Phase III trial comparing paclitaxel poliglumex vs docetaxel in the second-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Paclitaxel poliglumex (PPX), a macromolecule drug conjugate linking paclitaxel to polyglutamic acid, reduces systemic exposure to peak concentrations of free paclitaxel. Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had received one prior platinum-based chemotherapy received 175 or 210 mg m(-2) PPX or 75 mg m(-2) docetaxel. The study enrolled 849 previously treated NSCLC patients with advanced disease. Median survival (6.9 months in both arms, hazard ratio=1.09, P=0.257), 1-year survival (PPX=25%, docetaxel=29%, P=0.134), and time to progression (PPX=2 months, docetaxel=2.6 months, P=0.075) were similar between treatment arms. Paclitaxel poliglumex was associated with significantly less grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (P<0.001) and febrile neutropenia (P=0.006). Grade 3 or 4 neuropathy (P<0.001) was more common in the PPX arm. Patients receiving PPX had less alopecia and did not receive routine premedications. More patients discontinued due to adverse events in the PPX arm compared to the docetaxel arm (34 vs 16%, P<0.001). Paclitaxel poliglumex and docetaxel produced similar survival results but had different toxicity profiles. Compared with docetaxel, PPX had less febrile neutropenia and less alopecia, shorter infusion times, and elimination of routine use of medications to prevent hypersensitivity reactions. Paclitaxel poliglumex at a dose of 210 mg m(-2) resulted in increased neurotoxicity compared with docetaxel.

Treatment of normal individuals with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor: donor experiences and the effects on peripheral blood CD34+ cell counts and on the collection of peripheral blood stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been used in patients to increase the level of circulating hematopoietic progenitors. Although G-CSF has been administered to some healthy individuals, the kinetics of mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), the optimum dose schedule and the incidence and nature of adverse reactions in normal individuals are not completely defined. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Normal individuals (n = 102) who received G-CSF for 5 or 10 days at doses of 2, 5, 7.5, or 10 micrograms per kg per day were studied. The subjects were observed for symptoms and physical changes, and blood samples were obtained for a variety of laboratory tests. After 5 or 10 days of G-CSF treatment, PBSCs were collected by apheresis and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 89 percent of the individuals completed the 5-day treatment protocol and 88 percent completed the 10-day protocol without modification of the dose of G-CSF administered. Ninety percent of donors experienced some side effect of G-CSF. The most frequent effects noted were bone pain (83%), headache (39%), body aches (23%), fatigue (14%), and nausea and/or vomiting (12%). The dose of G-CSF administered directly affected the proportion of people with bone pain (p = 0.025) or body aches (p = 0.045) or who were feeling hot or having night sweats (p = 0.02) or taking analgesics (p = 0.01). With the 5-day dose schedule, several changes in serum chemistries occurred, including increases in alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.0013), lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.0001), and sodium (p = 0.0001). Decreases occurred in glucose (p = 0.045), potassium (p = 0.0004), bilirubin (p = 0.001), and blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.0017). In donors who received G-CSF for 5 days, the absolute neutrophil count was increased after one G-CSF dose, and it reached a maximum on Day 6, as did the number of CD34+ cells (64.6 +/- 55.9 x 10(6) cells/L). In those same donors, the platelet count after apheresis on Day 6 was 32 +/- 13 percent lower than pretreatment values (250 +/- 42 x 10(9) cells/L). In donors receiving G-CSF for 10 days, the neutrophil count reached a maximum on Day 8, but the number of CD34+ cells peaked on Day 6 (58.3 +/- 52.1 x 10(5) cells/L) and then declined. The platelet count decreased from pretreatment values by 28 +/- 12 percent prior to apheresis on Day 11. When individuals were treated for 5 days with G-CSF, the quantity of CD34+ cells collected was directly related to the G-CSF dose. When 5 micrograms per kg per day was given, 2.80 +/- 1.81 x 10(8) cells were collected, compared with collection of 4.67 +/- 3.11 x 10(8) cells when 10 micrograms per kg per day was given (p = 0.04). More important, PBSCs collected after 10 days of G-CSF administration (5 micrograms/kg/day) had significantly fewer CD34+ cells (0.82 +/- 0.37 x 10(8) cells, p = 0.01) than did PBSCs collected after 5 days of G-CSF (5 micrograms/kg/day). CONCLUSION: Most normal donors receiving G-CSF experience side effects, but these are mild to moderate in degree. Some alterations in blood chemistries occur, but none were clinically serious. Because of the symptoms associated with G-CSF, these individuals must be monitored closely. The treatment of normal donors with G-CSF for more than 5 days significantly decreased the number of circulating CD34+ cells and the quantity collected by apheresis.

Dosing regimen of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to support dose-intensive chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: This trial evaluated the optimum dosing regimen for recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhu GM-CSF) to support a dose-intensive chemotherapy regimen given without progenitor cell replacement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with refractory malignancy received cyclophosphamide 2,500 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2, etoposide 500 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3, and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3. Patients were hospitalized from cycle days 1 to 4 for chemotherapy and readmitted for cytopenic temperatures above 38.5 degrees C. Cycles were repeated every 35 days in patients who responded to a total of three cycles. GM-CSF was given at doses of 250 to 1,000 micrograms/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion (CIV) or subcutaneously starting on cycle days 3 to 6. Two nonrandomized control groups are used. RESULTS: The optimum regimen of GM-CSF for shortening the duration of leukopenia (WBC count less than 300/microL) was 500 micrograms/m2 given CIV. Duration of leukopenia was 5.9 days compared with 13.2 and 10.2 days in the controls (P less than .05). The optimum regimens for shortening duration of hospitalization, however, were 500 and 750 micrograms/m2/d given as divided (twice daily) subcutaneous injections. Durations of hospitalization were 9.6 and 9.8 days compared with 15.7 and 22.2 days in the controls (P less than .08). At the higher GM-CSF dose, only 36% of patients required readmission for cytopenic fever. Toxicities of GM-CSF at clinically useful doses were minimal. Twelve patients had complete response (24%) and 22 partial response (43%). CONCLUSIONS: This dose-intensive regimen can be given safely without progenitor replacement. rhu GM-CSF decreases the duration of severe leukopenia and decreases the need for hospitalization and antibiotic therapy.

The use of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor for the treatment of delayed engraftment following high dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for lymphoid malignancies.

To test the value of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor for the treatment of delayed engraftment following high dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, we enrolled 12 patients with recurrent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease having an absolute granulocyte count less than 150 x 10(6)/l on day 30 after autologous hematopoietic stem cell infusion in an open-label, nonrandomized study. These patients were compared to 21 similar historical control patients who were not treated with colony stimulating factor. Overall, the patients treated with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor had a mean absolute granulocyte count of 704 x 10(6)/l on day 44 after stem cell infusion compared to a mean absolute granulocyte count of 408 x 10(6)/l in historical controls (p = 0.008). The number of documented bacterial and fungal infections occurring after day 30 (9 vs 0, p = 0.01) was significantly reduced in the study group. The toxicity attributed to the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor was minimal with only one patient experiencing chills. Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor appears to be effective for the treatment of delayed engraftment following high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic transplantation for lymphoid malignancies, with most patients having accelerated granulocytic recovery and a reduced incidence of infections.

Phase I-II study of epirubicin in multiple myeloma.

Forty patients with relapsed (26) or refractory (14) myeloma were treated with epirubicin of doses of 75, 90, 105, and 120 mg/m2 in groups of 6 or more patients to test for response, maximum tolerated dose, and toxicity. Thirteen patients had received prior doxorubicin and were included in the dose findings part of the study only. Staging was I (1), II (5), and III (34). Partial responses were seen in 5 patients (18.5%) (duration 1.5, 2, 2.5, 10, and 18 months) not previously treated with doxorubicin. No responses were seen in patients treated with prior anthracycline. Responses were not dependent upon dose level of epirubicin. Median nadir white blood cell count at the four-dose levels were 2,300, 1,000, 1,600, and 1,700/mm3 with median nadir granulocyte counts of 897, 720, 688, and 192/mm3. Fever/neutropenia was infrequently observed at the three lower dose levels but occurred in 6 of 10 patients at 120 mg/m2. Platelet nadirs were 110,000, 83,000, 169,000, and 42,000/mm3. Nonhematological toxicity was not dose dependent and included alopecia (100%), nausea/vomiting (40%), and stomatitis (25%). Six patients had greater than or equal to 0.10 changes in the resting ejection fraction with one patient developing congestive heart failure that responded to medical management. This patient had received prior doxorubicin and had a history of myocardial infarction. Epirubicin can produce remissions in patients with previously treated myeloma who have not received prior doxorubicin. Since the response rate was not enhanced at 120/m2 and since fever/neutropenia was seen regularly at this dose level, the recommended dose for further study is 105 mg/m2.

Phase I-II trial of high-dose epirubicin in patients with lymphoma.

High-dose doxorubicin has shown considerable activity in both previously treated and previously untreated patients with lymphoma. Because of the toxicities of doxorubicin at high dose, we elected to study a new anthracycline at doses comparable to doxorubicin at high dose, to assess response and toxicity. Epirubicin was administered at doses of 120 mg/m2, 150 mg/m2, and 180 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (maximum four doses) to groups of six patients with previously treated intermediate- and high-grade lymphoma. Sixteen of the patients had received significant prior therapy with an anthracycline and/or anthracenedione. At all dose levels, myelosuppression was severe, with median granulocyte nadirs less than 504/mm3. Hematological recovery occurred by day 21 at the 120 mg/m2 and 150 mg/m2 dose levels, allowing for the next cycle of therapy. However, at the 180 mg/m2 dose level, the majority of patients failed to have hematological recovery by the day of the next scheduled therapy. Forty-two % of patients (eight patients) had fever/neutropenia, and required antibiotics. One treatment-related septic death occurred (at 150 mg/m2). Alopecia (68%), fever immediately following treatment (63%), mild/moderate stomatitis (58%), and nausea/vomiting (53%) were the most common nonhematological toxicities. These toxicities were independent of the dose levels and were not dose limiting. A significant change (greater than or equal to 0.10) in the radionuclide ejection (EF) was seen in seven patients. The median of the entire group of patients fell from 0.63 to 0.56. No patient developed clinical or radiological evidence of congestive heart failure. A response rate of 58% (two complete responses, nine partial responses) was achieved with a median duration of 5 months (range, 1-15+). High-dose epirubicin can be successfully utilized in patients with previously treated lymphoma. The only dose-limiting toxicity observed at these dose levels was the lack of hematological recovery by day 21 with 180 mg/m2. Since epirubicin at high dose will be incorporated into high-dose anthracycline regimens in previously untreated patients utilizing a 3-week treatment cycle, 150-180 mg/m2 may be the maximally tolerated dose for such studies.