The safety of concentrated trastuzumab in 100 ml of saline solution for administration to patients with HER2-positive breast cancer: a phase 1 study.

BACKGROUND: It is recommended that administration of trastuzumab should be carried out in a volume of 250 ml of saline solution over 90 min. Since 2011, recommendations have allowed a shortening of the administration time to 30 min at the second administration. However, the volume to be administered is still 250 ml. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of trastuzumab administered in 100 ml of saline solution over 30 min. METHODS: This study enrolled patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Three dose levels of trastuzumab, each in 100 ml of saline solution, were used (2, 6 and 8 mg/kg). The primary end point was the determination of safety. RESULTS: Nine patients were enrolled. Since no adverse events were observed, the 8 mg/kg/100 ml saline solution dose level was the recommended dose. CONCLUSIONS: A 30-min administration of trastuzumab in 100 ml of saline solution is safe in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Randomized phase II study of three doses of oral TAS-108 in postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer.

This randomized phase II study was intended to identify the optimal dose of TAS-108, a novel steroidal antiestrogen, for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal Japanese women. The potential clinical effects of TAS-108 on the uterus, bone, serum lipids, and hormones were also investigated. Postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer who had previously received one or two endocrine therapies were randomly assigned to one of the three possible dose levels of TAS-108 (40, 80 or 120 mg/day). Oral TAS-108 was given daily, and the efficacy and safety of the three doses were evaluated. A total of 97 patients (33, 32, and 32 in the 40-, 80-, and 120-mg groups, respectively) were treated with TAS-108. The clinical benefit rate was 30.3% for the 40-mg, 25.0% for the 80-mg, and 25.0% for the 120-mg group. The 40-mg group achieved the prespecified target threshold. TAS-108 at all dose levels was well tolerated and appeared to have no harmful effects in terms of the variables examined in this study. We conclude that the optimal dose of TAS-108 among the three doses is 40 mg, once daily, for further studies. JAPIC Clinical Trials Information number: Japic CTI - 121754.

A phase III open-label study to assess safety and efficacy of palonosetron for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in repeated cycles of emetogenic chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is of great importance for the completion of multiple cycles of cancer chemotherapy. Palonosetron is a second-generation 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist with proven efficacy for both acute and delayed CINV. This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of 0.75 mg palonosetron in repeated cycles of highly emetogenic chemotherapy or anthracycline-cyclophosphamide combination (AC/EC). METHODS: We gave 0.75 mg palonosetron to 538 patients 30 min prior to ≥ 50 mg/m(2) cisplatin or AC/EC on day 1. Prophylactic dexamethasone was administered on days 1-3. The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of adverse events (AEs). The secondary endpoint was complete response rate (CR, defined as no emesis and no rescue medication) throughout the study period. RESULTS: Treatment-related AEs were seen in 44% (237 of 538 patients). Serious AEs were seen in 4% (23 of 538 patients), all considered unrelated or unlikely to be related to palonosetron. Only one patient discontinued the study due to a treatment-related AE. No trend toward worsening of AEs was observed in subsequent cycles of chemotherapy. Complete response rates were maintained throughout repeated cycles. CONCLUSION: The extraordinary safety profile and maintenance of efficacy of 0.75 mg palonosetron combined with dexamethasone were demonstrated throughout repeated chemotherapy cycles.