Phase III comparison of doxorubicin and dacarbazine given by bolus versus infusion in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

Disseminated soft-tissue sarcomas are a group of uncommon malignancies generally treated in a uniform manner. This study questioned the impact of schedule on response rate and toxicity in patients with metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma treated with the two-drug combination doxorubicin and dacarbazine. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either bolus therapy with doxorubicin at a dose of 60 mg/m2 and dacarbazine at a dose of 750 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 (118 patients) or infusional therapy with doxorubicin at 60 mg/m2 and dacarbazine at 750 mg/m2 delivered by continuous intravenous infusion for 96 hours on days 1-4 (122 patients). Chemotherapy was to be repeated every 3 weeks. A unique feature of this cooperative group protocol was a provision for surgical resection of residual disease in patients with a partial response or with stable disease following chemotherapy. Similar overall response rates (17% in both treatment arms) and complete response rates (5% in both treatment arms) were observed. For patients receiving bolus therapy, the median response duration was 19.6 months for those in complete remission and 6.6 months for those in partial remission. For patients receiving infusional therapy, the median response duration was 12.6 months for those in complete remission and 9.3 months for those in partial remission. Examination of dose intensity received when combining treatment arms revealed a weak doxorubicin dose-response relationship. There was no difference in median survival times between the two treatment arms (bolus therapy, 10.6 months; infusional therapy, 10.5 months; logrank P = .97). Analysis of toxic effects favored infusional therapy. Significant reductions in cardiac toxicity (all events, P = .04; clinical events, P = .01) and nausea and emesis (P = .04) were seen in infusional therapy. Of 47 patients eligible for cytoreductive surgery following chemotherapy, 12 received surgery, and of those 12, eight were rendered disease free. The use of a 96-hour continuous intravenous infusion of doxorubicin-dacarbazine was comparable therapeutically with bolus dosing of these two agents and was better tolerated by the patients.

Phase I study of high-dose continuous-infusion recombinant interleukin-2 and autologous lymphokine-activated killer cells in patients with metastatic or unresectable malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma.

The current study was undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) that could be administered as a continuous infusion in conjunction with autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. All 55 patients in this study received a priming dose of rIL-2 of 1.0 mg/m2 per day given as a continuous infusion over 4.5 days. Patients later received (days 11-16) one of three doses of rIL-2 per day (1.0, 1.25, or 1.50 mg/m2) in conjunction with LAK cells given on days 11, 12, and 14. Because of unacceptable toxicity occurring early in the LAK cell phase of therapy at the rIL-2 dose level of 1.50 mg/m2, we concluded that the maximum tolerated dose of rIL-2 given as a continuous infusion with LAK cells is 1.25 mg/m2 per day.

Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic trial of flavone acetic acid.

Flavone acetic acid is a synthetic benzopyrone derivative with an unknown mechanism of action. Thirty-eight patients (30 men and 8 women) were treated once a week for 4 weeks every 5 weeks with doses of flavone acetic acid ranging from 0.33 to 12.5 g/m2. At doses less than or equal to 3.9 g/m2, the drug was administered intravenously over 1 hour; at doses greater than or equal to 5.28 g/m2, the infusion period was lengthened to 6 hours. Treatment of all patients included hydration before and after treatment and alkalization to maintain urine pH at greater than or equal to 6.5. A dose-limiting toxic effect was hypotension at 10 g/m2. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed linear behavior in the eight patients studied, beginning at 3.9 g/m2. Peak plasma levels ranged from 125 to 630 micrograms/mL, with a mean terminal half-life of 22.4 hours. Immunologic monitoring was performed in three patients at 10 g/m2. A transient increase in CD16- and/or Leu-19-positive cells was noted in all three patients. In one patient, this increase correlated with a 10-fold increase in K562 cell killing. There were no objective tumor responses seen in this trial. The recommended phase II dose on this schedule is 8 g/m2. Further studies to elucidate the drug's mechanism of action and to define its immunologic properties are recommended.

Phase I and pharmacological study of acivicin by 24-hour continuous infusion.

A Phase I trial of acivicin [L-(alpha S,5S)-alpha-amino-3-chloro-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazoleacetic acid] has been performed on an escalating-dosage 24-hr continuous i.v. infusion schedule. Thirty-one patients received 77 courses of treatment, and all but one were evaluable for toxicity. Pharmacological monitoring in selected patients demonstrated that peak plasma levels correlated with dose. Postinfusion t1/2 beta was 6 to 9 hr, and urinary recovery of the administered dose was 14 to 19% as unchanged drug during the 24-hr infusion. Hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities were variable and not dose related. In contrast, neurotoxicity characterized by lethargy, fatigue, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, nightmares, and truncal ataxia was dose limiting and related to plasma drug levels. A minimal antitumor response was observed in a patient with colorectal carcinoma, and a partial response occurred in a patient with liver metastases from gastric carcinoma. The recommended dose for Phase II trial by 24-hr infusion is 160 mg/sq m.

Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic trial of Brequinar sodium (DuP 785; NSC 368390).

Brequinar sodium is a 4-quinolinecarboxylic acid analogue that inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and subsequent de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. It has shown dose-dependent antineoplastic activity against several mouse and human tumor models. This trial evaluated Brequinar given as a single daily i.v. bolus over a 5-day period repeated every 28 days. One hundred seven courses of treatment at dosages ranging from 36 to 300 mg/m2/day x 5 were administered to 45 patients (31 male and 14 female) with refractory solid tumors; median age was 58 years (range 30-74); median Southwest Oncology Group performance status was 1 (range, 0-3). Thirty patients had prior cytotoxic chemotherapy. Dose-limiting toxicities were thrombocytopenia and a severe desquamative maculopapular dermatitis. Two of 5 good risk patients at 300 mg/m2 and 3 of 6 poor risk patients at 170 mg/m2 developed a platelet count less than 25 x 10(3)/microliters. Two of 5 good risk patients at 300 mg/m2 and 1 of 6 poor risk patients at 170 mg/m2 developed a severe desquamative dermatitis. Moderate to severe mucositis was usually associated with the thrombocytopenia and/or the dermatitis. Nonhematological drug-related toxicities included nausea and vomiting, malaise, anorexia, diarrhea, phlebitis, reversible transaminase elevation, and mucositis. Other hematological toxicities were anemia, granulocytopenia, and leukopenia. There were no drug-related deaths. There were no objective tumor responses. Plasma and urine levels of Brequinar were quantified by high pressure liquid chromatography in 28 patients. Plasma levels and areas under the curve increased proportionally with increased dose. Brequinar had a harmonic mean terminal t1/2 of 8.1 +/- 3.6 h with a model-independent determined apparent volume of distribution at steady state of 9.0 +/- 2.9 liters/m2 and a total body clearance of 19.2 +/- 7.7 ml/min/m2. Renal excretion was a minor route of elimination for Brequinar. The maximally tolerated dose of Brequinar on a daily x 5 i.v. schedule was 250 mg/m2 for good risk patients. For the daily x 5 i.v. schedule, the recommended dose of Brequinar for phase II evaluation is 250 mg/m2 for good risk patients and 135 mg/m2 for poor risk patients.

Phase I and clinical pharmacology trial of 502U83 using a monthly single dose schedule.

502U83 is an arylmethylaminopropanediol derivative exhibiting significant antineoplastic activity in a number of murine and human tumor models. In this Phase I trial, a 1-h or 4-h infusion of the agent was administered i.v. in 250 ml of 5% dextrose in water every 28 days. Fifty-three courses at doses of 25 to 2000 mg/m2 were administered to 36 patients with refractory solid tumors. Prolongation of the PR, QRS, and QT intervals on electrocardiograms was dose limiting at 2000 mg/m2. This prolongation appeared dose related and was reversible upon discontinuation of the infusion. No hematological toxicity was observed. Other toxicities included only sporadic and mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. No tumor responses were noted. 502U83 plasma concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Complete pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained for 21 of the 36 patients. After infusion, plasma concentrations declined in a biexponential or in a triexponential manner with a harmonic mean terminal t 1/2 of 8.83 h. Using a three-compartment model, the mean apparent volume of distribution at steady state and total-body clearance were 195 liters/m2 and 42.5 liters/h/m2, respectively, indicative of extensive tissue distribution. No correlation could be found between the pharmacokinetic parameters and prolongation of the cardiac conduction intervals. Because of the cardiac effects with the drug, the schedule of administration of 502U83 used in this study cannot be recommended.

Phase I and clinical pharmacology trial of crisnatol (BWA770U mesylate) using a monthly single-dose schedule.

Crisnatol is a novel lipophilic arylmethylaminopropanediol with significant antineoplastic activity in a variety of murine and human tumor models which functions as a DNA intercalator. In this Phase I trial, a 6-h infusion of the drug was administered i.v. in 700 to 1500 ml of 5% dextrose in water every 28 days. Eighty-five courses at doses of 7.5 to 516 mg/m2 were administered to 43 patients with refractory solid tumors. Reversible neurological toxicity was dose limiting at 516 mg/m2 and was manifested as somnolence, dizziness, blurred vision, unsteady gait, and alpha-slowing on electroencephalogram at the end of infusion. All neurological signs and symptoms were reversible. No hematological toxicity was observed. Other toxicities included phlebitis, mild to moderate nausea and vomiting, reversible sinus node arrest in one patient, and hypertension. Crisnatol plasma concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. After infusion, plasma concentrations declined biexponentially with a terminal t1/2 of 2.9 h. Using a two-compartment model, the mean apparent volume of distribution at steady state and total-body clearance were 58.8 liters/m2 and 18.3 liters/h/m2, respectively, indicative of extensive tissue distribution and rapid hepatic clearance. Peak plasma levels occurred at the end of infusion and correlated with the onset of neurological toxicity. The recommended Phase II dose for this schedule is 388 mg/m2.

A randomized phase I trial of chronic oral etoposide with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with advanced malignancies.

Data from an in vitro human tumor-cloning assay suggested synergistic cytotoxicity when etoposide (VP16) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were combined. To explore this potential, we undertook a prospectively randomized three-arm trial in a phase I setting with various schedules of VP16 and GM-CSF. Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the three-arm trial. Arm A consisted of oral VP16 daily for up to 21 days with cycles repeated every 35 days. Arm B included oral VP16 daily for up to 21 days plus concomitant GM-CSF at 5 micrograms/kg/day s.c. days 1-10. Arm C included oral VP16 daily for up to 21 days plus pretreatment with GM-CSF at the same dose for 5 days (days -6 to -2). VP16 was begun at 25 mg/m2/day on level 1 and increased to 50 mg/m2/day on level 2. Twenty-seven patients were evaluable for toxicity, nine on each arm (six patients on each arm on level 1, three patients on each arm on level 2). Neutropenia on arm B (concomitant VP16 and GM-CSF) was earlier and more profound than on arm A or C. The median absolute neutrophil count and day of nadir for arms A, B, and C were 3295, 988, and 1600/mm3 and days 23, 15, and 26, respectively. Thrombocytopenia was generally uncommon except on arm C level 2, where the median platelet count was 26,000/mm3. One partial response (arm B) in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer was seen. Dose intensity favored arm A. Neither concomitant therapy with VP16 and GM-CSF (arm B) nor pretreatment with GM-CSF (arm C) improved dose intensity over VP16 alone (arm A), and arms B and C were complicated by increased neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

Phase II trial of paclitaxel and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients with pancreatic carcinoma: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE: Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat, with most patients surgically unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can offer palliation, but more effective therapy is needed. This trial evaluated the effects of an aggressive schedule of paclitaxel given with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were required to have a histologic diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Patients had to have performance status of 0 to 2, pretreatment absolute granulocyte count > or = 1,500/microL, and platelet count greater than or equal to the institutional lower limit of normal. Following pretreatment with dexamethasone, diphenhydramine, and cimetidine, patients received paclitaxel at a dose of 250 mg/m2 by 24-hour infusion on day 1, repeated every 21 days. G-CSF was given at a dose of 5 microg/kg/d on days 3 to 18 or until two consecutive absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) > or = 10,000/microL were obtained. Doses of paclitaxel were modified depending on nadir counts. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were entered onto this study, with six ineligible. For the 39 eligible patients, there was one complete response (CR) and two partial responses (PRs), five stable/no responses, 23 increasing disease, two early deaths, and six patients whose assessment was inadequate to determine response. The response rate was therefore three of 39 or 8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2% to 21%). The median survival time for the 39 eligible patients was 5 months. The most common toxicities were anemia, leukopenia/granulocytopenia, malaise/fatigue, nausea/vomiting, alopecia, thrombocytopenia, paresthesias, and liver function abnormalities. There was one death due to sepsis. CONCLUSION: Single-agent paclitaxel in this dose and schedule has minimal activity in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients.

Pulmonary uptake of technetium 99m macroaggregated albumin: a predictor of gastrointestinal toxicity during hepatic artery perfusion.

Hepatic artery infusion of 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (5-FUdR) provides high hepatic drug levels but little systemic toxicity, since, by this route of administration, the drug is detoxified by the hepatocytes. Slow infusion of technetium 99m- (99mTc) labeled macroaggregated albumin (MAA) through the hepatic artery is an aid in catheter placement, in predicting response of liver metastases to therapy, and in identifying extra-hepatic flow in the gastroduodenal or splenic arteries as an indicator of systemic toxicity. Marked pulmonary uptake of this tracer after slow radionuclide hepatic angiography was noted in four patients who showed major gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity. A retrospective examination of pulmonary accumulation of 99mTcMAA as a predictor of GI toxicity is the subject of this paper. Two groups of patients were evaluated. The first group consisted of 14 consecutive patients in whom continuous infusion of drug was administered by an external pump by way of a percutaneous catheter. Patients received baseline and follow-up (seven to 27 days) slow-infusion tracer studies (2 to 4 mCi 99mTcMAA at 10 to 21 mL/h). The second group included 14 consecutive patients who were receiving intraarterial chemotherapy by a totally implantable pump system. All received baseline slow-infusion studies (2 to 4 mCi 99mTcMAA at approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mL/min). The percentage of the injected dose in the lung was determined. Patients with greater than 20% of tracer in the lung after radionuclide hepatic angiography had significantly greater severe GI toxicity than patients with baseline values of less than 20%. Our findings support the existence of hepatic arteriovenous (A-V) communications in some patients and suggest that they are present pretherapy. Presence of these A-V communications, which can result in a vascular bypass of normal hepatic parenchyma and the subsequent decrease in hepatic detoxification of chemotherapeutic agents, is the likely cause of GI toxicity. Pulmonary uptake of tracer injected in the hepatic artery may be useful in quantifying the degree of shunting and facilitate the monitoring of potential systemic toxicity.

Use of in vitro dose response effects to select antineoplastics for high-dose or regional administration regimens.

Several preclinical and clinical studies have documented that dose or dose intensity of chemotherapeutic agents are important factors for response of patients' tumors. This finding has prompted empiric trials of certain chemotherapeutic agents in high-dose or regional administration treatment regimens. The present study was performed to identify agents that would be particularly good candidates for high-dose or regional administration regimens against particular types of tumors. Using a human tumor cloning technique, we constructed dose in vitro response lines for ten different chemotherapeutic agents against seven different histologic types of malignancies. Slopes of the lines indicated the agents with the greatest increases of in vitro response per increment in dose of the agent. Tumors against which the agents gave the steepest dose response lines included lymphoma, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, and small-cell lung cancer, while the dose response lines for non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer were quite flat. Suggestions for clinical trials based on these findings include the use of high-dose melphalan for patients with lymphoma, head and neck, and ovarian cancer; the use of mitoxantrone in high-dose regimens for patients with breast cancer; high-dose cisplatin regimens for patients with small-cell lung cancer; high-dose bleomycin regimens for patients with non-small-cell lung and head and neck cancer; and regional perfusion of liver metastases from colorectal cancer with cisplatin. Prospective testing of high-dose or regional administration regimens suggested by this new model should indicate its use for prediction of the best agent to use in high-dose regimens against a particular tumor type.

Role of recombinant interferon alfa-2a maintenance in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer responding to concurrent chemoradiation: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine if recombinant interferon alfa-2a (rIFN alpha-2a) could prolong remission duration and/or survival in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) who achieved an objective response to chemoradiotherapy. A secondary end point was to assess the toxicity of chronic IFN administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-one of 215 eligible patients achieved an objective response and were eligible to receive rIFN alpha-2a (3 million units [MU]/m2 subcutaneously three times per week escalated to 9 MU/m2 as tolerated) or observation for 2 years. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two of 140 registered patients were eligible. Sixty-four patients were randomized to receive IFN and 68 to observation alone. The median time from randomization to progression was 9 months on the IFN arm and 10 months on the observation arm (P = .72). The overall median survival time was 16 months on the observation arm versus 13 months on the IFN arm (P = .77). Significant toxicities occurred in the rIFN alpha-2a arm. Grade 3 or higher toxicities included malaise, fatigue, and/or lethargy (30%), leukopenia (14%), neutropenia (13%), dyspnea (13%), nausea (11%), and respiratory infection (6%). Forty-three patients discontinued treatment due to intolerable side effects. CONCLUSION: rIFN alpha-2a in the dose and schedule used in this study failed to prolong response duration or survival in patients with limited-stage SCLC who had previously responded to an induction chemoradiotherapy program. Failure may have been partly related to poor tolerance and inability to complete therapy.

Chemoradiotherapy with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: a prospective phase III randomized study of the Southwest Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: This phase III randomized trial was designed to determine if granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) reduces the hematologic toxicity and morbidity induced by chemoradiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: This multicenter prospective trial randomized 230 patients to receive chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) with or without GM-CSF given on days 4 to 18 of each of six cycles. The primary end point was hematologic toxicity. Secondary end points included the following: nonhematologic toxicities; days of (1) fever, (2) antibiotics, (3) hospitalization, and (4) infection; number of transfusions; drug doses delivered; and response rates and survival. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the frequency and duration of life-threatening thrombocytopenia (P < .001) in patients randomized to GM-CSF. GM-CSF patients had significantly more toxic deaths (P < .01), more nonhematologic toxicities, more days in hospital, a higher incidence of intravenous (IV) antibiotic usage, and more transfusions. Patients randomized to GM-CSF had higher WBC and neutrophil nadirs (P < .01), but no significant difference in the frequency of grade 4 leukopenia or neutropenia. Patients randomized to GM-CSF had a lower complete response rate (36% v 44%), but the differences were not significant (P = .29). There were no significant differences in survival (median, 14 months on GM-CSF and 17 months on no GM-CSF; P = .15). CONCLUSION: GM-CSF, as delivered in this study, should not be included with concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment programs for limited-stage SCLC. The simultaneous use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) and chemoradiotherapy should be performed only in experimental settings. Chemoradiotherapy programs with cisplatin and etoposide ([VP-16] PE) and simultaneous chest RT produce grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in a small-enough proportion of patients that prophylactic hematopoietic growth factors are clinically unnecessary.

A phase II study of interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.

Thirty-six patients with metastatic melanoma were entered into a study of the therapeutic efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy with high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Thirty-two patients who received all components of the therapy are evaluable for response, and all patients are evaluable for toxicity. Sites of disease included lung, liver, subcutaneous nodules, and intra-abdominal metastases. One complete response (CR) and five partial responses (PRs) resulted from treatment (19% response rate). The median response duration was 5 months, with the durable CR continuing at 31+ months and one durable PR continuing for 13 months. Sites of response included lung, liver, subcutaneous nodules, and lymph nodes. Response, response duration, or site of response did not correlate with the total dose of IL-2 administered, rebound lymphocytosis, or the number of LAK cells infused. Toxicity included hypotension, fluid retention with a "capillary leak syndrome" in most patients, and transient multiorgan dysfunction that resolved promptly after the completion of therapy. Adverse cardiac events occurred in 16% of patients, with one myocardial infarction leading to a death. This study confirms the activity of the initial IL-2/LAK cell regimen in metastatic melanoma reported by Rosenberg et al, supporting the concept of adoptive immunotherapy as an important new treatment approach for this disease.

Phase I clinical investigation of amonafide.

Amonafide (benzisoquinolinedione, NSC 308847) is a new synthetic imide antineoplastic agent with DNA intercalative properties that has been evaluated in a phase I clinical trial. The drug was administered as a single intravenous (IV) infusion over 30 to 120 minutes repeated every 28 days. Ninety-five courses of therapy at doses ranging from 18 to 1,104 mg/m2 were administered to 38 patients with refractory solid tumors. Granulocytopenia was dose limiting. Leukopenia was seen in 13 of 31 courses at doses of 690 mg/m2 or greater. Life-threatening granulocytopenia (less than or equal to 250 microliters) was noted in 1/6 patients treated at 800 mg/m2, 1/8 patients treated at 918 mg/m2, and 2/5 patients treated at 1,104 mg/m2. No definite relationship between myelotoxicity and prior treatment status was noted. Rate-of-infusion dependent, nonhematologic toxicities included diaphoresis, flushing, dizziness, and tinnitus, all of which were ameliorated by increasing the duration of drug infusion to 120 minutes. In addition, nausea and vomiting (grades 1 and 2) were seen in 29/56 courses at doses greater than or equal to 519 mg/m2, but were easily controlled by phenothiazine antiemetics. Amonafide plasma and urine concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma concentrations declined biexponetially with a terminal harmonic mean terminal half-life (t 1/2) of 5.5 h. The mean apparent volume of distribution at steady-state and total body clearance were 532 L/m2 and 84 L/h/m2, respectively. Less than 5% of the total dose of amonafide was excreted unchanged in the urine. Antitumor activity has been noted in one patient with non-small-cell lung cancer (one complete response exceeding 29 months duration) and in one patient with prostatic cancer (complete pain relief and improvement in bone scan for 9 months). The recommended dose for phase II trials with this schedule of amonafide is 918 mg/m2 with dose escalation to amonafide is 918 mg/m2 with dose escalation to myelotoxicity.

Randomized phase III trial of treatment with high-dose interleukin-2 either alone or in combination with interferon alfa-2a in patients with advanced melanoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the response rate, survival, and toxicity of treatment with high-dose intravenous (IV) bolus interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus interferon alfa-2a (IFN-alpha) with high-dose IL-2 alone in patients with advanced melanoma in a randomized phase III trial design. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients with advanced melanoma were randomly assigned to receive IL-2 6 X 10(6) U/m2 per dose every 8 hours as tolerated for a maximum of 14 doses on days 1 through 5 and 15 through 19, or IL-2 4.5 X 10(6) U/m2 per dose, plus IFN-alpha 3 X 10(6) U/m2 using an identical schedule. A planned interim analysis was performed after 85 patients were entered, which forms the basis for this report. RESULTS: Partial response (PR) occurred in two of 44 patients (5%; 95% confidence interval, 1% to 15%) receiving IL-2 alone, compared with four of 41 patients (10%; 95% confidence interval, 3% to 23%) receiving IL-2/IFN-alpha (P = .30). There were no complete responses (CRs). The median duration of response was 11.5 months (range, 2.0 to 15.7+). There was no significant difference in the median survival duration for patients receiving IL-2 alone (10.2 months) compared with patients receiving IL-2/IFN-alpha (9.7 months). The median and mean number of doses of IL-2 were equivalent in both groups, as was toxicity. There were three treatment-related deaths, two in the IL-2-alone arm and one in the IL-2/IFN-alpha arm. The trial was terminated after the first interim analysis based on predefined early-stopping rules, which included termination if the response rate in the IL-2/IFN-alpha arm was less than 25%. CONCLUSION: Using the preparation, dose, and schedule of IL-2 in our trial, IFN-alpha failed to enhance significantly the response rate to high-dose IL-2 in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma.

Randomized phase II trial of high-dose interleukin-2 either alone or in combination with interferon alfa-2b in advanced renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine better the activity of high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) either alone or in combination with interferon alfa-2b (IFN; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, the IL-2 Working Group initiated a randomized phase II trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either IL-2 (Chiron Corp, Emeryville, CA) 1.33 mg/m2 (approximately 600,000 IU/kg) alone or IL-2 0.8 mg/m2 and IFN 3 x 10(6) U/m2 administered by bolus intravenous injection every 8 hours, days 1 to 5 and 15 to 19 (maximum, 28 doses). All patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 and normal organ function. After 28 patients were entered onto each arm, the IL-2/IFN arm was closed because of a failure to meet predetermined efficacy criteria. An additional 43 patients (total, 71) were assigned to receive IL-2 alone. RESULTS: Toxicities were similar for both study arms. Hypotension requiring pressors was the most frequent dose-limiting toxicity. Only 11 of 99 patients experienced severe toxicity; there were no irreversible side effects or treatment-related deaths. Responses were seen in three of 28 patients (11%) on IL-2/IFN (three partial responses [PRs] lasting 14, 7, and 7 months) and 12 of 71 patients (17%) on IL-2 alone (four complete responses [CRs] and eight PRs). Six of the partial responders on IL-2 and two on IL-2/IFN experienced greater than 90% reduction in tumor mass. Ten of the 12 responders to IL-2 have ongoing responses of 12+ to 26+ months in duration. CONCLUSION: We conclude that both IL-2 and IL-2/IFN therapy have activity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. In particular, therapy with high-dose IL-2 alone produces meaningful and durable responses with manageable and reversible toxicity. This study supports the contention that high-dose IL-2 represents the treatment of choice in selected patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

An intergroup phase III randomized study of doxorubicin and dacarbazine with or without ifosfamide and mesna in advanced soft tissue and bone sarcomas.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: Doxorubicin alone or with dacarbazine (DTIC; AD) is considered the best available therapy for metastatic adult sarcomas. Ifosfamide is active in sarcomas that have failed to respond to a doxorubicin-based regimen. This study was designed to determine if ifosfamide added to doxorubicin and DTIC (ADI) significantly effects toxicity, response rate, and survival. Patients with measurable metastatic or unresectable sarcoma were randomized to receive AD or ADI. Patients with chondrosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, and other sarcomas of bone were eligible, although those with osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and mesothelioma were excluded, as were patients with prior chemotherapy for sarcoma or prior doxorubicin. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 1989, 340 eligible patients were randomized. Significantly more myelosuppression, a higher response rate (17% v 32%; P < .002) and longer time to progression (4 v 6 months; P < .02) were observed for patients who received ifosfamide. An overall survival advantage for the two-drug regimen (12 v 13 months; P = .04) was not significant by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In all three randomized trials of doxorubicin with and without ifosfamide (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG], European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC], and this study), the response rate was higher for the ifosfamide-containing arm, significantly so in this and the ECOG studies. An improved response rate may be particularly important for the preoperative management of high-grade, borderline resectable lesions or pulmonary metastases, particularly in younger patients. In older patients, or for low-to intermediate-grade lesions, doxorubicin and DTIC followed by ifosfamide on progression is preferred.

A randomized phase II trial of continuous infusion interleukin-2 or bolus injection interleukin-2 plus lymphokine-activated killer cells for advanced renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Since 1985, multiple centers have demonstrated that interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells produce durable anticancer responses in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. High-dose recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) has been administered by intravenous bolus injection (Rosenberg SA, et al: N Engl J Med 313:1485-1492, 1985) and by continuous intravenous infusion (West WH, et al: N Engl J Med 316:898-905, 1987) combined with lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, with both methods producing responses in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. The Extramural IL-2/LAK Working Group has conducted a randomized phase II trial of two intravenous high-dose rIL-2 regimens (bolus three times daily or 24-hour continuous infusion) to determine if either one manifests greater anticancer activity or a more acceptable toxicity profile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-four patients with measurable advanced renal cell carcinoma were enrolled on this study: 46 to the bolus injection arm and 48 to the continuous infusion arm. On both arms, patients underwent a priming phase of rIL-2 administration, four daily lymphocytaphereses to harvest mononuclear cells that were placed in 3- to 4-day culture for generation of LAK cells, and an rIL-2/LAK coadministration phase. Patients were then observed monthly for evidence of response to this therapy and were offered up to two additional courses of treatment every 3 months if evidence of response was detected. RESULTS: Twenty percent of patients on the bolus injection arm experienced objective responses (three complete responses and six partial responses); 15% of patients on the continuous infusion arm responded (two complete responses and five partial responses). Complete responses were durable, persisting for 310+ to 700+ days. The incidence of severe life-threatening toxicities typical of high-dose rIL-2 therapy was similar in both arms (eg, patients with hypotension requiring pressors: bolus 71%, continuous 63%; oliguria less than or equal to 200 mL/8 hours: bolus 65%, continuous 71%). More episodes of fever, infection, and serum alkaline phosphatase elevation were associated with the continuous infusion arm, while more thrombocytopenia occurred on the bolus injection arm. Four patients (three bolus injection, one continuous infusion) died of respiratory and circulatory failure while under treatment. No clinical or laboratory parameter accompanying treatment on either arm was, by univariate or multivariate analysis, associated with an increased likelihood of response. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods of high-dose rIL-2/LAK cell administration produce nearly equivalent anticancer activity and toxicity in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. The ability to predict responding patients based on patient or treatment characteristics is not possible.

Phase II trial of docetaxel in patients with advanced cutaneous malignant melanoma previously untreated with chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: A phase II study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of docetaxel in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 1992 and March 1994, 40 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma and no prior chemotherapy were treated with docetaxel 100 mg/m2 administered intravenously over 1 hour every 21 days. None of the patients had brain metastasis. Toxicity and follow-up data are provided. RESULTS: One patient had a histologically confirmed complete response that lasted for 14+ months. Four patients had partial responses, bringing the overall response rate to 12.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6% to 30%). A patient with a partial response had a single chest-wall metastasis and was rendered free of disease surgically after a maximal response to docetaxel and remained free of tumor recurrence after 18+ months. Tumor was stabilized in 22 patients. The overall median survival time was 13 months. The main hematologic toxicity was neutropenia, which was severe but transient. Peripheral neuropathy was the limiting nonhematologic toxicity in three patients. Other important toxicities included cutaneous toxicity, fluid retention, oral mucositis, and hypersensitivity reactions. Preadministration of dexamethasone and diphenhydramine reduced the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions, cutaneous toxicities, and fluid retention. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel has definite but low-level activity against malignant melanoma. Further investigation of this drug should be conducted in multidrug combination programs.