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Edward A Sausville

Publications and source records attributed to Edward A Sausville.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phase 1 and pharmacologic study of MS-275, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in adults with refractory and relapsed acute leukemias.

MS-275 is a benzamide derivative with potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory and antitumor activity in preclinical models. We conducted a phase 1 trial of orally administered MS-275 in 38 adults with advanced acute leukemias. Cohorts of patients were treated with MS-275 initially once weekly x 2, repeated every 4 weeks from 4 to 8 mg/m2, and after 13 patients were treated, once weekly x 4, repeated every 6 weeks from 8 to 10 mg/m2. The maximum-tolerated dose was 8 mg/m2 weekly for 4 weeks every 6 weeks. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) included infections and neurologic toxicity manifesting as unsteady gait and somnolence. Other frequent non-DLTs were fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hypoalbuminemia, and hypocalcemia. Treatment with MS-275 induced increase in protein and histone H3/H4 acetylation, p21 expression, and caspase-3 activation in bone marrow mononuclear cells. No responses by classical criteria were seen. Our results show that MS-275 effectively inhibits HDAC in vivo in patients with advanced myeloid leukemias and should be further tested, preferably in patients with less-advanced disease.

Acetylation↗

Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration as a source of adaphostin-induced reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity.

Adaphostin is a dihydroquinone derivative that is undergoing extensive preclinical testing as a potential anticancer drug. Previous studies have suggested that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in the cytotoxicity of this agent. In this study, we investigated the source of these ROS. Consistent with the known chemical properties of dihydroquinones, adaphostin simultaneously underwent oxidation to the corresponding quinone and generated ROS under aqueous conditions. Interestingly, however, this quinone was not detected in intact cells. Instead, high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that adaphostin was concentrated by up to 300-fold in cells relative to the extracellular medium and that the highest concentration of adaphostin (3000-fold over extracellular concentrations) was detected in mitochondria. Consistent with a mitochondrial site for adaphostin action, adaphostin-induced ROS production was diminished by >75% in MOLT-4 rho(0) cells, which lack mitochondrial electron transport, relative to parental MOLT-4 cells. In addition, inhibition of oxygen consumption was observed when intact cells were treated with adaphostin. Loading of isolated mitochondria to equivalent adaphostin concentrations caused inhibition of uncoupled oxygen consumption in mitochondria incubated with the complex I substrates pyruvate and malate or the complex II substrate succinate. Further analysis demonstrated that adaphostin had no effect on pyruvate or succinate dehydrogenase activity. Instead, adaphostin inhibited reduced decylubiquinone-induced cytochrome c reduction, identifying complex III as the site of inhibition by this agent. Moreover, adaphostin enhanced the production of ROS by succinate-charged mitochondria. Collectively, these observations demonstrate that mitochondrial respiration rather than direct redox cycling of the hydroquinone moiety is a source of adaphostin-induced ROS and identify complex III as a potential target for antineoplastic agents.

Adamantane↗

Molecular mechanism of adaphostin-mediated G1 arrest in prostate cancer (PC-3) cells: signaling events mediated by hepatocyte growth factor receptor, c-Met, and p38 MAPK pathways.

Adaphostin (NSC680410), a small molecule congener of tyrphostin AG957, has been demonstrated previously to have significant anti-proliferative effects in several leukemia models. However, this effect of adaphostin in adherent cells/solid tumor models has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of adaphostin in the human prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Specifically, we explored the potential molecular mechanism(s) by which adaphostin elicits its anti-proliferative effect(s). We demonstrate that adaphostin inhibits the proliferation of PC-3 cells by inducing a G(1) phase cell cycle arrest. This adaphostin-induced G(1) arrest was associated with an increase in the expression of p21 and p27 and a decrease in the expression of G(1)-specific cyclins (cyclin A, D1, and D3) and cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6. Consequently, a dramatic decrease in the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein was also observed. Additionally, we found that adaphostin treatment induced a decrease in the phosphorylation of nucleophosmin, a major nuclear phosphoprotein, and that this decreased phosphorylation was a result of the p21- and p27-mediated inactivation of cyclin E-cyclin-dependent kinase 2 complex kinase activity. Furthermore, we have determined that the adaphostin-mediated cell cycle arrest of PC-3 cells is dependent upon activation of the p38 MAPK. We also demonstrate that the hepatocyte growth factor receptor-c-Met is involved in the adaphostin-mediated signaling events that regulate p38 MAPK. Taken together, these results identify for the first time a signaling cascade of adaphostin-mediated G(1) phase-specific cell cycle arrest in PC-3 cells. These findings suggest that the tyrphostin member has a broader spectrum of activity than originally predicted.

Adamantane↗

Contributions of human tumor xenografts to anticancer drug development.

Mouse models of cancer have consistently been used to qualify new anticancer drugs for study in human clinical trials. The most used models include transplantable murine tumors grown in syngeneic hosts and xenografts of human tumors grown in immunodeficient mice. For the latter systems, retrospective preclinical-clinical correlation studies are available, which suggest that improvements must be made to increase their value. Transgenic, knock-out, and knock-in mouse models and their intercrosses are more recent developments that mirror defined steps of human carcinogenesis. However, their value in predicting clinical results remains to date poorly defined. We take the position that properly used and interpreted human tumor xenografts grown in immunodeficient mice can be useful, although not absolutely predictive of behavior in the clinic, and continue to make contributions to critical clinical development choices.

Animals↗

Ligand-directed surface profiling of human cancer cells with combinatorial peptide libraries.

A collection of 60 cell lines derived from human tumors (NCI-60) has been widely explored as a tool for anticancer drug discovery. Here, we profiled the cell surface of the NCI-60 by high-throughput screening of a phage-displayed random peptide library and classified the cell lines according to the binding selectivity of 26,031 recovered tripeptide motifs. By analyzing selected cell-homing peptide motifs and their NCI-60 recognition patterns, we established that some of these motifs (a) are similar to domains of human proteins known as ligands for tumor cell receptors and (b) segregate among the NCI-60 in a pattern correlating with expression profiles of the corresponding receptors. We biochemically validated some of the motifs as mimic peptides of native ligands for the epidermal growth factor receptor. Our results indicate that ligand-directed profiling of tumor cell lines can select functional peptides from combinatorial libraries based on the expression of tumor cell surface molecules, which in turn could be exploited as "druggable" receptors in specific types of cancer.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Factors affecting the pharmacokinetic profile of MS-275, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, in patients with cancer.

AIMS: To evaluate elimination pathways of the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 in vitro and screen for relationships between demographic factors that may affect its pharmacokinetics in vivo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Substrate specificity of MS-275 for the liver-specific organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) was assessed using Xenopus laevis oocytes, and in vitro metabolism was evaluated using human liver microsomes. In vivo pharmacokinetic data were obtained from 64 adult patients (36 male/28 female; median age, 57 years) receiving MS-275 orally (dose range, 2 to 12 mg/m2). RESULTS: Accumulation of [G-3H]MS-275 by oocytes expressing OATP1B1 or OATP1B3 was not significantly different from water-injected controls (p = 0.82). Furthermore, no metabolites could be detected after incubation of MS-275 in human liver microsomes, suggesting that hepatic metabolism is a minor pathway of elimination. The mean (+/- SD) apparent oral clearance of MS-275 was 38.5 +/- 18.7 L/h, with a coefficient of variation (%CV) of 48.7%. When clearance was adjusted for body-surface area (BSA), the inter-individual variability was similar (%CV = 50.1%). In addition, in a linear-regression analysis, except for adjusted ideal body weight (p = 0.02, |r| = 0.29), none of the studied measures (BSA, lean-body mass, ideal body weight, body-mass index, height, weight, age, and sex) was a significant covariate (p > 0.13; |r| < 0.11) for oral clearance. CONCLUSIONS: The current analysis has eliminated a number of candidate covariates from further consideration as important determinants of MS-275 absorption and disposition. Furthermore, MS-275 can be added to the list of cancer drugs where BSA-based dosing is not more accurate than fixed dosing.

Adult↗

The TSC2/mTOR pathway drives endothelial cell transformation induced by the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus G protein-coupled receptor.

The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), the infectious causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), encodes a G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) implicated in the initiation of KS. Here we demonstrate that Kaposi's sarcomagenesis involves stimulation of tuberin (TSC2) phosphorylation by vGPCR, promoting the activation of mTOR through both direct and paracrine mechanisms. Pharmacologic inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin prevented vGPCR sarcomagenesis, while overactivation of this pathway was sufficient to render endothelial cells oncogenic. Moreover, mice haploinsufficient for TSC2 are predisposed to vascular sarcomas remarkably similar to KS. Collectively, these results implicate mTOR in KS initiation and suggest that the sarcomagenic potential of KSHV may be a direct consequence of the profound sensitivity of endothelial cells to vGPCR dysregulation of the TSC2/mTOR pathway.

Animals↗

Anti-tumor drug candidate 2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole induces single-strand breaks and DNA-protein cross-links in sensitive MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

PURPOSE: The fluorinated benzothiazole analogue 2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole (5F 203, NSC 703786) exhibits selective and potent anticancer activity, and its lysylamide prodrug (Phortress, NSC 710305) recently entered Phase I clinical trials in the United Kingdom. Only cancer cells sensitive to the anti-proliferative effects of 5F 203 deplete this drug candidate from nutrient media. 5F 203 induces cell cycle arrest, cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP 1A1) mRNA and protein expression, and is metabolized into reactive electrophilic species that can covalently bind to DNA and form adducts in sensitive (i.e., MCF-7) but not in resistant (i.e., MDA-MB-435) breast cancer cells. METHODS: In this present study, we investigated additional anticancer effects of 5F 203 in MCF-7 cells. In addition, we sought to determine if cells deficient in the xeroderma pigmentosum D gene, a gene critical in DNA repair, would show greater sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of 5F 203 than those complemented with XPD. RESULTS: Alkaline Elution revealed that 5F 203 induced single-strand breaks and DNA-protein cross-links in sensitive MCF-7 cells. In contrast, we detected no double-strand breaks or protein-associated strand breaks typically associated with topoisomerase I (top1) or topoisomerase II (top2) inhibition. In addition, 5F 203 was unable to trap top1- or top2-DNA cleavage complexes in MCF-7 cells. 5F 203 induced cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells following DNA damage after brief exposures. Cells deficient in the nucleotide excision repair xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene displayed sensitivity to 5F 203 while cells complemented with XPD displayed resistance to 5F 203. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the anti-cancer activity of 5F 203 depends upon targets other than top1 or top2 and on the ability of this benzothiazole to form single-strand breaks and DNA-protein cross-links in cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Differential gene expression as a potential classifier of 2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole-sensitive and -insensitive cell lines.

2-(4-Amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole (5F-203) is a candidate antitumor agent empirically discovered with the aid of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Anticancer Drug Screen. In an effort to determine whether basal expression of genes could be used to classify cell sensitivity to this agent, serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries were generated for three sensitive and two insensitive human tumor cell lines. When the SAGE tags expressed within these cell line libraries were compared and evaluated for differences, several genes seemed more highly expressed in 5F-203-sensitive cell lines than in the insensitive cell lines. Constitutive expressions of 15 genes identified by the analysis were then measured by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in the 60 cell lines of the NCI Anticancer Drug Screen. This generated a pattern of relative basal gene expression across the cell lines and also confirmed the differential expression of SAGE-discovered genes within the initial set of five cell lines. Further analyses of these expression data in 60 cell lines suggested that a smaller subset of genes could be used to classify tumor cell sensitivity to 5F-203. In contrast, the same set of genes did not predict with equivalent precision sensitivity to unrelated active drugs, and another set of genes could not better classify the cell lines in terms of 5F-203 sensitivity. These results suggest that constitutive gene expression profiles, in which the genes are not necessarily known to be related to the mechanism of action of a given drug, may be viewed as a general tool to extend and improve the concept of a single predictive gene to groups of predictive genes.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Mammalian target of rapamycin, a molecular target in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Emerging knowledge on how the dysregulated function of signaling networks contributes to the malignant growth of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) can now be exploited to identify novel mechanism-based anticancer treatments. In this regard, we have observed that persistent activation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt is a frequent event in HNSCC, and that blockade of its upstream kinase, 3'-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1, potently inhibits tumor cell growth. Akt promotes cell proliferation by its ability to coordinate mitogenic signaling with energy- and nutrient-sensing pathways that control protein synthesis through the atypical serine/threonine kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). This kinase, in turn, phosphorylates key eukaryotic translation regulators, including p70-S6 kinase and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor, 4E binding protein 1. Indeed, we show here that aberrant accumulation of the phosphorylated active form of S6, the most downstream target of the Akt-mTOR-p70-S6 kinase pathway, is a frequent event in clinical specimens from patients with HNSCC and their derived cell lines. Of interest, this enhanced level of the phosphorylated active form of S6 was rapidly reduced in HNSCC cell lines and HNSCC xenograft models at clinically relevant doses of rapamycin, which specifically inhibits mTOR. Furthermore, we observed that rapamycin displays a potent antitumor effect in vivo, as it inhibits DNA synthesis and induces the apoptotic death of HNSCC cells, ultimately resulting in tumor regression. These findings identify the Akt-mTOR pathway as a potential therapeutic target for HNSCC, and may provide the rationale for the early clinical evaluation of rapamycin and its analogues in patients with HNSCC.

Animals↗

Benzodithiophenes induce differentiation and apoptosis in human leukemia cells.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces clinical remission in patients with t(15;17) acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) carrying leukemogenic promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARalpha) fusion protein by overcoming PML-RARalpha transcriptional repression and inducing myeloid differentiation. To identify more potent chemical differentiation inducers, a screening assay was developed utilizing an ATRA-insensitive NB4 cell line (NB4-c) in which differentiation could be measured after 48 hours when primed with ATRA followed by other potential inducers. Over 300 cytostatic agents selected from the National Cancer Institute library were screened using this established method. Three compounds, NSC656243, NSC625748, and NSC144168, were identified to amplify ATRA-induced differentiation with acceptable cytotoxicity in NB4-c cells. In the absence of ATRA, these compounds also induced HL-60 and murine erythroleukemia cells to undergo partial differentiation. NSC656243, a benzodithiophene compound, was selected for further studies to examine the underlying mechanism of action. The differentiation effect of NSC656243 was associated with enhanced ATRA-mediated up-regulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins p21waf1 and p27kip1, retinoblastoma dephosphorylation, expression of RIG-E and RIG-G, and myelomonocytic differentiation-specific down-regulation of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene. Moreover, at 2- to 3-fold higher concentrations than those used to synergize with ATRA, NSC656243 induced apoptosis in NB4-c cells by reactive oxygen species-mediated pathways. The dual effects of benzodithiophenes (i.e., differentiation and apoptosis induction) support further development of these compounds as therapeutic agents for leukemia.

Animals↗

Transcriptional profiling identifies altered intracellular labile iron homeostasis as a contributing factor to the toxicity of adaphostin: decreased vascular endothelial growth factor secretion is independent of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 regulation.

PURPOSE: Adaphostin was developed as an inhibitor of the p210(bcr-abl) tyrosine kinase, but as its activity is not limited to tumor cell lines containing this translocation, transcriptional profiling was used as a tool to elucidate additional mechanisms responsible for adaphostin cytotoxicity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Profiles of drug-induced transcriptional changes were measured in three hematopoietic cell lines following 1 and 10 micromol/L adaphostin for 2 to 6 hours and then confirmed with real-time reverse transcription-PCR (2-24 hours). These data indicated altered iron homeostasis, and this was confirmed experimentally. Alteration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion through hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) regulation was also investigated. RESULTS: Drug-induced genes included heat shock proteins and ubiquitins, but an intriguing response was the induction of ferritins. Measurement of the labile iron pool showed release of chelatable iron immediately after treatment with adaphostin and was quenched with the addition of an iron chelator. Pretreatment of cells with desferrioxamine and N-acetyl-cysteine reduced but did not ablate the sensitivity of the cells to adaphostin, and desferrioxamine was able to modulate adaphostin-induced activation of p38 and inactivation of AKT. VEGF secretion was shown to be reduced in cell lines after the addition of adaphostin but was not dependent on HIF-1. CONCLUSIONS: Adaphostin-induced cytotoxicity is caused in part by a rapid release of free iron, leading to redox perturbations and cell death. Despite this, reduced VEGF secretion was found to be independent of regulation by the redox responsive transcription factor HIF-1. Thus, adaphostin remains an interesting agent with the ability to kill tumor cells directly and modulate angiogenesis.

Adamantane↗

Interspecies differences in plasma protein binding of MS-275, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor.

MS-275 (MS-27-275; 3-pyridylmethyl-N-[4-[(2-aminophenyl)-carbamoyl]-benzyl-carbamate) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor under clinical development as an anticancer agent. Here, we examined the role of protein binding as a possible determinant of the pharmacokinetic behavior of MS-275. The distribution of MS-275 in plasma was studied in vitro using equilibrium dialysis and ex vivo in five cancer patients receiving the drug orally at a dose of 10 mg/m(2). The dialysis method uses a tracer amount of [G-(3)H]MS-275 on a 96-well microdialysis plate with a 5-kDa cut-off membrane, and requires 250 microl sample. The time to equilibrium was established to be within 5 h, and the mean unbound fraction of MS-275 (f (u)) over a presumed therapeutic concentration range in healthy volunteer human plasma was 0.188 +/- 0.0075 as compared to 0.168 +/- 0.0144 in cancer patients. The binding was concentration-independent, indicating a low affinity, possibly non-specific and non-saturable process. MS-275 was found to bind in decreasing order to plasma > alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein > albumin. Among 19 tested drugs, a slightly increased f (u) was observed in the presence of only ibuprofen (f (u), 0.236 +/- 0.001) and metoclopramide (f (u), 0.270 +/- 0.042), suggesting weakly competitive displacement from protein-binding sites (P < 0.01). Compared to humans, f (u) was significantly higher in plasma from mouse (0.376), rat (0.393), rabbit (0.355), dog (0.436), and pig (0.439) (P < 0.01), which may explain, in part, the species-dependent pharmacokinetic profile of MS-275 observed previously.

Animals↗

Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB and target genes during combined therapy with proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and reirradiation in patients with recurrent head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (VELCADE) on transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and target genes and the feasibility of combination therapy with reirradiation in patients with recurrent head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The tolerability and response to bortezomib 0.6 mg/m2 and 0.9 mg/m2 given twice weekly concurrent with daily reirradiation to 50-70 Gy was explored. Blood proteasome inhibition and NF-kappaB-modulated cytokines and factors were measured. Proteasome inhibition, nuclear localization of NF-kappaB phospho-p65, apoptosis, and expression of NF-kappaB-modulated mRNAs were compared in serial biopsies from accessible tumors. RESULTS: The maximally tolerated dose was exceeded, and study was limited to 7 and 2 patients, respectively, given bortezomib 0.6 mg/m2 and 0.9 mg/m2/dose with reirradiation. Grade 3 hypotension and hyponatremia were dose limiting. Mucositis was Grade 3 or less and was delayed. The mean blood proteasome inhibition at 1, 24, and 48 h after 0.6 mg/m2 was 32%, 16%, and 7% and after 0.9 mg/m2 was 56%, 26%, and 14%, respectively. Differences in proteasome and NF-kappaB activity, apoptosis, and expression of NF-kappaB-modulated cell cycle, apoptosis, and angiogenesis factor mRNAs were detected in 2 patients with minor tumor reductions and in serum NF-kappaB-modulated cytokines in 1 patient with a major tumor reduction. CONCLUSIONS: In combination with reirradiation, the maximally tolerated dose of bortezomib was exceeded at a dose of 0.6 mg/m2 and the threshold of proteasome inhibition. Although this regimen with reirradiation is not feasible, bortezomib induced detectable differences in NF-kappaB localization, apoptosis, and NF-kappaB-modulated genes and cytokines in tumor and serum in association with tumor reduction, indicating that other schedules of bortezomib combined with primary radiotherapy or reirradiation may merit future investigation.

Adult↗

Preclinical toxicity of a geldanamycin analog, 17-(dimethylaminoethylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), in rats and dogs: potential clinical relevance.

PURPOSE: 17-DMAG is a hydrophilic derivative of the molecular chaperone inhibitor 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG; NSC-330507), which is currently being evaluated for the treatment of cancer in clinical trials. 17-DMAG offers a potential advantage over 17-AAG because its aqueous solubility eliminates the need for complicated formulations that are currently used for administration of 17-AAG. In addition, 17-DMAG undergoes only limited metabolism compared to 17-AAG. The present results are from preclinical toxicity studies evaluating 17-DMAG in rats and dogs. METHODS: Doses of 0, 2.4, 12 and 24 mg/m2 per day were administered to rats, while dogs received doses of 0, 8 or 16 mg/m2 per day. In both species, 17-DMAG was administered i.v. (slow bolus for rats; 1-h infusion for dogs) daily for 5 days. An additional cohort of dogs received 16 mg/m2 per day orally for 5 days. Clinical observations were noted, and standard hematology and clinical chemistry parameters were monitored. Selected tissues were evaluated microscopically for drug-related lesions. Tissue and plasma 17-DMAG concentrations were measured by HPLC/MS at selected time-points on days 1 and 5. RESULTS: Daily i.v. administration of 17-DMAG at doses of 24 mg/m2 per day in rats or 16 mg/m2 per day in dogs produced lethality on day 6, approximately 24 h following the last dose. Body weight loss was common in rats and dogs. Drug-related gastrointestinal, bone marrow and hepatic toxicities were also common in rats and dogs. Dogs also exhibited signs of renal and gallbladder toxicity. Plasma concentrations of 17-DMAG increased proportionately with dose in rats and disproportionately with dose in dogs. In rat tissues, however, only fourfold to sixfold increases in 17-DMAG concentrations were observed with a tenfold increase in dose. The highest concentrations of 17-DMAG were found in the liver of rats, with progressively lower concentrations in the spleen, lung, kidney and plasma. Regardless of the route of administration, higher drug concentrations were present in plasma (rat and dog) and tissue (rat) samples obtained on day 5 compared to those obtained on day 1. Although plasma concentrations decreased with time, 17-DMAG was still detected in dog plasma for at least 24 h after drug administration. CONCLUSIONS: With the recent approval of 17-DMAG for clinical use, the data generated from these preclinical studies will provide guidance to clinicians as they administer this drug to their patients. The MTD of 17-DMAG was 12 mg/m2 per day in rats and 8 mg/m2 per day in dogs; therefore, the recommended starting dose for phase I trial is 1.3 mg/m2 per day for 5 days. Gastrointestinal and bone marrow toxicity were dose-limiting in rats, and gastrointestinal, renal, gallbladder and bone marrow toxicity were dose-limiting in dogs. All adverse effects were fully reversible in surviving animals after treatment was complete.

Administration, Oral↗

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of MS-275, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in patients with advanced and refractory solid tumors or lymphoma.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), the recommended phase II dose, the dose-limiting toxicity, and determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic profiles of MS-275. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma were treated with MS-275 orally initially on a once daily x 28 every 6 weeks (daily) and later on once every-14-days (q14-day) schedules. The starting dose was 2 mg/m2 and the dose was escalated in three- to six-patient cohorts based on toxicity assessments. RESULTS: With the daily schedule, the MTD was exceeded at the first dose level. Preliminary PK analysis suggested the half-life of MS-275 in humans was 39 to 80 hours, substantially longer than predicted by preclinical studies. With the q14-day schedule, 28 patients were treated. The MTD was 10 mg/m2 and dose-limiting toxicities were nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue. Exposure to MS-275 was dose dependent, suggesting linear PK. Increased histone H3 acetylation in peripheral-blood mononuclear-cells was apparent at all dose levels by immunofluorescence analysis. Ten of 29 patients remained on treatment for > or = 3 months. CONCLUSION: The MS-275 oral formulation on the daily schedule was intolerable at a dose and schedule explored. The q14-day schedule is reasonably well tolerated. Histone deacetylase inhibition was observed in peripheral-blood mononuclear-cells. Based on PK data from the q14-day schedule, a more frequent dosing schedule, weekly x 4, repeated every 6 weeks is presently being evaluated.

Administration, Oral↗