Weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a phase II trial evaluating dose dense induction chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients received 6 weekly doses of carboplatin (area under the curve=2) and paclitaxel (135 mg/m) followed by concurrent weekly paclitaxel (40 mg/m) and carboplatin (area under the curve=1) and daily radiation (66-72 Gy). RESULTS: There was 1 induction death from neutropenic sepsis and 1 sudden death during chemoradiotherapy. The overall response rate with induction was 79%. With >40 months of follow-up, the 36-month overall survival was 67% and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck survival 84%. Patients undergoing biopsy of the primary tumor site after the therapies had 17/18 (94%) pathologic complete response rate. The locoregional relapse rate was 40% (24 mo 28%) and distant relapse rate was 8% with only 1 distant site. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy was active but patients must be carefully selected and monitored. Compared with the historical controls, dose dense and intense induction chemotherapy decreased distant failure rate without compromising the locoregional control.

Lapatinib and gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancer. A phase II study.

PURPOSE: To determine the overall survival for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with lapatinib and gemcitabine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer received lapatinib, 1,500 mg/d, and Gemcitabine, 1 g/m(2)/wk for 3 weeks followed by 1 week off, until disease progression. This multicenter phase II study was planned to enter 125 patients to evaluate whether the treatment regimen could achieve a 1-year survival of 30% and a median survival of 7 months. An additional subset of 20 patients were to receive 2 months of single agent lapatinib followed by lapatinib and gemcitabine. RESULTS: At a planned 6 month analysis, the Brown University Oncology Group Data Safety Monitoring Board terminated accrual after 29 patients because of futility analysis. The median survival was 4 months (95% confidence interval, 3.0-5.0 months). Three of the 29 (10%) patients had a partial response. The 4 patients who received single agent lapatinib all progressed at 1 month. CONCLUSION: Lapatinib is not effective in pancreatic cancer. Evaluation of HER2 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer is not warranted.

Carboplatin with weekly docetaxel and ifosfamide in advanced head and neck cancers: a phase I Brown University Oncology Group dose escalation study (HN-93).

PURPOSE: A phase I study was performed to determine the maximally tolerated dose of carboplatin, ifosfamide, and docetaxel in advanced head and neck cancers. METHODS: Carboplatin (week 1) was administered with weekly docetaxel and ifosfamide for 3 weeks in an every 4-week cycle. Restaging was done after two cycles, while dose level escalation was done in cohorts of three patients. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (recurrent/metastatic disease, n = 8; bulky locally advanced disease, n = 7) were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Toxicities included grade 3 neutropenia and anemia (n = 2, each), and grade 2 thrombocytopenia (n = 3). The final level of carboplatin AUC = 6 (week 1) with docetaxel 30 mg/m(2) per week and ifosfamide 1,000 mg/m(2) per week was chosen for further evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: This novel regimen of carboplatin with weekly docetaxel and ifosfamide has a favorable toxicity profile and is active in this setting. Phase II study results are awaited.

Phase I study of hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin in advanced hepatocellular cancer: a brown university oncology group study.

PURPOSE: We performed a phase I study to evaluate the feasibility and determine the maximally tolerated dose of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with unresectable or recurrent HCC received HAI-oxaliplatin over 2 hours at dose escalation levels of 90, 110, 130, and 150 mg/m given every 3 weeks. The therapy was continued until disease progression or excessive toxicity not amenable to appropriate modifications. Restaging was performed after every 2 cycles. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients were enrolled, with 17 patients evaluable for toxicity assessment. The median age was 63 years (range: 47-84 years), with 22 men and 1 woman. Stage distribution was as follows: stage II, 3 patients; stage III, 12 patients; and stage IV, 8 patients. A total of 53 cycles (range: 1-3) of HAI-oxaliplatin were delivered. The conventional grade 3/4 hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities were infrequent. Among 17 evaluable patients receiving >2 cycles, 3 patients had partial responses and 8 had stable disease. A greater than 50% reduction in alphafetoprotein was seen in the 3 patients with partial responses and 3 patients with stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: HAI-oxaliplatin is a feasible, well tolerated, and demonstrated activity in this advanced HCC cohort. HAI-oxaliplatin 150 mg/m every 3 weeks was determined as the dose for further evaluation in phase II trials.

Frequent pathologic complete responses in aggressive stages II to III breast cancers with every-4-week carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel with or without trastuzumab: a Brown University Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel +/- weekly trastuzumab in resectable and locally advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with stages IIA to IIIB disease received carboplatin dosed by six times the area under the curve every 4 weeks and paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) weekly for 16 weeks, and weekly trastuzumab was added for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive status. The primary end point was the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate, defined as the absence of invasive disease in the breast and axillary nodes. Postoperative therapies were at the discretion of the treating physicians. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled, and of these 43 had resectable disease. The median age was 54 years (range, 31 to 74 years). Treatment was well tolerated; there were no episodes of febrile neutropenia or grade 4 thrombocytopenia, and there were only two instances of grade 3 peripheral neuropathy. Overall, the pCR rate was 45%. The pCR rate was 43% (95% CI, 28% to 58%) in patients with resectable disease. Higher pCR rates occurred in patients with HER2-positive tumors (76% v 31% for HER2-negative tumors; P = .003), with estrogen receptor (ER) -negative tumors (75% v 27% for ER-positive tumors; P = .001), or with triple-negative tumors (67% v 12% ER-positive and HER2-negative tumors; P = .002). At a median of 28 months postoperation, recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 88.7%. If patients with ER-positive and HER2-negative tumors are excluded from analysis, patients who achieved a pCR were less likely to experience disease recurrence (RFS, 86%) than those who did not achieve a pCR (RFS, 75%). CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel +/- trastuzumab achieve high pCR rates in patients with HER2-positive and triple-negative disease without exposure to an anthracycline. Preliminary RFS results are encouraging but are likely influenced by adjuvant therapy received. Additional study of this regimen in high-risk patients is warranted.

Lapatinib/gemcitabine and lapatinib/gemcitabine/oxaliplatin: a phase I study for advanced pancreaticobiliary cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety/tolerability and potential antitumor activity of lapatinib, at dose ranges of 1000 to 1500 mg/d, in combination with gemcitabine and gemcitabine/oxaliplatin (GEMOX) in patients with advanced pancreaticobiliary cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced pancreaticobiliary cancer were assigned to 1 of 4 cohorts of lapatinib administered once daily. Toxicities, response, and survival were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were enrolled, 18 with pancreatic cancer and 7 with biliary cancer. Lapatinib, 1500 mg/d, was successfully administered with weekly gemcitabine. Dose limiting toxicities of nausea and anorexia occurred in 2 of 5 patients receiving 1500 mg/d lapatinib with GEMOX. The median survival of all patients was 11 months and the 1-year survival was 48%. CONCLUSION: Lapatinib, 1500 mg/d, can be administered with weekly gemcitabine. The maximum tolerated dose of lapatinib is 1000 mg/d with GEMOX. A phase II study of lapatinib and gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancer will be initiated.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin for locally advanced head and neck cancer: Long-term follow-up of a Brown University Oncology Group Phase II Study (HN-53).

BACKGROUND: A phase II study was conducted using concurrent paclitaxel, carboplatin, and external beam radiotherapy (RT) in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS: Forty-three patients (stage III, n = 12; stage IV, n = 31) were treated with 8 cycles of weekly paclitaxel (60 mg/m(2)), carboplatin (area under the curve [AUC] = 1), and RT (1.8 Gy daily; total dose, 66-72 Gy). Patients with initially palpable lymph nodes underwent neck dissection. RESULTS: The overall clinical response rate was 91% (65% complete, 26% partial). Severe mucositis occurred in 37 (90%) patients, necessitating hospitalization in 13 (31%) patients. With a median follow-up of 49 months, the locoregional and distant failure rates were 26% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent paclitaxel, carboplatin, and RT for advanced head and neck cancer results in high complete response rates. Long-term follow-up has revealed the curative potential of this regimen, though the doses used resulted in unacceptable toxicity.

Cetuximab with concurrent chemoradiation for esophagogastric cancer: assessment of toxicity.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility and toxicity of the addition of cetuximab with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation for patients with esophagogastric cancer on a Phase II study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with locoregional esophageal and proximal gastric cancer without distant organ metastases were eligible. All patients received cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin weekly for 6 weeks with 50.4 Gy radiation. RESULTS: Sixty patients were enrolled, 57 with esophageal cancer and 3 with gastric cancer. Forty-eight had adenocarcinoma and 12 had squamous cell cancer. Fourteen of 60 patients (23%) had Grade 3 dermatologic toxicity consisting of a painful, pruritic acneiform rash on the face outside of the radiation field. The rates of Grades 3 and 4 esophagitis were 12% and 3%, respectively. Three patients had Grade 3/4 cetuximab hypersensitivity reactions and were not assessable for response. Forty of 57 patients (70%) had a complete clinical response after chemoradiation. CONCLUSION: Cetuximab can be safely administered with chemoradiation for esophageal cancer. Dermatologic toxicity and hypersensitivity reactions were associated with the addition of cetuximab. There was no increase in esophagitis or other radiation-enhanced toxicity.

Docetaxel, capecitabine and carboplatin in metastatic esophagogastric cancer: a phase II study.

PURPOSE: A Phase I investigation of docetaxel, carboplatin, and capecitabine at our institution demonstrated the safety and tolerability of this regimen in patients with metastatic esophagogastric cancer. The objectives of this Phase II study were to determine the response rate, toxicity, and survival for patients with metastatic esophagogastric cancer treated with this regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy naïve patients with metastatic esophageal or gastric cancer received a regimen comprised of docetaxel 40 mg/m(2), days 1 and 8, carboplatin AUC = 2, Days 1 and 8, and capecitabine 2000 mg/m(2), Days 1-10 in 21-Day cycles. Patients were treated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were treated with a median of 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Twelve of 25 patients (48 percent) had a Grade 3/4 toxicity. There were no Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicities, and 1 patient (4 percent) had neutropenic fever. There were 3 complete responses, and 9 partial responses, for an overall response rate of 48 percent. The median survival was 8 months (95% confidence interval, 5.5-13 months), and the 1-year survival was 36 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly docetaxel and carboplatin with capecitabine was an easily administered outpatient regimen. The response rate and 1-year survival were similar to more complex regimens. Future trials may investigate the substitution of carboplatin with more active agents.

A phase I study of docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine in patients with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Docetaxel, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin are important new agents in esophagogastric cancer. The Brown University Oncology Group initiated a phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of weekly docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine. METHODS: Patients with metastatic esophageal and gastric cancers received docetaxel and oxaliplatin on days 1 and 8 and capecitabine in divided doses, twice daily, on days 1 to 10, with each cycle repeated every 21 days. Patients were enrolled in cohorts of 3 at escalating dose levels. The docetaxel dose ranged from 30 to 35 mg/m2, the oxaliplatin dose from 40 to 50 mg/m2, and the capecitabine dose from 750 to 850 mg/m2 BID. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled over 4 dose levels. The median age was 59 years. Eight patients had esophageal cancer and 9 had gastric cancer. Grade 3/4 dose-limiting toxicities of diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and febrile neutropenia occurred in 3 of 4 patients at dose level 3. An intermediate dose level was added (2A), reducing the capecitabine dose to 750 mg/m2. One of 6 patients had a dose-limiting toxicity at level 2A. CONCLUSIONS: Oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2 and docetaxel 30 mg/m2 day 1 and 8 with capecitabine 750 mg/m2 BID for 10 days in 21-day cycles may represent a promising, easily administered regimen for metastatic esophageal and gastric cancer. A phase II study will be initiated.

Phase I/II study of trastuzumab, paclitaxel, cisplatin and radiation for locally advanced, HER2 overexpressing, esophageal adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the overall survival for patients with locally advanced, HER2 overexpressing, esophageal adenocarcinoma receiving trastuzumab, paclitaxel, cisplatin, and radiation on a Phase I-II study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus without distant organ metastases and 2+/3+ HER2 overexpression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were eligible. All patients received cisplatin 25 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 weekly for 6 weeks with radiation therapy (RT) 50.4 Gy. Patients received trastuzumab at dose levels of 1, 1.5, or 2 mg/kg weekly for 5 weeks after an initial bolus of 2, 3, or 4 mg/kg. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were entered: 7 (37%) had celiac adenopathy, and 7 (37%) had retroperitoneal, portal adenopathy, or scalene adenopathy. Fourteen of 19 patients (74%) had either 3+ HER2 expression by immunohistochemistry, or an increase in HER2 gene copy number by HER2 gene amplification or high polysomy by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The median survival of all patients was 24 months and the 2-year survival was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the effect of trastuzumab in the treatment of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma overexpressing HER2 is limited by the small number of patients in this study. Overall survival, however, was similar to prior studies without an increase in toxicity. Evaluation of HER2 status should be performed in future trials for patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus that investigate therapies targeting the HER family.

Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel and gemcitabine for previously untreated, stage IIIB-IV nonsmall cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of the noncisplatin-based combination of paclitaxel and gemcitabine administered weekly for patients with untreated metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Patients with Stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC, a performance status of 0-2, and no prior chemotherapy exposure were eligible. Patients received gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 85 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36 of an 8-week cycle until progression. RESULTS: Thirty-nine eligible patients were enrolled. The median age was 66 years and 14 patients were > or =70 years old. Performance status was 2 in 13 (33%) and 29 patients (75%) had Stage IV. Five patients (12.8%) developed interstitial pneumonitis and 2 of these were responsive to steroid therapy. The overall response rate was 23.1%, with no complete responses. The median survival was 32 weeks and the 1-year survival was 32%. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen of weekly paclitaxel and gemcitabine has modest activity in advanced NSCLC.

Erlotinib and chemoradiation followed by maintenance erlotinib for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase I study.

OBJECTIVES: A phase I trial was conducted to determine the maximally tolerated dose of erlotinib with concurrent gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and radiation for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer and to gather preliminary data on maintenance erlotinib after chemoradiation. METHODS: Patients received gemcitabine, 75 mg/m2, and paclitaxel, 40 mg/m, weekly for 6 weeks with 50.4 radiation to the primary tumor and draining lymph nodes with a 2- to 3-cm margin. Erlotinib was administered over 3-dose levels (50-100 mg/d) with chemoradiation then all patients received 150 mg/d maintenance until disease progression. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were assessable for toxicity; 13 with locally advanced disease and 4 who had undergone resection but had positive margins. At erlotinib dosages > or =75 mg/d with chemoradiation the dose-limiting toxicities were diarrhea, dehydration, rash, myelosuppression, and small bowel stricture. Maintenance erlotinib, 150 mg/d, was well tolerated. The median survival of the 13 patients with locally advanced disease was 14.0 months and 6 of 13 (46%) had a partial response. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum tolerated dose of erlotinib with gemcitabine, paclitaxel and concurrent radiation is 50 mg/d for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Full dose maintenance erlotinib is well tolerated. Promising preliminary activity and overall survival were demonstrated.

Trastuzumab, paclitaxel, cisplatin, and radiation for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: a phase I study.

PURPOSE: To conduct a phase I study incorporating trastuzumab with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and radiation for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus without distant organ metastases were eligible. All patients received cisplatin 25 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 weekly for 6 weeks with radiation 50.4 Gy. HER-2/neu-positive patients (2+/3+ by immunohistochemistry) received weekly trastuzumab at dose levels of 1, 1.5, or 2 mg/kg weekly for 5 weeks after an initial bolus of 2, 3, or 4 mg/kg, respectively. HER-2/neu-negative patients received the same chemoradiation without trastuzumab as a control for toxicity. Dose-limiting toxicities were defined as grade 3 esophageal, cardiac, or pulmonary toxicity. RESULTS: Twelve of 36 screened patients (33%) overexpressed HER-2/neu by immunohistochemistry (seven 3+ and five 2+). Eight of 12 patients with HER-2/neu overexpression by IHC had an increase in the number of HER-2/neu genes, six from amplification of the HER-2/ neu gene and two were hypderdiploid for chromosome 17. Thirty patients were enrolled (12 HER-2/neu-positive and 18 HER-2/neu-negative controls). No increase in toxicity was seen with the addition of trastuzumab. One of 12 patients in the trastuzumab arm and 8 of 17 in the control arm had grade 3 esophagitis (p < or = .026). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction for the trastuzumab group was 57% before treatment and 56% after treatment. CONCLUSION: HER-2/neu is overexpressed in approximately one-third of esophageal adenocarcinomas. Trastuzumab can be added at full dose to cisplatin, paclitaxel, and radiation. Future studies of trastuzumab in esophageal adenocarcinoma are indicated.

Herceptin and gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancers that overexpress HER-2/neu.

PURPOSE: To determine the response rate and toxicities of Herceptin and gemcitabine for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas that overexpress HER-2/neu. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer with 2+/3 + HER-2/neu expression by immunohistochemistry were eligible. Patients received gemcitabine, 1 g/m2/week, for 7 of 8 weeks followed by 3 of every 4 weeks, and Herceptin, 4 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 2 mg/kg/week. RESULTS: Screening logs demonstrated the rate of HER-2/neu overexpression was 16%. Thirty-four patients were enrolled. Thirty patients (88%) had pancreatic cancers with 2+ overexpression and 4 patients (12%) had 3+ overexpression. Toxicity was similar to gemcitabine alone. Confirmed partial responses were observed in 2 of 32 patients (6%). Thirteen of 32 patients (41%) had either a partial response or a >50% reduction in CA 19-9. The median survival for all 34 patients was 7 months, and the 1-year survival was 19%. CONCLUSION: The response rate of Herceptin and gemcitabine is similar to gemcitabine alone. The 7-month median survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer suggests there may be a modest benefit for some patients. Infrequent HER-2/neu overexpression limits the role of targeting the HER-2/neu gene and prevents definitive conclusions on the addition of Herceptin to gemcibine for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Bilingual corpus callosum variability.

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to produce midsagittal images of the corpus callosum of 19 right-handed adult male and female subjects. The preliminary findings of this study indicate that significant adaptation in the anterior midbody of the corpus callosum has occurred to accommodate multiple language capacity in bilingual individuals compared to monolingual individuals. The main interpretation of this finding is that the precentral gyrus is involved in bilingual faculty adaptation assuming a role consistent with the somatotopical input to areas dedicated to the mouth, and input to association tracts connecting the premotor and supplementary motor cortices. This paper discusses possible implications to neuroscientists, second language educators, and their students.

A phase I study of a weekly schedule of paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a Phase I study of weekly paclitaxel (P) and carboplatin (C) in patients with advanced malignancies to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of this combination. METHODS: Dose levels were escalated independently for patients with and without previous chemotherapy exposure and advanced malignancies. Both agents were administered weekly for 6 weeks followed by a 2-week break per cycle. P, escalated to tolerance starting at 135 mg/m(2) per week, and C, fixed dose at area under the curve (AUC) = 2 mg/mL/min, were administered to groups of three or six patients. Doses were modified for granulocyte counts less than 1800/microL or for neurotoxicity greater than Grade 1. MTD was defined as the highest dose level at which less than 50% of patients developed unacceptable toxicity and received more than 80% of the intended dose during the first cycle. Dose levels were escalated until these conditions were exceeded. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (12 patients with previous chemotherapy exposure and 15 chemotherapy-naive patients) were examined for toxicity. Dose escalation was halted due to neutropenia and/or Grade 2/3 neuropathy in both arms. The MTD was P = 135/C = 2 for patients with previous chemotherapy exposure and P = 150/C = 2 for chemotherapy-naive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of P and C administered on a weekly schedule permits a two to threefold enhancement of P dose intensity with full doses of C. Phase II trials of this regimen in patients with various malignancies are being evaluated to determine efficacy and tolerance.