Treatment of squamous cell esophageal cancer with topotecan: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study (E2293).

Seventeen patients with enhanced measurable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with topotecan 1.5 mg/m2 daily for 5 days repeated every 21 days. Toxicity was severe, with 1 death from myelotoxicity and 10 patients with life-threatening myelotoxicity. Severe gastrointestinal toxicity consisting of vomiting was also seen in three patients. No response was seen in any of the patients in the study. Topotecan given in this manner has no activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

A randomized Phase II study of interleukin-2 with and without beta-interferon for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study (PZ586).

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and beta-interferon (beta-IFN) are biologic agents with antitumor activity observed in preclinical models. Some studies of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with IL-2 report relatively long survival, despite low response rates. Seventy-six evaluable patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer were treated in a randomized Phase II study with either IL-2 alone or IL-2 plus beta-IFN. Patients received either IL-2 at 6 x 10(6) Cetus units/m2 3 days weekly or the combination of IL-2 at 5 x 10(6) Cetus units/m2 plus beta-IFN at 6 x 10(6) units/m2, both given 3 days weekly. Both biologic agents were administered by intravenous bolus injection on an outpatient basis. Objective responses were observed in 3/76 (4%)) patients. Grade 4 toxicity occurred in 3/39 patients treated with IL-2 alone, and in 4/37 patients treated with IL-2 plus beta-IFN. An additional lethal respiratory toxicity occurred in a patient who received IL-2 plus beta-IFN. The median survival of all patients treated on this study was 33 weeks. Despite producing only a 4% objective response rate. IL-2 appears to have a favorable impact on survival comparable to chemotherapy. The role for this immune therapy in the management of non-small cell lung cancer requires further study.

Phase II trial of trimetrexate for patients with advanced gastric carcinoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study (E1287).

BACKGROUND: A Phase II study was conducted to evaluate the response, duration of response, and duration of survival of patients with measurable gastric carcinoma treated with trimetrexate (TMTX) who had not had prior chemotherapy. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with unresectable or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma who had not received previous chemotherapy were treated with intravenous TMTX 12 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days. The dosage of TMTX was reduced to 8 mg/m(2) daily for 5 days for those who had received prior radiotherapy. The cycle was repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients could be analyzed with follow-up data. There was one Grade 5 (lethal) toxicity and four Grade 4 toxicities. Hematologic toxicity was the most common. The overall response rate was 21%, the overall median progression free survival was 2.7 months, and the overall median survival was 5.9 months for the entire cohort. No patients were alive at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Though TMTX as a single agent has activity in gastric carcinoma with manageable toxicity, it cannot be recommended for routine use as a single agent due to the brief duration of response and median survival.

A phase II trial of homoharringtonine and caracemide in the treatment of patients with advanced large bowel cancer.

Twenty-four previously untreated, ambulatory patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were treated with either caracemide (11 patients) or homoharringtonine (13 patients). No objective responses were observed in any of the treatment cohorts. Caracemide was well tolerated with the exception of one death due to sepsis. On the homoharringtonine arm one patient died of pulmonary sepsis, one patient experienced grade 4 leukopenia requiring more than 4 weeks of recovery, and an additional patient developed grade 4 renal failure. These severe and unexpected complications caused early termination of accrual to the homoharringtonine arm of the study. These agents have no activity in the treatment of advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide, and paclitaxel chemotherapy: a dose-escalation study.

Ifosfamide, carboplatin, cisplatin, etoposide, and paclitaxel are chemotherapeutic agents active in treating many malignant diseases. The ICE combination (ifosfamide/carboplatin [or cisplatin]/etoposide) has been studied in breast cancer, small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, testicular cancer, lymphoma, and other malignancies with promising results. We conducted a dose-escalation study of paclitaxel in combination with ICE (ICE-T) to evaluate the toxicity and define the maximum tolerated dose of paclitaxel. To date, 24 patients have been treated with ICE-T. Patients had to have no or minimal prior chemotherapy, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, and adequate bone marrow, liver, and kidney function. The doses of ICE were as follows: ifosfamide 1.25 g/m2/d days 1 to 3, carboplatin 300 mg/m2 day 1, and etoposide 80 mg/m2/d days 1 to 3. Paclitaxel was given at a dose of 120 mg/m2 to five patients, 135 mg/m2 to five patients, 150 mg/m2 to three patients, and 175 mg/m2 to 11 patients. All patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support. The most common side effect was neutropenia. Grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred during 34% and 20% of 94 cycles, respectively, with leukopenic fever occurring during 14% of cycles. No treatment-related death or sepsis occurred due to brief nadir durations of 3.5 days for neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities were mostly mild to moderate and did not require dose modification, although alopecia was universal. Nine patients (100%) with metastatic breast cancer and four (67%) with soft tissue sarcoma have attained documented objective responses with four complete remissions (one breast cancer and three sarcoma patients). The maximum tolerated dose of paclitaxel has not yet been defined, and the study is ongoing. In conclusion, this pilot study showed that ICE-T is safe and tolerable. The response to ICE-T is encouraging and warrants further study with this regimen.

Phase I study of escalating doses of paclitaxel (Taxol) with fixed doses of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide.

The combination of ifosfamide (with mesna uroprotection), carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) has demonstrated activity in a variety of cancers. Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ), a dipertene compound extracted from the Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia, appeared a good candidate for study as an addition to the ICE regimen (ICE-T) because of its broad antitumor activity, its unique mechanism of action, and its toxicity profile, which was not expected to impact the ICE regimen adversely. In a phase I study, we evaluated the impact of adding escalating doses of paclitaxel (120 mg/m2, 135 mg/m2, 150 mg/m2, and 175 mg/m2) to the ICE regimen in 13 previously untreated (with two exceptions) patients with breast cancer, sarcoma, lung cancer, and adenoid cystic carcinoma. In general, ICE-T was well tolerated with some myelosuppression observed. Responses were seen at all dose levels. To date, the maximal tolerated dose of paclitaxel has not been reached; we are currently administering 175 mg/m2.

Ifosfamide/carboplatin/etoposide chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

We have evaluated the combination of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) along with mesna in 46 patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment consisted of ifosfamide (1.25 g/m2/d with mesna) and etoposide (80 mg/m2/d) given intravenously on days 1 to 3 and carboplatin (300 mg/m2) given intravenously on day 1 every 4 weeks. Eligibility criteria included measurable disease; adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal functions; no prior chemotherapy; and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) of 0 to 3. Two patients were lost to follow-up and one had received prior chemotherapy, leaving 43 patients evaluable for response and toxicities. There were 27 male and 16 female patients. Twenty-three patients had a PS of 0 or 1 and 20 had a PS of 2 or 3. Eighteen patients had received prior radiotherapy. There were two complete responses and nine partial responses. The response rate was 35% in PS 0 or 1 patients and 15% in PS 2 or 3 patients. The most frequent toxicity was myelosuppression; 44% of patients experienced grade 3 or 4 leukopenia and 14%, grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. Patients receiving prior radiation were significantly more prone to develop leukopenia (P = .01). Five patients developed leukopenic fever, and three died of sepsis. Gastrointestinal toxicities were mostly mild. No neurologic or genitourinary toxicities were observed. The median length of survival was 209 days for patients with a PS of 0 or 1 and 123 days for the entire group. The 1-year survival rate was 22% and 19%, respectively, in these two patient subgroups. ICE is an active regimen in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and a good PS. Myelosuppression is the major dose-limiting toxicity. Hematopoietic growth factors may be indicated in subsequent studies, especially in patients who had prior radiation therapy. The therapeutic effect of ICE on patients with a poor PS remains unsatisfactory and requires further investigation.

A Gynecologic Oncology Group phase II study of amonafide (NSC #308847) in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Twenty evaluable patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, who had previously received a cisplatin-containing regimen, were treated with amonafide 300 mg/m2 over 1 hour for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks. One partial response (5%) was seen. Hematologic toxicity was substantial with severe or life-threatening events occurring as follows: leukopenia, 5 patients (25%); thrombocytopenia, 4 patients (20%); granulocytopenia, 2 patients (10%). One patient experienced acute bilateral open-angle glaucoma immediately after treatment, and another developed gastric ulceration with life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. In view of the low response rate and high toxicity, amonafide does not warrant further investigation as second-line chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group phase II study of single agent DHAD, VP-16, aclacinomycin, or spirogermanium in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

There were 80 patients with measurable metastatic or unresectable pancreatic cancer randomly assigned to treatment with either DHAD, VP-16, aclacinomycin, or spirogermanium. There were no complete or partial responses. Two deaths from leukopenia occurred in patients treated with DHAD. One patient receiving spirogermanium experienced a seizure. No other life-threatening toxicities occurred. Maximal toxicities were not significantly more frequent with any treatment group. Median survival was 10 weeks, and median time to progression was only 6 weeks, with no difference among these four therapies.

A Gynecologic Oncology Group phase II study of amonafide (NSC 308847) in epithelial ovarian cancer.

In this study, 19 evaluable patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with amonafide 300 mg/m2 over an hour for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks. One partial response (5%) was seen. Hematologic toxicity was substantial with grade 3 or 4 toxicity occurring as follows: leukopenia, 10 patients (45%); thrombocytopenia, 6 patients (27%); granulocytopenia, 8 patients (36%). No other unusual or severe toxicity occurred. In view of the low response rate and high toxicity, amonafide does not warrant further investigation in epithelial ovarian cancer.

A pilot study of three sequential chemotherapeutic regimens in metastatic breast cancer.

The aim of this pilot study was to estimate the toxicity and response rate of an alternating chemotherapeutic program in chemotherapy-naive metastatic breast cancer patients. Treatment consisted of regimen A (given days 1-28): cyclophosphamide 100 mg/m2 PO days 1-14, doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 and 8, and 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 and 8 (CAF regimen); regimen B (given days 29-56): dibromodulcitol 135 mg/m2 p.o. days 30-39, mitoxantrone 9 mg/m2 i.v. day 29, and vincristine 1.2 mg/m2 i.v. (maximum 2.0 mg) day 29 (DMV regimen); and regimen C (given days 57-84): thiotepa 12 mg/m2, doxorubicin 45 mg/m2 and vinblastine 4.5 mg/m2 all i.v. on day 57. There were 27 eligible patients with a median age of 51 years (range 34-78). On 14 episodes the leukocyte count fell to less than 1 X 10(9)/L during the first six cycles of treatment (14% of 99 cycles). There were no treatment-related deaths. Common non-life-threatening toxicities included thrombocytopenia, anemia, vomiting, and alopecia. Despite having no drugs in common, the leukocyte and platelet nadirs after CAF correlated with the nadir counts after DMV (r values of 0.6829 and 0.5892, respectively; p = 0.01). Among the 23 patients with measurable and/or evaluable disease there were five complete responses (22%) and nine partial responses (39%), with a median time to treatment failure of 29 weeks. The overall median survival was 19 months.

Pharmacokinetics of very high-dose oral melphalan in cancer patients.

The pharmacokinetics and systemic availability of melphalan after high-dose oral administration with and without 1,3-bis(2-Chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) or etoposide were examined in three patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. Patient 1 (advanced melanoma) received melphalan at 80 mg/m2/day p.o. on days -6, -5, and -4, followed by BCNU at 300 mg/m2/day i.v. on days -3, -2, and -1 prior to bone marrow transplantation. Patient 2 (advanced colon carcinoma) received melphalan at 75 mg/m2/day p.o. on days -3, -2, and -1. Patient 3 (advanced refractory lymphoma) received etoposide at 800 mg/m2/day i.v. on days -7, -5, and -3, followed by melphalan at 157 mg/m2/day p.o. on days -2 and -1. Melphalan was administered as a bolus oral dose, using 2-mg tablets. Blood samples were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 45 min and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after each dose of melphalan. Peak plasma melphalan concentrations in the three patients ranged from 0.354 (patient 2) to 1.768 micrograms/ml (patient 1). Plasma melphalan concentration X time products (C x Ts) showed extreme variability in one patient (patient 2), ranging from 0.76 to 4.48 micrograms.h/ml. To determine the relative systemic availability of orally administered melphalan, i.v. C X Ts proportional to the p.o. doses were extrapolated from previously reported i.v. bolus pharmacokinetic data. The p.o.:i.v. plasma C X T ratios for high-dose melphalan ranged between 0.09 (patient 3) and 0.58 (patient 2). Although these C X T data suggest a dose-response for orally administered melphalan, the systemic availability of these high p.o. melphalan doses was extremely variable, both within and between study patients. Thus, we cannot recommend the use of high-dose p.o. melphalan regimens in patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Aminothiadiazole (NSC 4728) in patients with advanced carcinoma of the endometrium. A phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology group.

Twenty-one evaluable patients with advanced carcinoma of the endometrium were treated with aminothiadiazole at a dosage of 125 mg/m2 weekly. Twelve had received prior chemotherapy. Seven patients had stable disease; 14 had increasing disease. There were two life-threatening toxic episodes. Aminothiadiazole used in this dosage and schedule has negligible activity in previously treated patients with carcinoma of the endometrium.

Combination chemotherapy of advanced breast cancer. Comparison of dibromodulcitol, doxorubicin, vincristine, and fluoxymesterone to thiotepa, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and fluoxymesterone: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

Two Adriamycin (doxorubicin)-based chemotherapy regimens were investigated in patients with carcinoma of the breast who had failed prior systemic therapy. The two chemotherapy programs, dibromodulcitol, Adriamycin, vincristine, and Halotestin (fluoxymesterone) (DAVH), and thiotepa, Adriamycin, vinblastine, and Halotestin (TAVH), were chosen for comparison on the basis of reported response rates of 40% to 50% with remission durations of 11 months in patients refractory to other cytotoxic chemotherapy. Cycles of DAVH were repeated every 4 weeks. Cycles of TAVH were repeated every 3 weeks. Of 184 patients evaluable for response, 32% of patients treated with DAVH and 38% of patients treated with TAVH had a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR). An additional 5% of patients had nonmeasurable improvement in osseous disease for an overall rate of response (CR + PR + improvement) of 40%. Patients who had previously received cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic disease or had early failure after adjuvant therapy had a lower response rate to DAVH, but not to TAVH than those who did not fail prior chemotherapy. Duration of response and survival were similar with the two treatments. There were seven treatment-related deaths, five among patients receiving DAVH and two among patients receiving TAVH. Patients receiving DAVH had significantly more thrombocytopenia and neurologic toxicity than those receiving TAVH. These treatments appear to be reasonable second-line regimens and are good candidates to be used in initial therapy of metastatic disease or adjuvant therapy studies that explore the use of alternating non-cross-resistant combinations with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil.

Aminothiadiazole (NSC 4728) in patients with advanced nonsquamous carcinoma of the cervix. A phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Twenty-six evaluable patients with advanced nonsquamous cell cervical cancer were treated with aminothiadiazole at a dosage of 125 mg/m2 weekly. Sixteen had received prior chemotherapy. Two patients had complete responses neither had received prior chemotherapy; nine had stable disease; 15 had increasing disease. There was a single life-threatening toxic episode. Aminothiadiazole used in this dosage and schedule has minimal activity in previously treated patients with nonsquamous cell carcinoma.

A phase II study of carboplatin and CHIP in patients with metastatic colon carcinoma.

Fifty-six patients were treated in each arm of a study comparing CHIP and carboplatin for the therapy of previously untreated metastatic colorectal carcinoma. There were one partial response (2%) with CHIP and two partial responses (4%) with carboplatin. Side effects were significantly more severe with CHIP than with carboplatin. The most common side effect for both drugs was vomiting followed by hematologic side effects. Sixteen percent of the patients receiving CHIP and 9% of those receiving carboplatin had life-threatening side effects. Neither drug offers significant activity in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Leukemic dermal infiltrates as a complication of central venous catheter placement.

A leukemic dermal infiltrate at the site of a central venous catheter placement was the first manifestation of relapse in a 58-year-old woman in clinical remission of acute myelomonocytic leukemia. The patient developed a large hematoma around the site of an unsuccessful attempt to place a central venous (CV) catheter. Although the hematoma resolved completely by the time that complete remission was achieved, an indurated, erythematous mass subsequently developed, which when biopsied revealed leukemic cells in the dermis. The patient had a relapse in her peripheral blood shortly thereafter. The authors reviewed recent literature and their own experience with CV catheters and report on localized dermal relapse as a previously unpublished risk of CV catheter placement. They also speculate on the role of the dermis as a sanctuary for leukemic cells and a potential source for relapsing disease.

A phase II study of spirogermanium in advanced large bowel cancer. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study.

Thirty-one patients with advanced colorectal cancer were entered on a phase II study of spirogermanium. Of these, 23 received the drug at the dose of 200 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) over 4 h twice a week every week. There were 2 (9%) partial responses. No complete responses were noted. Two life-threatening and six severe toxicities were observed. We conclude that this drug has some activity against colorectal cancer.

Aminothiadiazole (NSC #4728) in patients with advanced colon cancer. A phase II study of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) studied 29 patients with advanced measurable colon cancer who were treated with Aminothiadiazole (NSC #4728) 125 mg/m2 intravenously. Allopurinol 300 mg daily was taken by all patients during treatment. Three patients (12%) demonstrated partial responses on this regimen. Hematologic toxicity did not occur. Gastrointestinal toxicity was severe in 16% of patients and consisted primarily of vomiting and diarrhea. No life-threatening toxicity was encountered. A lack of appreciable toxicity together with the few responses seen suggest that further studies at higher dose may be indicated.

Aminothiadiazole (NSC #4728) in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma. A phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Twenty-one evaluable patients with advanced squamous-cell cervical cancer were treated with aminothiadiazole at a dosage of 125 mg/m2 weekly. Nineteen had prior chemotherapy. One patient had a partial response; six had stable disease; 14 had increasing disease; and two were unevaluable for response. There was a single life-threatening toxic episode. Aminothiadiazole used in this dosage and schedule has minimal activity in previously treated cervical carcinoma patients.