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Biomedical subjects

R DeVore

Publications and source records attributed to R DeVore.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Randomized phase III trial of docetaxel versus vinorelbine or ifosfamide in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens. The TAX 320 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Study Group.

PURPOSE: To confirm the promising phase II results of docetaxel monotherapy, this phase III trial was conducted of chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had previously failed platinum-containing chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 373 patients were randomized to receive either docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) (D100) or 75 mg/m(2) (D75) versus a control regimen of vinorelbine or ifosfamide (V/I). The three treatment groups were well-balanced for key patient characteristics. RESULTS: Overall response rates were 10.8% with D100 and 6.7% with D75, each significantly higher than the 0.8% response with V/I (P =.001 and P =.036, respectively). Patients who received docetaxel had a longer time to progression (P =.046, by log-rank test) and a greater progression-free survival at 26 weeks (P =.005, by chi(2) test). Although overall survival was not significantly different between the three groups, the 1-year survival was significantly greater with D75 than with the control treatment (32% v 19%; P =.025, by chi(2) test). Prior exposure to paclitaxel did not decrease the likelihood of response to docetaxel, nor did it impact survival. There was a trend toward greater efficacy in patients whose disease was platinum-resistant rather than platinum-refractory and in patients with performance status of 0 or 1 versus 2. Toxicity was greatest with D100, but the D75 arm was well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: This first randomized trial in this setting demonstrates that D75 every 3 weeks can offer clinically meaningful benefit to patients with advanced NSCLC whose disease has relapsed or progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Multi-institutional phase I/II trial of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and etoposide with concurrent radiation for limited-stage small-cell lung carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of adding paclitaxel to standard cisplatin/etoposide (EP) and thoracic radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients were enrolled onto this study. During the phase I section of this study, the dose of paclitaxel was escalated in groups of three or more patients. Cycles were repeated every 21 days. For cycles 1 and 2, paclitaxel was administered according to the dose-escalation schema at doses of 100, 135, or 170 mg/m(2) intravenously over 3 hours on day 1. Once the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of paclitaxel (for cycles 1 and 2, concurrent with radiation) was determined, that dose was used in all subsequent patients entered onto the phase II section of this study. For cycles 3 and 4, the paclitaxel dose was fixed at 170 mg/m(2) in all patients. On day 2, cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) was administered for all cycles. On days 1, 2, and 3, etoposide 60 mg/m(2)/d (cycles 1 and 2) or 80 mg/m(2)/d (cycles 3 and 4) was administered. Chest radiation was given at 9 Gy/wk in five fractions for 5 weeks beginning on day 1 of cycle 1. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors were used during cycles 3 and 4 only. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were assessable. The MTD of paclitaxel was 135 mg/m(2), with the dose-limiting toxicity being grade 4 neutropenia. Cycles 1 and 2 were associated with grade 4 neutropenia in 32% of courses, with fever occurring in 7% of courses and grade 2/3 esophagitis in 13%. Cycles 3 and 4 were complicated by grade 4 neutropenia in 20% of courses, with fever occurring in 6% of courses and grade 2/3 esophagitis in 16%. The overall response rate was 96% (complete responses, 39%; partial responses, 57%). After a median follow-up period of 23 months (range, 9 to 40 months), the median survival time was 22.3 months (95% confidence interval, 15.1 to 34.3 months) CONCLUSION: The MTD of paclitaxel with radiation and EP treatment is 135 mg/m(2) given over 3 hours. In this schedule of administration, a high response rate and acceptable toxicity can be anticipated.

Adolescent↗

A pilot study of protracted low dose cisplatin and etoposide with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy in unresectable stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: A Phase II study to evaluate the response rate and toxicity of daily protracted cisplatin and etoposide with concurrent chest irradiation in patients with locally advanced, unresectable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-one patients with histologically confirmed locally advanced inoperable NSCLC (Stage IIIA or IIIB) were entered on study. Radiotherapy consisted of 50.4 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions followed by a 10 Gy boost in 2 Gy fractions. Chemotherapy included the following: Cisplatin was given at 5 mg/m2 i.v. Monday-Friday before RT weeks 1-6. Etoposide was given at 25 mg/m2 i.v. M-F weeks 1, 2, 5, and 6, with 50 mg/m2 p.o. daily on the same weekends. Because of severe myelosuppression in the first two patients, etoposide only was subsequently changed to 20 mg/m2 i.v. M-F weeks 1, 2, 5, and 6. RESULTS: Twenty patients were eligible and evaluable. The overall response rate was 65% (95% confidence interval 41-85%). The median progression-free survival was 43 weeks. The median overall survival was 50.2 weeks with a 1-year survival rate of 45%. Five patients (25%) developed severe radiation pneumonitis, leading to early closure of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Combining daily protracted cisplatin and etoposide with concurrent thoracic irradiation in patients with locally advanced unresectable NSCLC yields a high overall response rate and a median survival that is at least comparable to other combined modality trials. However, future studies using protracted radiosensitizing chemotherapy should be approached cautiously in light of the high incidence of severe radiation pneumonitis encountered in this trial.

Aged↗

Phase II study of topotecan in patients with extensive-stage small-cell carcinoma of the lung: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Trial.

PURPOSE: To determine the response rate and survival of chemotherapy-naive patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with topotecan, and to determine the relationship of topotecan pharmacokinetics with response and toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with previously untreated, extensive-stage SCLC received 2.0 mg/m2 of topotecan daily for 5 days. The first 13 patients were treated without colony-stimulating factor (CSF) support; the next 35 patients received 5 micrograms/kg of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 10 to 14 days starting on day 6. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks for a maximum of four cycles. Patients who had a partial response to topotecan after four cycles, stable disease after two cycles, or progressive disease at any time received salvage chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. Topotecan pharmacokinetics were measured using a four-point sampling scheme. RESULTS: Of 48 patients, none had a complete response and 19 had a partial response, for an objective response rate of 39% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.2% to 53.0%). The median response duration was 4.8 months (95% CI, 3.0 to 7.3). After a median follow-up duration of 18.2 months, the overall median survival time was 10.0 months (95% CI, 8.2 to 12.7); the 1-year survival rate was 39% (95% CI, 25.2% to 53.0%). Eight of 34 patients (24%) who received salvage chemotherapy responded. Four of 17 patients who did not respond to first-line therapy with topotecan responded to cisplatin and etoposide. The most common toxicity was hematologic. Ninety-two percent of patients treated without G-CSF developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, compared with 29% who received G-CSF. However, the incidence of neutropenic fevers was similar between the two groups (8% and 11%, respectively), and one patient in each group died of neutropenic fevers. There were no differences in objective tumor response, duration of response, time to treatment failure, or survival between the 13 patients who entered the study before G-CSF administration was mandated and the 35 patients who entered after and received G-CSF. There was poor correlation between the WBC count and absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) and both the area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentration++ (Cmx) of total topotecan in plasma. There was no correlation between the tumor response and either AUC or Cmx of total topotecan. CONCLUSION: The activity of topotecan in extensive-stage SCLC noted in this study warrants further investigation of this agent in phase III clinical trials.

Adult↗

Pilot study of vinorelbine (navelbine) and paclitaxel in patients with refractory non-small cell lung cancer.

Eighteen patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of intravenous vinorelbine (Navelbine; Burroughs Wellcome Co, Research Triangle Park, NC; Pierre Fabre Medicament, Paris, France) 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and intravenous paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 on day 2 every 3 weeks. All patients were given granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 5 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously on days 3 through 7 and 9 through 17 or until the absolute neutrophil count reached 10 x 10(9)/L or higher. One patient was enrolled in this study too recently to be assessed. The mean age of the remaining 17 patients was 59 years (age range, 33 to 75 years); all but one patient had refractory disease, mostly to cisplatin-containing regimens. Four patients were ineligible (two because of poor performance status and two because of previous exposure to vinblastine). Three partial responses were observed, with durations of 46, 64, and 140+ days. Four patients had stable disease and four had progressive disease. The most common side effect was neutropenia (five grade 4 and one grade 3); two patients died of leukopenic sepsis in the first cycle. Peripheral neuropathy was also common (four grade 1 and one grade 2 sensory neuropathy). Other toxic effects were anemia and nausea and vomiting. The median survival was 153 days in all patients and 179 days in eligible patients. The preliminary results in this ongoing study of combination vinorelbine and paclitaxel as second-line therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer are promising, and using this regimen as first-line therapy is warranted.

Adult↗

Paclitaxel plus carboplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer: a Vanderbilt University Cancer Center phase II trial (LUN-46).

In studies conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, treatment with either paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) or carboplatin was associated with an improvement in 1-year survival in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on these findings, a phase II trial of carboplatin plus paclitaxel was conducted in patients with advanced NSCLC to determine the activity and toxicity of this regimen. Eligibility requirements included stage IIIB or IV histologically confirmed NSCLC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2, no prior chemotherapy, and adequate hematologic, renal, hepatic, and cardiac functions. Paclitaxel was administered intravenously over 24 hours at a dose of 135 mg/m2 (28 patients) or 175 mg/m2 (23 patients), followed by a 1-hour infusion of carboplatin on day 2. Carboplatin was administered at a dose of 300 mg/m2 (16 patients) or, using the Calvert formula, a dose calculated to achieve an area under the concentration-time curve of 6 mg/mL x min (35 patients). Treatment was repeated every 28 days for a total of six cycles. Among the 51 eligible patients, 34 were men and 17 were women; their median age was 60 years and their median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 1. Six patients had stage IIIB and 45 had stage IV disease. Grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 47% and 3% of treatment cycles, respectively. The most common nonhematologic toxicities noted included nausea and emesis, neuropathy, and arthralgia and myalgia. There were no complete responses and 14 partial responses, for an overall response rate of 27% (95% confidence interval, 17% to 41%). Median survival was 38 weeks and the survival rate at 1 year was 32%. Paclitaxel plus carboplatin, as given in this study, was found to be a moderately active regimen in patients with advanced NSCLC. This regimen warrants comparison with existing cisplatin-based regimens in a prospective randomized trial.

Adult↗

Carboplatin plus oral etoposide in the management of unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Preliminary results of a Vanderbilt trial.

Forty-two patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with carboplatin (300, 350 or 400 mg/m2) and 21 days of oral etoposide (50 mg/m2/day). Thirty-three patients were evaluable for response (too early to assess the remaining patients) and 9 patients (27%) achieved a partial remission. Median survival was 29 weeks (range, 4+ to 71+ weeks). The primary toxicity was myelosuppression. Leukocyte and platelet count nadirs occurred between days 22 and 29. In cycle 1, median leukocyte nadir was 2.8 x 10(9)/l and the platelet nadir was 142 x 10(9)/l. Nonhematologic toxicities were modest and included alopecia in all patients, mild nausea, mild to moderate diarrhea, and an occasional increase in serum creatinine. Carboplatin plus oral etoposide is a tolerable outpatient regimen with modest activity against unresectable NSCLC.

Administration, Oral↗

Carboplatin plus oral etoposide in the management of advanced, non-small cell lung cancer: preliminary results of a Vanderbilt trial.

Twenty-eight patients with unresectable, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with carboplatin/oral etoposide. Carboplatin was administered intravenously on day 1 at a dose of 300 mg/m2 (12 patients) or 350 mg/m2 (16 patients); oral etoposide was administered at a dose of 50 mg/m2/d for 21 consecutive days. Treatment was repeated every 28 days. Patient characteristics included male:female ratio of 23:5, median age of 60 years, median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1, weight loss of 5% or more in seven patients; stage IIIB disease in two patients and stage IV in 26. Twenty-five patients were evaluable for response and seven (28%) achieved a partial response (95% confidence interval, 14% to 48%). Median duration of response was 3+ months (range, 2+ to 6+) and median survival was 4+ months (range, 1+ to 10+). Myelosuppression was the predominate toxicity; leukocyte and platelet nadirs occurred between days 22 and 29, with median counts of 2,900/microL and 172,000/microL, respectively. The median interval between the start of cycle 1 and the start of cycle 2 was 33 days (range, 26 to 42). Carboplatin/oral etoposide is a moderately active regimen against advanced NSCLC that can be administered in an outpatient setting with manageable toxicity. Its impact on survival remains to be determined.

Administration, Oral↗

Chronic oral etoposide in the treatment of lung cancer.

Etoposide is used commonly to treat both small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. It is usually administered intravenously over 3 to 5 consecutive days, and usually given in combination with cisplatin. Preclinical cellular and clinical pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that etoposide is schedule-dependent and is optimally administered at low doses over prolonged periods of time. Recent early phase clinical trials have demonstrated that oral etoposide can be administered safely for 14 to 21 consecutive days. This schedule has demonstrated outstanding activity in patients with both recurrent and previously untreated small cell lung cancer. Activity against non-small cell lung cancer has also been reported; response rates are similar to those seen with the most active single agents used in the treatment of the disease. Chronic oral etoposide also has the advantages of outpatient convenience and tolerable side effects. This overview discusses the role of chronic oral etoposide in the management of small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The scientific rationale, results of early phase clinical trials, ongoing research, and future directions regarding the chronic administration of this important antineoplastic drug are also reviewed.

Administration, Oral↗

Cysteine starvation, isoleucyl-tRNAIle, and the regulation of the ilvGEDA operon of Escherichia coli.

The involvement of undermodified tRNA in the regulation of the ilvGEDA operon has been investigated using Escherichia coli C6, a relA-, Cys-, Met- mutant. This strain accumulates thionucleotide-deficient or methyl-deficient tRNA when starved for cysteine or methionine, respectively. The levels of threonine deaminase, the ilvA gene product, and transaminase B, the ilvE gene product, were both lower in cysteine-starved cells, as compared with either growing or methionine-starved cultures. When cysteine was added to cysteine-starved cells, growth ensued promptly and both enzyme activities returned to control levels. Treatment of recovering cultures with valine limited growth by isoleucine limitation, but did not cause a derepression of the ilvGEDA operon. Valine treatment of nonstarved or methionine-starved cells led to the expected increase in threonine deaminase and transaminase B activities. Cysteine-starved cells slowly regained the ability to derepress the operon after 3 h of recovery in complete medium. In contrast, the induction of the lac operon was normal in cysteine-starved cultures, even in the presence of valine. The loss of derepressibility of the ilvGEDA operon was correlated with the presence of a kinetically and chromatographically altered tRNAIle in cysteine-starved cells. No changes in tRNAIle were observed after methionine starvation. Using the periodate method, we found that the charging of tRNAIle increased from the normal level of 60 to 80% or greater after starvation for cysteine. Under conditions where the ilvGEDA operon was fully derepressed in nonstarved cells, the charging of tRNAIle fell to 27%. Unexpectedly, nearly identical results were obtained with cysteine-starved cells after an identical derepression test. These results suggest that factors other than the aminoacylation state of tRNAIle may be important in the regulation of this operon. In particular, modifications to tRNA which involve cysteine may be necessary for controlling the expression of the ilvGEDA operon in E. coli.

Amino Acids↗