低一剂量水平即为MTD。结果：17例患者共完成58个周期化疗,进行3个剂量组的研究(洛铂分别为30、35、40 mg/m²),完全缓解(complete response,CR)0例,部分缓解(partial response,PR)1例,疾病稳定(stable disease,SD)10例,疾病进展(progression disease,PD)3例;有效率(response rate,RR,CR+PR)为7.1%(1/14),疾病控制率(disease control rate,DCR,CR+PR+SD)为78.6%(11/14)。主要不良反应为白细胞下降,3例出现DLT,其中2例发生在洛铂40 mg/m²组。确定洛铂35 mg/m²组为MTD。结论：本组洛铂联合固定剂量多西紫杉醇的MTD为35 mg/m²,其不良反应可耐受。     

Phase I Study of Elliptinium (2-N-Methyl-9-Hydroxyellipticinium)

Elliptinium (2-N-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium), a chemotherapeutic agent whose mechanism of action has not been completely elucidated, intercalates into DNA. In this Phase I clinical trial, the schedule of drug administration consisted of weekly intravenous infusions. Twenty-nine patients were evaluable for toxicity. The initial dose level was 40 mg/m² and was escalated to 150 mg/m² through six levels. The dose-limiting side effects were emesis, xerostomia, and azotemia. The lack of myelosuppression was the most striking feature. Objective responses (partial remission, minor response) were seen in one patient each with Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We recommend a Phase II evaluation of elliptinium at a dose of 100 mg/m² on a weekly schedule.     

Phase II trial of Paclitaxel and Dacarbazine with filgrastim administration in advanced malignant melanoma

A Phase II trial was conducted in patients with advanced malignant melanoma with intravenous Paclitaxel and Dacarbazine (DTIC). The initial starting dose for Paclitaxel was 135 mg/m² followed by DTIC 800 mg/m². Due to the lack of myelosuppression and other toxicities, the starting dose for Paclitaxel was escalated to 250 mg/m² and the dose for DTIC escalated to l000 mg/m². Twenty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Among the 25 patients assessable for response, three patients had a partial response with a response rate of 12% (CI 3-31%) and one patient had stable disease. Three additional patients showed evidence of anti-tumor activity with minor responses. For patients who had no prior chemotherapy or biochemotherapy, the response rate was 20%. Toxicity was generally tolerable and included mainly neurotoxicity from Paclitaxel. At the doses and schedule used, the combination of Paclitaxel and DTIC did not appear to increase the response rate compared to each agent used singly.     

A phase II study with CPT-11 plus leucovorin and bolus IV 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma

Standard chemotherapy in advanced colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has not yet been established. The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy and toxicity profile of CPT-11, leucovorin (LV), and bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a weekly schedule. Fifty-five patients were entered with no prior chemotherapy for advanced disease or adjuvant treatment ended at least 6 months preceding study entry, and 45 were assessable for response. Patients were treated with CPT-11 80 mg/m² (7 patients) or 70 mg/m² (48 patients). After completion of CPT-11 infusion, LV 200 mg/m² was administered over 2 hr followed immediately by 5-FU 450 mg/m², IV bolus, weekly for 6 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Treatment was continued for four cycles. Because of grade 3 and 4 diarrhea in four of the first seven patients, the study was amended to reduce the starting dose of CPT-11 from 80 to 70 mg/m² weekly. Four complete and 10 partial responses were observed (response rate: 25.5%), the median time to progression (TTP) was 7.7 months, 1-year survival rate was 62.3%, and the median overall survival was 15.0 months. Grade 3 and 4 diarrhea occurred in seven patients (12.7%), four of them treated with CPT-11 80 mg/m². Grade 3 myelotoxicity occurred in five patients (9.0%). Toxic death because of diarrhea, neutropenia, bacteremia, and sepsis occurred in a patient treated with CPT-11 80 mg/m². Our results confirm the efficacy of CPT-11, LV, and 5-FU in a weekly schedule in patients with advanced CRC. Further studies are needed to compare the present regimen with higher doses of CPT-11 with LV plus different schedules of 5-FU administration in the treatment of metastatic CRC.     

Comparison of conventional dose and double dose carboplatin in patients receiving cyclophosphamide plus carboplatin for advanced ovarian carcinoma: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group Study

Between March 1992 and November 1994, 91 patients with stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma were enrolled in a randomized comparative study of cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² plus carboplatin 300 mg/m² vs. cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² plus carboplatin 600 mg/m², each regimen given monthly for six cycles. Patients on the intensive regimen also received 10 μg/kg of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (molgramostim) daily for 14 days following each chemo-therapy treatment. The study was closed prematurely because of very poor case accrual following the preliminary announcement (in May 1993) that paclitaxel appeared superior to cyclophosphamide in the platinum-based treatment of ovarian cancer. More than 4 years after our last case entry, we analyzed the survival results for the 44 eligible patients who received the conventional dose of carboplatin and the 43 eligible patients receiving our intensified dose of carboplatin. More than 90% of the treated patients receiving the conventional dose regimen received at least 75% of the planned doses at each of the six treatment intervals, whereas the percentage of treated patients able to receive at least 75% of the assigned intensive dose regimen had declined from 95% in cycle 2 to 53% by cycle 6. Furthermore, although 32 patients received all six planned cycles of treatment in the conventional regimen group, only 15 received all six cycles of the intensified regimen. Patients receiving the intensive regimen had more fever, dermatitis, lethargy, musculoskeletal pain, and pulmonary complications than did the conventional dose patients. Median survival times for the two treatment groups were very similar (38.5 and 38.1 months, respectively, for the conventional and intensive regimens), and we saw no evidence that the distribution of survival times differed between the treatment regimens (p = 0.95).     

A dose-escalation study of irinotecan (CPT-11) in combination with cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-based front line chemotherapy

Purpose: A phase I study was conducted to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of a CPT-11 plus cisplatin combination as salvage treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: Twenty-two patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC, who had failed taxotere-based front-line chemotherapy, were enrolled. The patients’ median age was 61 years, 19 (86%) were male, and 17 (77%) had a performance status (World Health Organization (WHO)) 0–1. CPT-11 was administered as a 60-min i.v. infusion at a fixed dose of 100 mg/m² on day 1 and at escalating doses on day 8, starting from 100 mg/m² with increments of 10 mg/m² ; cisplatin was administered at a fixed dose of 80 mg/m² on day 8, 2 h after CPT-11 administration. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. Results: At the dose of CPT-11 120 mg/m² , three out of four enrolled patients presented DLTs (grade 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and delayed diarrhea); the addition of G-CSF at this level did not permit further dose-escalation. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed in 12 (18%) cycles, febrile neutropenia in four (6%), and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia in four (6%). Grade 3/4 diarrhea was seen in six (29%) patients, and grade 2/3 nausea and vomiting in 12 (57%). Neurotoxicity grade 2 was observed in six (29%) patients and grade 3 in one (5%). Other toxicities were mild. The MTD was CPT-11 100 mg/m² on day 1 and 110 mg/m² on day 8 in combination with CDDP 80 mg/m² on day 8. Among 12 patients evaluable for response, partial response was achieved in two (16.7%) patients and stable disease in five (41.7%). Conclusion: The combination of CPT-11 and cisplatin has substantial but manageable toxicity and marginal activity as salvage treatment of patients with NSCLC who have failed taxotere-based front-line chemotherapy; further investigation is warranted to define its precise role in the second-line setting.     

A Phase I trial of weekly docetaxel and topotecan for solid tumors

Background/Aims. Topotecan and docetaxel are active agents in the treatment of various malignant diseases. Both drugs cause dose-limiting hematologic toxicity. This study defines the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity of weekly topotecan when administered in combination with docetaxel 25 mg/m² given day 1, 8,15 every 28 days. Methods. Thirteen patients were enrolled. Median age was 62 years. Majority of the patients had lung cancer. Results. The maximum tolerated dose was docetaxel 25 mg/m² and topotecan 3 mg/m² administered weekly. Dose-limiting toxicity was febrile neutropenia. Eight patients developed at least grade 3 neutropenia in all cycles. Non-hematologic toxicities were mild. No objective responses were noted. Two patients with non-small cell lung cancer had stable disease as a best response. Conclusion. Combination docetaxel and topotecan given weekly is tolerable. The recommended phase II dose is docetaxel 25 mg/m² and topotecan 3 mg/m² day 1, 8, 15 every 28 days.     

Phase I Trial ofU racil-Tegafur (UFT) plus Oral Leucovorin: 28-Day Schedule

UFT [Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan; (BMS-200604), Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ], a fluorouracil prodrug, is an oral 4:1 molar concentration of uracil plus tegafur. This study examined the dose-limiting toxic effects and maximum tolerated dose of UFT plus leucovorin administered for 28 consecutive days followed by a 7-day rest period. A course of therapy was repeated every 35 days. UFT dose levels examined were 200 mg/m²/day, with planned escalations to 250, 300, 350, and 400 mg/m²/day; the leucovorin dose remained at 150 mg/day. Three patients were initially enrolled at each UFT dose level. The total daily doses of both UFT and leucovorin were divided into three doses administered every 8 hr. Diarrhea became the dose-limiting toxicity at 400 mg/m²/day UFT, with grade 3 diarrhea noted in 2 of the 3 patients receiving that dose. To further define a phase II UFT starting dose, 3 additional patients were entered at the 350 mg/m² level; 3 of the 6 patients treated at this level developed grade 3 nonhematological toxic effects. No partial or complete responses were observed. The recommended phase II UFT starting dose is 300 mg/m²/day plus 150 mg/day leucovorin. Since neutropenia, significant mucositis, and “hand-foot syndrome“ were not observed with UFT plus leucovorin, the toxicity profile of this regimen appears favorable compared with that of intravenous regimens of fluorouracil plus leucovorin. This phase I trial of UFT served as the basis for a phase II trial, current phase III trials, and a national adjuvant therapy trial of UFT for high-risk colon cancer patients.