ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of topotecan in combination with ifosfamide, mesna, and etoposide (TIME), followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), in patients with chemotherapy-refractory malignancies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients were treated with (in mg/m(2)/d) ifosfamide 3,333, mesna 3,333, and topotecan 3.3 to 28.3 during days -8 through -6 and etoposide 500 (days -5 through -3) followed by HCT on day 0. Once MTD was defined, we expanded this dosing cohort to include patients with high-risk lymphoma due to activity seen during dose escalation. Topotecan pharmacokinetic analyses were carried out, and topoisomerase I levels and activity were measured. RESULTS: The topotecan MTD in this regimen was 64 mg/m(2) (21.3 mg/m(2)/d). Mucositis was dose limiting and correlated with topotecan dose level and area under the curve (AUC). Dose level was also correlated with length of hospitalization, number of days of parenteral nutrition, and neutrophil and platelet engraftment. Topotecan AUC was significantly correlated with time to platelet recovery. The baseline peripheral blood mononuclear cell topoisomerase I level was found to be a significant positive predictor for overall and progression-free survival. Topotecan AUC was positively correlated with dose level, with a trend toward decreasing clearance with increasing dose. CONCLUSION: Topotecan can be a useful drug in the high-dose setting given its activity in some malignancies when given in standard dose. Pharmacokinetic monitoring may be a valuable tool for optimizing the use of topotecan and to avoid toxicity seen with high-systemic exposures. Baseline topoisomerase I levels may have an important role in predicting topotecan efficacy.