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.     

Phase II trial of arsenic trioxide in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Fourteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC)were treated on a Phase II trial with arsenic trioxide(As₂O₃). Eligible patients had metastatic renal cellcarcinoma with bidimensionally measurable disease, a Karnofskyperformance status of at least 70%, life expectancy ofgreater than three months, and no evidence of brainmetastases. Arsenic trioxide was given intravenously at a doseof 0.3 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days every four weeks.The most common toxicity observed was grade II elevation inliver function tests (36%), anemia (21%), renalinsufficiency (14%), rash (7%), and diarrhea (7%). Bestresponse was stable disease in 3 patients with one patientremaining on study at 8+ months At the dose and schedule usedin this trial, arsenic trioxide did not achieve a complete orpartial response in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.     

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.     

Phase II evaluation of piroxantrone in renal cell carcinoma

Summary The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) studied the response rate and toxicity of piroxantrone (150 mg/m² q 21 days) in patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Among 32 eligible patients, there were no partial nor complete responses. There were two mixed responses. Significant white cell toxicity, anemia, nausea, and vomiting were observed. Mild or moderate degrees of fever, malaise, and stomatitis occurred. No significant cardiac toxicity was noted. Piroxantrone does not have significant activity as a single agent in advanced renal cell carcinoma.     

Phase II evaluation of amonafide in renal cell carcinoma

Summary Twenty four patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated in a phase II trial with amonafide 300–450 mg/m²/day on days 1–5 every 21 days. There were no responders, 6 patients had stable disease, 14 experienced progressive disease and 4 were assumed to be non-responders as no evaluation was performed. There were no fatal toxicities although 8 patients had grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia, 1 patient had grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities included grade 3 diarrhea in 1 patient, grade 3 myopathy in 1 patient, severe nausea and vomiting in 1 patient and a facial rash, possibly a hypersensitivity reaction, in 1 patient. The median survival is 7.5 months. At this dosage and schedule, there is no evidence that amonafide has meaningful anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Address for offprints: Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG- 8716), Operations Office, 5430 Fredericksburg Road, Suite #618, San Antonio, TX 78229-6197, USA     

A phase II clinical trial of echinomycin in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

Summary Echinomycin, a cyclic peptide in the family of quinoxaline antibiotics, was evaluated in patients with metastatic, soft tissue sarcoma not previously treated for metastatic disease. The starting dose of echinomycin was 1,200 mcg/m² administered intravenously, once weekly × 4, followed by a two-week break. The protocol design called for dose escalation on subsequent cycles of therapy, but because of significant toxicity, dose escalation occurred in only 5 of 25 treatment cycles. Severe nausea and vomiting was the most common toxicity. No clinical responses were observed in the 12 evaluable patients. Echinomycin at this dose and schedule is inactive in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.     

Phase II trial of topotecan in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Summary Fifteen patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated on a phase II trial with topotecan. None of the fourteen evaluable patients achieved a complete or partial response. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity. Eighty percent (12 of 15) of patients experienced grade III or IV neutropenia and/or anemia. Topotecan is not efficacious in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.     

转移性肾细胞癌药物治疗方法的研究

肾细胞癌在我国的发病率逐年升高,且对于放化疗不敏感,免疫治疗效果有限,尤其是转移性肾细胞癌的预后较差。该文就转移性肾细胞癌的药物治疗方案的作用机制、现状及展望进行综述。     

A Phase II study of 13-cis-retinoic acid in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the antitumor activity of 13-cis-retinoic acid as a single agent in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Eligible patients had advanced renal cell carcinoma with bi-dimensionally measurable disease, a Karnofsky performance status of at least 70, life expectancy of greater than three months, no evidence of brain metastases, and treatment with no more than one chemotherapy regimen. Patients were treated with one mg/kg/day of 13-cis-retinoic acid orally. Twenty-six patients were enrolled in this study and 25 were evaluable for response and toxicity. Of the twenty-five evaluable patients, no major responses were achieved. Toxicity was mild, with no patient requiring a dose reduction. At the dose administered in this trial, 13-cis-retinoic acid is inactive as a single agent in renal cell carcinoma.     

Phase II trial of Didemnin B in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Summary Twenty-three patients with advanced renal cell cancer were treated with Didemnin B. One partial response was achieved (5%) in 21 evaluable patients. An allergic reaction was noted in four patients including one patient with anaphylaxis. Didemnin B is not recommended in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.     

Phase II trial of liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Summary Fourteen patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated on a phase II trial with liposomal encapsulated doxorubicin (Lipodox, LED). None of the fourteen evaluable patients achieved a complete or partial response. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity and no cardiac toxicity was evident. Seventynine percent (11 of 14) of patients experienced grade III or IV neutropenia. In summary, LED did not show antitumor activity in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.     

A phase II study of pyrazoloacridine in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the antitumor activity of pyrazoloacridine in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Eligible patients had advanced renal cell carcinoma with bidimensionally measurable disease, a Karnofsky performance status of at least 70, life expectancy of greater than three months, no prior treatment with chemotherapy, and no evidence of brain metastases. Patients were treated intravenously with 750 mg/m² every three weeks. Twelve patients were enrolled in this study and all were evaluable for response and toxicity. Of the twelve patients, no major responses were achieved. Toxicity was mild, with three patients requiring a 20% dose reduction. At the dose and schedule used in this trial, pyrazoloacridine is inactive in renal cell carcinoma.     

Safety and tolerability of pazopanib in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still a challenging disease. Over the last 6 years, the use of novel targeted therapies interfering with vascularization and inhibition of other downstream pathways has revolutionized the therapy of this disease, leading to an improvement of patient outcomes. In particular, dysregulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway and VEGF protein overexpression have proved important, as they result in increased tumor angiogenesis and RCC growth and development.

Areas covered: This review briefly discusses the mechanisms of action and clinical applications of pazopanib. It mainly outlines the safety and tolerability of pazopanib for locally advanced/metastatic RCC. Phase III pazopanib safety data are also indirectly compared with other standard, antiangiogenic receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors currently used in the management of RCC.

Expert opinion: Pazopanib is a new drug available in the oncology portfolio to treat patients with predominantly clear-cell RCC. The toxicity profile of pazopanib is comparable, but in some ways distinct, from other antiangiogenic drugs used in the treatment of RCC. Long-term data about late side effects of this treatment are awaited.     

Phase II study of vinflunine in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Summary Purpose: An open-label, multicentre, non-comparative phase II trial to determine the response rate of intravenous vinflunine as first line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients and methods: Patients with metastatic RCC were treated with vinflunine 350 mg/m² (n = 11) or 320 mg/m² (n = 22) administered intravenously every 21 days. Results: Out of 33 patients included in this study, one partial response was observed in the group treated at 350 mg/m² and none in the group receiving 320 mg/m² resulting in a response rate in this population of 9.1% (95% CI: 0.2–41.3). Median progression free survival was 5.6 months (95% CI: 2.8–14.4) for patients treated at 350 mg/m², and 3.3 months (95% CI: 1.6–6.4) for those treated at 320 mg/m².The median survival time was 10.4 months (95% CI: 6.8–12.4) for the whole study population. The principal toxicities were grade 3/4 neutropaenia —90.9% at 350 mg/m² and 68.1% at 320 mg/m², febrile neutropaenia was recorded in 3 patients (27.3%) at 350 mg/m² and in 5 patients (22.7%) at 320 mg/m². One episode of thromboembolic event was reported in 1 patient at each dose level. Conclusion: Vinflunine given intravenously once every 3 weeks has not shown any clinically relevant activity in the management of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma; tolerance of the treatment was better at a dose of 320 mg/m² than at 350 mg/m². Supported by Institute de Recherche Pierre Fabre Oncologie, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.     

Phase II trial of echinomycin in advanced soft tissue sarcomas

Summary Thirty-four patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas were entered in a phase II trial of echinomycin. Patients received 1.2 mg/m² intravenously (i.v.) weekly times four followed by a two week rest period. There were no objective responses. Dose limiting toxicity was gastrointestinal. Echinomycin given on this weekly schedule is inactive in treating previously treated patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas.Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG-8505), Operations Office, 5430 Fredericksburg Road, Suite #618, San Antonio, TX 78229-6197, USA     

A phase II study of interleukin-2 with and without beta-interferon in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma

Background Biologic response modifiers have activity in renal cell carcinoma. The combination of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and beta-interferon (B-IFN) is synergisticin vitro. This trial was initiated to determine the efficacy of IL-2 alone and with B-IFN in advanced RCC.Methods Ambulatory patients with advanced RCC were randomly allocated to either IL-2 6×10⁶ units/ M² intravenously (IV) three days a week for four weeks or IL-2 5×106 units/M² IV plus B-IFN 6×10⁶ units/ M² IV three days a week for 4 weeks. This induction phase was followed by a maintenance phase of the same drugs and doses administered for two weeks out of every four.Results 84 patients were entered onto this phase II trial with 75 considered eligible for response and survival. Toxicity is reported for the 81 patients on whom data was received, irrespective of eligibility. The overall response rate (RR) was 9.3% (7/75). Of the 3 responses in the IL-2 arm (RR=8.3%), one was a complete response. 4 patients in the IL-2 + B-IFN arm (RR=10.3%) achieved a partial response. Median survival was estimated to be 8.4 months for patients given IL-2 and 8.0 months for patients given the IL-2 and B-IFN combination. Multivariate analysis of survival data identified initial performance status, metastases of >1 site, and weight loss as being important prognostic factors for survival. There were 2 lethal and 3 life threatening toxicities with the IL-2 treatment. While there were no lethal toxicities on the combination arm, there were 4 life threatening toxicities.Conclusions The results of this study indicate that further investigation of IL-2 with or without B-IFN at this dose and schedule as treatments for renal cell carcinoma is probably not warranted.Deceased; formerly at Lanenkau Hospital Cancer Treatment Center, Wynnewood, PA.     

Phase II study of echinomycin in patients with advanced breast cancer: A report of cancer and leukemia group B protocol 8641

Summary Twenty-five women with advanced histologically documented stage IV recurrent or inoperable breast cancer were enrolled on a phase II study of echinomycin administered at a dose of 1.2 mg/m² intravenously over 30 minutes weekly for 4 weeks followed by a two week rest period. Seventy-six percent of patients had visceral dominant disease at study entry and all patients had previously received chemotherapy. One of 21 eligible patients had a partial response lasting 147 days. The median survival for this group of patients was 5.9 months and the median time to treatment failure was 1.7 months. Nausea and vomiting was the primary toxic effect and was severe or life-threatening in 43% of patients. Transient elevation of liver enzymes occurred in 30% of patients. Bone marrow suppression was not significant. Echinomycin as employed in this study did not demonstrate significant antitumor activity in previously treated patients with advanced breast cancer.