Meta-analysis of randomized trials: evaluation of benefit from gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy applied in advanced pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Single-agent gemcitabine (GEM) is a standard treatment for advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. This study examines the question whether GEM-based combination chemotherapy can further improve treatment efficacy. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate randomized trials comparing GEM versus GEM+X (X = cytotoxic agent). Fifteen trials including 4465 patients were eligible for an analysis of overall survival, the primary end-point of this investigation. RESULTS: The meta-analysis revealed a significant survival benefit for GEM+X with a pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85 - 0.97, p = 0.004). The overall test for heterogeneity resulted in p = 0.82 (I2 = 0%). The analysis of platinum-based combinations indicated a HR of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76 - 0.96, p = 0.010), while for fluoropyrimidine-based combinations the HR was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81 - 0.99, p = 0.030). No risk reduction was observed in the group of trials combining GEM with irinotecan, exatecan or pemetrexed (HR = 0.99). A meta-analysis of the trials with adequate information on baseline performance status (PS) was performed in five trials with 1682 patients. This analysis indicated that patients with a good PS had a marked survival benefit when receiving combination chemotherapy (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.67 - 0.87; p < 0.0001). By contrast, application of combination chemotherapy to patients with an initially poor PS appeared to be ineffective (HR = 1.08; 95% CI: 0.90 - 1.29, p = 0.40). CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis of randomized trials indicated a significant survival benefit when GEM was either combined with platinum analogs or fluoropyrimidines. Based on a preliminary subgroup analysis (representing 38% of all patients included in this meta-analysis), pancreatic cancer patients with a good PS appear to benefit from GEM-based cytotoxic combinations, whereas patients with a poor PS seem to have no survival benefit from combination chemotherapy.

Phase I and II trial of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide in patients with acute leukemia.

Patients with acute leukemia in relapse were given 5'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide at a dosage of 75 to 200 mg/sq m as a daily bolus infusion of 5 consecutive days. None of the 11 patients treated at 75 to 150 mg/sq m daily for 5 days achieved remission. Ten patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 21 with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia were given treatment at 200 mg/sq m daily for 5 days. Six of these patients achieved complete remission, three with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and three with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were seen in all patients and in the responders lasted a median of 39 and 41 days, respectively. Stomatitis was the most significant nonhematopoietic toxicity noted. occurring in 80% of the patients. Hyperbilirubinemia was seen in 25% of the patients treated. Since 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide will induce remission in heavily pretreated patients with acute leukemia, consideration should be given to exploring its use in combination with other active drugs.

Neocarzinostatin versus m-AMSA or doxorubicin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sixty-one of 76 patients entered on a prospective randomized trial of neocarzinostatin ( NCZ ) versus m-AMSA or doxorubicin were eligible for analysis. Among these 61 patients at least one episode of severe toxicity was documented in 39% of patients on NCZ and 58% on m-AMSA. Fifty-one of the 61 patients were previously untreated with chemotherapy. Among these 51 patients objective response was documented in two of 25 patients treated with NCZ , none of 17 treated with m-AMSA, and one of nine treated with doxorubicin. Among previously untreated North American and European (NA/E) patients the median survival times were: NCZ 11 weeks and m-AMSA 12 weeks. The data on South African (SA) patients with similar entrance criteria entered on earlier Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trials were analyzed with that from the randomized trial and show that for SA patients the median survival times were: NCZ , 11 weeks (31 patients); m-AMSA, 13 weeks (33 patients); and doxorubicin, 15 weeks (29 patients).

Amsacrine-associated cardiotoxicity: an analysis of 82 cases.

Amsacrine is an antileukemia drug being widely used in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In the initial clinical trials, patients treated with amsacrine developed occasional instances of acute cardiac arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy. We review and analyze the features of cardiac abnormalities associated with amsacrine in 82 patients, 27 of whom have not been previously reported. The rest have been reported in the literature, but we have included a large amount of additional information about these patients in our analysis. We conclude that amsacrine-related cardiac events are less common than those related to anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents. Manifestations of such toxicity include ECG abnormalities, ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, sudden death, and congestive heart failure. There is little or no cumulative dose effect. Hypokalemia may be a risk factor for development of serious tachyarrhythmias, but such problems can occur despite a normal serum potassium level. Amsacrine appears to affect depolarization and repolarization of the heart, but the mechanism is unknown.

High-dose cytosine arabinoside and m-AMSA is effective therapy in relapsed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

High-dose cytosine arabinoside ( HDARAC ) and 4'-(9 acridinylamino) methane sulfon -m-anisidine (m-AMSA) was administered as induction therapy to 40 patients with relapsed or refractory acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) with the following results: 28 patients (70%) achieved complete remission, one patient achieved a partial remission; five patients died with hypoplastic bone marrows containing less than 5% blasts; four patients died with hypoplastic marrowing containing greater than 5% blasts; and three patients failed to achieve marrow aplasia and died without significant cytoreduction in percentage of blasts. Consolidation therapy was not used and maintenance therapy was given to less than 10% (three patients) of remission patients. The median duration of remission for all patients was 6.0 months and the median time for the complete remission patients exceeded eight months. This regimen has acceptable toxicity and the results are equivalent to those obtained from conventional induction therapy of de novo ANLL patients.

Efficacy and clinical cross-resistance of a new combination therapy (AMSA/VP16) in previously treated patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

We investigated the tolerance, efficacy, and clinical cross-resistance of a new combination chemotherapy in 38 patients with previously treated acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). It consisted of 120 mg2/d 4'(9-acridinylamino) methanesulfon-m-Anisidide (m-AMSA) in a one-hour infusion and 80 mg/m2/d etoposide (VP-16) in a 24-hour infusion, both administered for 5 days. The first 27 patients also received vinblastine, 6 mg/m2 on day 8, but this therapy was discontinued because of intestinal complications. Thirteen of 23 patients (56%) at first or subsequent relapse and five of 15 patients (33%) who were primarily resistant to an anthracycline/cytarabine combination achieved a complete response (CR) (hemoglobin level not taken into account) with a median CR duration of 5 months and 2 months, respectively. The response rate was as high as 63% for patients at first or second relapse whether the remission was maintained or not. The median times to recovery of normal bone marrow cellularity, of blood granulocyte counts greater than 500/microL, and of platelets greater than 20,000/microL were 34, 27, and 22 days, respectively. Marked but reversible gastrointestinal toxicity was observed in 24% of the patients, and two patients died of infection during induction. The one-hour AMSA/continuous VP-16 combination is effective for patients with relapsing AML and shows no cross-resistance in a proportion of patients refractory to the standard anthracycline-cytarabine combination.

Acute tumor lysis in T-cell leukemia induced by amsacrine.

The acridine orange derivative amsacrine (National Services Center No. 249992) was used to treat a patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A 17-year-old boy had a tumor lysis syndrome after a single 200 mg/sq m dose of amsacrine. This was followed by a prolonged period of marrow hypoplasia leading to death from infection. Review of the literature and our own experience would suggest that T-cell ALL may be exquisitely sensitive to amsacrine.

Potential clinical use of an adrenergic/cholinergic agent (HP 128) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

A novel compound designated HP 128, which manifests adrenergic and cholinergic properties, was administered for 10 days to patients with Alzheimer's disease in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. All patients who entered the trial had previously failed to respond to a structurally related cholinesterase inhibitor without adrenergic properties (HP 029). The primary purpose of the study was to assess the safety and tolerance of HP 128. Efficacy measures were obtained to generate hypotheses for possible future studies. In the dosage range examined, HP 128 was safe and well tolerated. Effects on clinical measures of dementia severity were equivocal.

Clinical safety, tolerance, and plasma levels of the oral anticholinesterase 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-aminoacridin-1-oL-maleate (HP 029) in Alzheimer's disease: preliminary findings.

HP 029 (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-aminoacridin-1-oL-maleate), an oral anticholinesterase, enhances memory in rodents and may be useful in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). To assess adverse events in relation to dosage and plasma drug levels, 24 hospitalized AD subjects were randomly assigned to receive placebo or HP 029 for 10 days in a double-blind, sequential escalation study. Maximum daily dosages were 450 mg (group 1), 300 mg (group 2), and 225 mg (group 3), divided into three doses per day. The group 1 trial was discontinued on day 5 because one subject, 6 hours following the second of three scheduled 150-mg doses, had a tonic seizure after protracted vomiting and hyperventilation; adverse events in other patients included nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, and syncope. Adverse events were generally less severe in group 2, but only two of six HP 029 subjects could complete the trial at 300 mg/day. All group 3 subjects completed the trial at 225 mg/day with drug related, mild adverse events (nausea, vomiting, lacrimation, rhinorrhea) in only two subjects. Although mean plasma drug levels were related to adverse events across dosage groups, they did not adequately predict the occurrence or severity of adverse events in individual subjects. The 225 mg/day dose appears to be safe for use in multicenter outpatient trials of HP 029 efficacy in AD. Further patient studies are ongoing to determine the relation of specific subject characteristics to the metabolic profile of HP 029 and biological response.

A phase II study of m-AMSA in patients with primary liver cancer.

Thirty-five evaluable patients with histologically confirmed primary liver cancer (PLC) were treated with m-AMSA. All patients had measurable disease and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1, 2, or 3. m-AMSA 120 mg/M2 IV was given every 21 days. Hemopoietic suppression was the major side-effect. In 26 of 35 patients (25 with leukopenia and five with thrombocytopenia), this toxic effect was documented. There was only one patient who had a partial remission (PR) of 51 weeks' duration, but a no change (NC) status was maintained in 28 patients for at least 6 weeks. The median survival time of all patients on this study was 13 weeks, which compares favorably with most previous studies.

A phase II clinical study of mAMSA in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Thirteen patients with small cell carcinoma of the bronchus that had become resistant to conventional chemotherapy were given 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulphon-m-anisidide (mAMSA) at a dose of 90 or 120 mg/m2 at 3-week intervals. Twenty percent of the courses at 90 mg/m2 produced marked myelosuppression. No responses were observed. Median survival from the start of treatment with mAMSA was 5 weeks.

A phase II study of m-AMSA in patients with malignant mesothelioma.

Nineteen patients with histologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma were treated with m-AMSA at the University of Pretoria. All patients had evaluable disease and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-3. m-AMSA 120 mg/m2 was given IV every 3 weeks. Hematopoietic suppression was the major side-effect. Eleven patients developed leukopenia. There was one partial response (16 weeks), and a no change status was documented in 12 patients (median duration of 20 weeks). The median survival time of patients was 27 weeks from entry on study. Radionuclide ventricular ejection fraction tests were performed to evaluate cardiac function.

A phase I and II study of m-AMSA in acute leukaemia.

Thirty-two patients with relapsed or resistant acute leukaemia were treated with m-AMSA at doses ranging from 50-150 mg/m2 daily for 5 days. Complete remission was achieved in three of 18 patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia, two of nine patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and none of five patients with blastic crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia. The complete remissions all occurred at doses of 100 mg/m2 per day or above. Haematological toxicity occurred in all patients and was dose-related. Nausea and vomiting were mild and easily controlled. Alopecia was uncommon at the lower doses but occurred in all patients receiving the higher doses. Stomatitis was noted in only 8% of courses at 50 mg/m2 but was seen in 50% of courses at 150 mg/m2. Mild and transient elevations of liver enzymes were common. m-AMSA is an active drug in acute leukaemia, with acceptable toxicity. Its place in combination chemotherapy is now being explored.

A phase II trial of m-AMSA in head and neck cancer.

Twenty patients with advanced epidermoid carcinoma from primary sites in the head and neck region received adequate trials of therapy with m-AMSA, at starting doses of 90 or 120 mg/m2. Despite the good median performance status of the group (median 80) and the fact that 50% of the patients had received no prior chemotherapy, only one minor response was achieved. AMSA appears to have no useful activity in this dose and schedule in patients with epidermoid head and neck cancer.

Phase I and II study of AMSA in childhood tumours.

Twenty-nine children with tumours that had failed to respond to conventional therapy have been treated with AMSA. There were 16 patients with haematological malignancies in whom treatment was initiated at 25 mg/m2 for 3 days, increasing to 150 mg/m2 for 5 days. There were one complete and four partial remissions in these patients, all of whom had received at least 500 mg AMSA/m2. Thirteen children with solid tumours were treated. They received single doses of 120 mg/m2 initially, increasing to 100 mg/m2 for 5 days. No complete or partial responses occurred, but some antitumour activity was noted in neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma. Dose-related severe bone marrow toxicity occurred, but gastrointestinal and other toxicity was mild. An additional patient with T cell lymphoma, who received AMSA prior to a successful autologous bone marrow transplant, is described. AMSA is an active drug in childhood leukaemia. Further studies at the maximum tolerated dose are needed to assess enough patients with any single solid tumour type. In particular, the response of neuroblastoma warrants further study. Investigation of the use of AMSA either prior to bone marrow transplantation in leukaemia or in association with autologous marrow transplant in neuroblastoma and other solid tumours may be of value.

Amsacrine (m-AMSA): a new antineoplastic agent. Pharmacology, clinical activity and toxicity.

The synthetic aminoacridine derivative amsacrine (m-AMSA) is capable of preventing DNA from serving as a template in replication and DNA synthesis. This mechanism of action is similar to that of anthracyclines, but clinical evidence suggests the lack of cross-resistance. The recommended dosage in patients with solid tumors is 90-120 mg/m2 intravenously every 3-4 weeks. Despite the initial encouraging reports from experimental models, m-AMSA has shown no real impact in the treatment of patients with a wide variety of solid tumors. In relapsed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, 20-30% of patients will achieve complete remission. An increased remission rate is obtained when m-AMSA is combined with other agents, especially with high-dose cytosine arabinoside, with a complete remission rate of 50-60% in relapsed patients. Currently, several phase III trials are evaluating m-AMSA combinations against daunorubicin-containing regimens in patients with previously untreated acute leukemia. The potential role of these regimens in this disease remains to be defined.

m-AMSA in epithelial carcinoma of the ovary. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Twenty-three patients with advanced heavily pretreated epithelial carcinoma of the ovary were treated with m-AMSA. Eleven patients received a mean of 2.3 courses at a dose of 40 mg/m2 X 3 days q 21 days and 12 patients received a mean of 4.3 courses at a dose of 30 mg/m2 X 3 days q 21 days intravenously. One (5%) partial response in 22 fully evaluable patients was observed. Toxicity was mild and well tolerated. We conclude that m-AMSA is a relatively inactive drug in the treatment of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Phase II evaluation of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

A phase II study of m-AMSA in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma was conducted. Twenty-three patients received m-AMSA, 90-120 mg/m2, every 3 weeks. There were no major responses among 20 evaluable patients, although one patient experienced a minor response. Depression of the white blood count was the most prominent toxicity. m-AMSA has little activity in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Phase II study of m-AMSA in advances malignant melanoma.

A phase II study of methanesulfonamide, N-(4-(9 acridinylamino)-3-methoxyphenyl)-(m-AMSA) was undertaken by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Thirty-five evaluable patients were studied, 18 of whom had had no prior therapy and eight of whom had been treated only one cytotoxic drug. Thirty-one of these patients were ECOG performance status 2 or better. The dose of m-AMSA employed in this study was 40 mg/M2 as an I.V. infusion over 20 minutes daily for 3 days, repeated every 3 weeks. Leukopenia was found to be dose-limiting; thrombocytopenia and anemia were also observed. Other prominent toxicities included anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. No cardiovascular toxicity was observed in this study, but none of the patients had received prior anthracycline therapy. Only one partial response of measurable disease was observed, all other patients had progressive disease on m-AMSA therapy. No significant clinical activity of m-AMSA against malignant melanoma was demonstrated in this very favorable group of patients.