A phase I study of etoposide phosphate administered as a daily 30-minute infusion for 5 days.

PURPOSE: To determine the maximum tolerated dose, toxicities, kinetics, and disposition of etoposide phosphate when administered as a daily 30-minute infusion for 5 days. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in this phase I dose-escalation trial. Cohorts of patients received etoposide phosphate in etoposide equivalent doses of 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg/m2 intravenously for 30 minutes each day for 5 days. Pharmacokinetic sampling of both blood and urine was performed and concentrations of etoposide and etoposide phosphate were determined on day 1 of study for each patient and on day 4 of study for three patients receiving the 100 mg/m2 dose. RESULTS: The dose-limiting toxicity was reversible myelosuppression as evidenced by leukopenia and neutropenia. Toxicities seen were comparable to those expected from etoposide administration. With this schedule, the 100 mg/m2 dose was the maximum tolerated dose. Nonhematologic toxicities were generally mild. Two patients had major responses and three others had minor responses. Pharmacokinetic analyses revealed rapid (< 15 minutes) extensive conversion of etoposide phosphate to etoposide. Peak plasma etoposide concentrations and etoposide areas under the curve were proportional to the dose of etoposide phosphate administered. Etoposide kinetics were similar to those expected after a comparable dose of etoposide. CONCLUSIONS: Etoposide phosphate is a water-soluble pro-drug of etoposide that is rapidly converted to etoposide in vivo with a toxicity profile similar to etoposide. Etoposide generated from etoposide phosphate exhibits linear kinetics over a dose range of 50 to 125 mg/m2. When administered as a daily 30-minute infusion for 5 days, the dose-limiting toxicity is myelosuppression and 100 mg/m2 daily is the maximum tolerated dose.