Rapid reporting and review of an increased incidence of a known adverse event.
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Publications and source records attributed to R M Goldberg.
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PURPOSE: The goals of this study were to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and describe the toxicities of the combination of irinotecan and docetaxel administered every 3 weeks to patients with advanced malignancies and, also, to evaluate the effect of irinotecan on the disposition of docetaxel and describe preliminary evidence of antitumor activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients received 85 courses (median, two courses; range, one to 15 courses) of treatment with irinotecan, administered over 90 minutes by intravenous infusion, followed by docetaxel, administered over 60 minutes by intravenous infusion. Four escalating dose levels of irinotecan/docetaxel (160/50 mg/m(2), 160/65 mg/m(2), 200/65 mg/m(2), and 200/75 mg/m(2)) were studied. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of irinotecan on the disposition of docetaxel. RESULTS: The most common and dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, which consisted of neutropenia that was severe (National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria [NCI CTC] grade 4) but brief (< 5 days) in 11 patients, with three episodes of febrile neutropenia. Nonhematologic toxicities of anorexia, nausea, and stomatitis were mild to moderate (NCI CTC grades 1 and 2), but there was one incidence each of both CTC grade 3 anorexia and nausea. All patients had total alopecia. Diarrhea was dose-dependent and severe in four patients who failed to take adequate antidiarrhea therapy. Five out of 16 assessable patients, one with cholangiocarcinoma, one with leiomyosarcoma, and three with non-small-cell lung cancer, achieved partial remissions. CONCLUSION: The combination of irinotecan and docetaxel causes significant reversible myelosuppression, which was dose limiting but led to no serious sequelae. There was no evidence of a clinically significant interaction using these two agents in this sequence. The combination showed antitumor activity at all the dose levels tested and should be further studied in a number of tumor types. The recommended phase II dose on this schedule is irinotecan 160 mg/m(2) and docetaxel 65 mg/m(2).
PURPOSE: Multitargeted antifolate (MTA) is an investigational agent that, like gemcitabine, exhibits broad activity in solid tumors. A phase I trial of MTA and gemcitabine was undertaken, based on the demonstration of preclinical cytotoxic synergy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients (group I) received 164 courses (median, four; range, one to 14 courses) of treatment of gemcitabine at doses of 1,000 and 1,250 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 and MTA at doses of 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 mg/m(2), given 90 minutes after gemcitabine on day 1. Courses were repeated every 3 weeks. Because the day 8 dose of gemcitabine was reduced or omitted in 57% of courses due to neutropenia, 21 patients (group II) were treated on an alternate schedule, with MTA administered on day 8 rather than day 1. This group received 85 treatment courses (median, four; range, one to 10 courses). RESULTS: The most common and dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia. Other toxicities included nausea, fatigue, rash, and elevated hepatic transaminases. The maximum-tolerated dose was gemcitabine/MTA 1,000/500 mg/m(2) for group I and 1,250/500 mg/m(2) for group II. Thirteen objective responses were documented (colorectal cancer, n = 3; non-small-cell lung cancer, n = 3; cholangiocarcinoma, n = 2; ovarian carcinoma, n = 2; mesothelioma, n = 1; breast cancer, n = 1; and adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site, n = 1). Gemcitabine had no effect on the disposition of MTA. CONCLUSION: The gemcitabine/MTA combination is broadly active and warrants further evaluation. The sequence of gemcitabine administered on days 1 and 8 with MTA administered on day 8 is better tolerated and is recommended for further study at doses of gemcitabine/MTA 1,250/500 mg/m(2).
A Phase I study was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), toxicities, and pharmacokinetic profile of irinotecan (CPT-11) and its active metabolites when given on a once-every-3-week schedule. Thirty-four patients with advanced refractory solid malignancies were treated with CPT-11 (240-340 mg/m2) administered as a 90-min i.v. infusion every 3 weeks. Patients were divided into two groups: those with and those without prior abdominal/pelvic (AP) radiotherapy. Gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) and hematological toxicity (leukopenia and neutropenia) were dose-limiting side effects. Other common toxicities included anorexia, asthenia, and acute cholinergic symptoms (abdominal cramps, diaphoresis, and lacrimation). For patients with no prior AP radiation therapy, the MTD was determined to be 320 mg/m2, whereas those with prior AP radiation therapy had a MTD of 290 mg/m2. Dose-proportional increases in the mean area under the concentration-time curves for CPT-11, SN-38, and SN-38G were not observed over the narrow dose range studied. Mean values of terminal phase half-life, clearance, terminal phase volume of distribution, and steady-state volume of distribution for CPT-11 were 12.4 +/- 1.8 h, 13.0 +/- 3.8 liters/h/m2, 234 +/- 83 liters/m2, and 123 +/- 38 liters/m2, respectively. The pharmacodynamic analyses indicated the strongest correlation to be between SN-38 area under the concentration-time curves and neutropenia (p = 0.60; P = 0.001). A total of five responses (one complete response and four partial responses) were observed in the cohort of 32 patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal carcinoma. In conclusion, gastrointestinal toxicity and hematological toxicity were the dose-limiting toxicities of CPT-11 when administered as a 90-min infusion every 3 weeks. In this trial, the recommended Phase II starting dose for patients with no prior AP radiation therapy was found to be 320 mg/m2; for patients with prior AP radiation, the recommended Phase II starting dose was 290 mg/m2. This once-every-3-week schedule has been incorporated into a Phase I trial of CPT-11 combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.
BACKGROUND: Microsatellite instability (MSI) and allelic imbalance involving chromosome arms 5q, 8p, 17p, and 18q are genetic alterations commonly found in colorectal cancer. We investigated whether the presence or absence of these genetic alterations would allow stratification of patients with Astler-Coller stage B2 or C colorectal cancer into favorable and unfavorable prognostic groups. METHODS: Tumors from 508 patients were evaluated for MSI and allelic imbalance by use of 11 microsatellite markers located on chromosome arms 5q, 8p, 15q, 17p, and 18q. Genetic alterations involving each of these markers were examined for associations with survival and disease recurrence. All P values are two-sided. RESULTS: In univariate analyses, high MSI (MSI-H), i.e., MSI at 30% or more of the loci examined, was associated with improved survival (P =.02) and time to recurrence (P =.01). The group of patients whose tumors exhibited allelic imbalance at chromosome 8p had decreased survival (P =.02) and time to recurrence (P =.004). No statistically significant associations with survival or time to recurrence were observed for markers on chromosome arms 5q, 15q, 17p, or 18q. In multivariate analyses, MSI-H was an independent predictor of improved survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31-0.82; P =.006) and time to recurrence (HR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.24-0.74; P =.003), and 8p allelic imbalance was an independent predictor of decreased survival (HR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.25-2.83; P =. 002) and time to recurrence (HR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.32-3.25; P =.002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients whose tumors exhibited MSI-H had a favorable prognosis, whereas those with 8p allelic imbalance had a poor prognosis; both alterations served as independent prognostic factors. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between 8p allelic imbalance and survival in patients with colorectal cancer.
Dolastatin-10 (dola-10) is a potent antimitotic peptide, isolated from the marine mollusk Dolabela auricularia, that inhibits tubulin polymerization. Preclinical studies of dola-10 have demonstrated activity against a variety of murine and human tumors in cell cultures and mice models. The purpose of this Phase I clinical trial was to characterize the maximum tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics, and biological effects of dola-10 in patients with advanced solid tumors. Escalating doses of dola-10 were administered as an i.v. bolus every 21 days, using a modified Fibonacci dose escalation schema. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed with the first treatment cycle. Neurological testing was performed on each patient prior to treatment with dola-10, at 6 weeks and at study termination. Thirty eligible patients received a total of 94 cycles (median, 2 cycles; maximum, 14 cycles) of dola-10 at doses ranging from 65 to 455 microg/m2. Dose-limiting toxicity of granulocytopenia was seen at 455 microg/m2 for minimally pretreated patients (two or fewer prior chemotherapy regimens) and 325 microg/m2 for heavily pretreated patients (more than two prior chemotherapy regimens). Nonhematological toxicity was generally mild. Local irritation at the drug injection site was mild and not dose dependent. Nine patients developed new or increased symptoms of mild peripheral sensory neuropathy that was not dose limiting. This toxicity was more frequent in patients with preexisting peripheral neuropathies. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated a rapid drug distribution with a prolonged plasma elimination phase (t 1/2z = 320 min). The area under the concentration-time curve increased in proportion to administered dose, whereas the clearance remained constant over the doses studied. Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong relationship between dola-10 area under the concentration-time curve values and decrease from baseline for leukocyte counts. In conclusion, dola-10 administered every 3 weeks as a peripheral i.v. bolus is well tolerated with dose-limiting toxicity of granulocytopenia. The maximum tolerated dose (and recommended Phase II starting dose) is 400 microg/m2 for patients with minimal prior treatment (two or fewer prior chemotherapy regimens) and 325 microg/m2 for patients who are heavily pretreated (more than two prior chemotherapy regimens).
BACKGROUND: Follow-up testing after surgery for colon cancer is recommended principally to identify resectable recurrences, but data on the efficacy of, outcomes of, and optimal strategies for this testing are limited. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relation between follow-up tests and salvage surgery, assess outcomes, and document surgical mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A North American multi-institutional trial comparing postoperative chemotherapy plus follow-up with follow-up alone. PATIENTS: 1247 patients with resected stage II and stage III colon cancer. INTERVENTION: The protocol mandated follow-up testing that could be supplemented at the discretion of treating physicians. Indications of recurrent disease were documented. MEASUREMENTS: Recurrence, resectable recurrence, surgical mortality, and survival were studied. RESULTS: 548 patients had recurrence of colon cancer. Salvage surgery was attempted in 222 patients (41%). In 109 patients (20%), curative-intent surgery was done for hepatic recurrence (28 patients), pulmonary metastasis (20 patients), local recurrence (24 patients), or recurrence at other sites (37 patients). Most curative-intent surgical procedures were motivated by follow-up testing (36 patients), elevated carcinoembryonic antigen level (41 patients), or symptoms (27 patients). The median follow-up time after curative-intent surgery exceeded 5 years; the estimated 5-year disease-free survival rate was 23%. A solitary lesion was a favorable prognostic factor. The surgical mortality rate was 2%. Curative-intent resections were done in 15 patients with second primary colorectal cancer; 12 of these patients have survived disease-free. CONCLUSIONS: Second operations for colon cancer that are triggered by follow-up testing or symptoms are common and can result in long-term disease-free survival.
But fluorouracil (5-FU) and irinotecan (CPT-11 [Camptosar]) have shown activity in metastatic colorectal cancer and are approved for its treatment in the United States. Preclinical experiments in cell cultures and human tumor xenografts have indicated potential synergy when irinotecan is combined with 5-FU and leucovorin. The synergy appears to be sequence-dependent and is optimal when irinotecan exposure precedes 5-FU exposure by at least 24 hours. Four North American trials have been reported in which the three drugs were used together in either simultaneous, sequential, or alternating schedules. All three schedules showed activity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The concern that diarrhea, which can be a dose-limiting toxicity with both irinotecan and 5-FU, would prevent the two drugs from being combined in reasonable doses has not proven to be a clinical issue. Phase III trials comparing the combination of the three drugs in a variety of schedules against 5-FU plus leucovorin alone are currently under way or in the planning stages.
The duocarmycins represent a new group of antitumor antibiotics produced by Streptomyces that bind to the minor groove of DNA. KW-2189 is a water-soluble semisynthetic derivative of duocarmycin B2, with significant activity in murine and human tumor models. We conducted a Phase I trial of KW-2189 in patients who had solid tumors that were refractory to standard chemotherapy or for whom no more effective therapy existed. KW-2189 was administered as a rapid i.v. bolus daily for 5 days every 6 weeks. Twenty-two patients were enrolled and received a total of 31 cycles of KW-2189. Leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were the dose-limiting toxicities, with nadirs occurring at medians of 36, 38, and 29 days, respectively, at the 0.04 mg/m2/day dose level. Nonhematological toxicities were mild, although one patient developed grade 3 fatigue. Four patients had stable disease over two to four cycles of treatment and showed no cumulative toxicity. The mean t1/2, plasma clearance, and steady-state volume of distribution were 13.5 min, 1,287 ml/min/m2, and 10,638 ml/m2, respectively. Pharmacokinetics were similar on days 1 and 5, with no drug accumulation in plasma. The active metabolite DU-86 was not consistently found in patient plasma. For Phase II trials, when the 5 days every 6 weeks schedule was used, 0.04 mg/m2/day KW-2189 appears to be the maximal tolerated dose, especially for patients who have received prior chemotherapy. At this dose level, the drug was well tolerated, and the toxicities were acceptable.
Salvage treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with or without leucovorin may induce responses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer whose disease progresses after adjuvant therapy with the same drugs. Similarly, restarting a regimen containing 5-FU can be beneficial in patients with advanced disease who had previously responded to the therapy or experienced disease stabilization but whose treatment was interrupted. Administering 5-FU by continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion may result in a tumor response after disease progression on bolus 5-FU i.v. injection. Adding the platinum compound oxaliplatin to 5-FU and leucovorin may provide synergistic antineoplastic activity, even in patients with disease refractory to 5-FU. Chronomodulation of therapy decreases toxicity and increases dose intensity, response rate, and possibly survival time in some studies. Hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents is not routinely recommended in patients who have metastases limited to the liver and whose disease has failed to respond to prior 5-FU because of the associated costs and complications and the lack of data supporting the use of this approach after disease progression on i.v. 5-FU. A multicenter phase III trial has been completed in which patients whose colorectal cancer had progressed after first-line treatment with 5-FU were randomized to receive irinotecan 300 to 350 mg/m2 every 3 weeks or infusional 5-FU with or without leucovorin (Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 17:256A, 1998 [abstr 984]). The 5-FU was administered according to investigator choice as a 24-hour, 48-hour, or continuous infusion. The results of this trial, which have been submitted for publication, should help to clarify the relative value of re-treatment with a 5-FU-containing regimen versus use of irinotecan in patients with disease progression after first-line 5-FU.
PURPOSE: A three-arm randomized phase III trial in advanced colorectal cancer patients was designed to test whether substitution of an equivalent dose of (1) l-leucovorin or (2) oral leucovorin would more effectively potentiate fluorouracil (5-FU) than standard intravenous (I.V.) (d,l)-leucovorin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 926 chemotherapy-naive patients participated. Patients received one of three treatments: (A) intensive-course 5-FU plus l-leucovorin with I.V. leucovorin (Immunex Corp, Seattle, WA) at 100 mg/m2 and I.V. 5-FU at 370 mg/m2; (B) intensive-course 5-FU plus oral (d,l)-leucovorin with oral leucovarin at 125 mg/m2 on hours 0, 1, 2, and 3 (total dose, 500 mg/m2) followed by 5-FU 370 mg/m2 on hour 4; or (C) intensive-course 5-FU plus I.V. (d,l)-leucovorin with I.V. leucovorin 200 mg/m2 and 5-FU 370 mg/m2. Drugs were administered daily for 5 consecutive days. Courses were repeated at 4 and 8 weeks, and every 5 weeks thereafter. Dosage was reduced for neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, stomatitis, and dermatitis. RESULTS: Of 926 eligible patients, 756 have died. The overall response rate for patients with measurable disease was 32% (165 of 514). There were no differences between regimens in response rates (arm A, 28% [47 of 140]; arm B, 34% [60 of 174]; and arm C, 34% [58 of 170]) or in survival. There have been nine possible chemotherapy-related fatalities. Grade III to IV toxic effects did not differ appreciably by arm and included stomatitis (12% to 14%), diarrhea (15% to 19%), nausea (7% to 9%), and vomiting (6% to 8%). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in response, survival, or toxicity between these three different leucovorin formulations combined with 5-FU.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the objective tumor response rate and toxicities of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma treated with irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 121 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma--90 with prior fluorouracil (5-FU) exposure and 31 chemotherapeutically naive patients--were enrolled between May 1993 and June 1994. Patients were treated with CPT-11 at 125 mg/m2 intravenously weekly for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest. RESULTS: Among 90 patients with prior 5-FU chemotherapy, 12 partial responses were observed (response rate, 13.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1% to 22.1%). Among 31 chemotherapy-naive patients, eight had partial responses (response rate, 25.8%; 95% CI, 11.9% to 44.6%). The median response duration as measured from time of initial treatment for the two groups was 7.7 months and 7.6 months, respectively. The major adverse reactions were gastrointestinal and hematologic. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 diarrhea was 36.4%, while the overall incidence of grade 3 or 4 leukopenia was 21.5% of patients. Only four of 121 patients (3.3%) developed neutropenic fever (grade 4 neutropenia with > or = grade 2 fever). The incidence of grade 4 leukopenia was higher in patients with prior pelvic radiotherapy (chi2 test P = .04), while the incidence of grade 3 or 4 diarrhea demonstrated no association with previous pelvic irradiation. CONCLUSION: According to the study design, CPT-11 showed promising activity in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma and modest activity in patients with prior 5-FU exposure. The toxicity with this schedule appears manageable with appropriate dose modification for individual patient tolerance and an intensive loperamide regimen for the management of diarrhea. Care should be taken when treating patients with prior pelvic radiotherapy because of the increased risk of neutropenia.
Fazarabine (1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-aza-cytosine, or Ara-AC) is a nucleoside analogue that consists of the arabinoside ring of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and the pyrimidine base of 5-azacytidine. In Phase I and Phase II trials, neutropenia was dose limiting, with minimal nonhematological toxicity. The in vitro cytotoxic concentrations of Ara-AC could not be achieved in these studies; neutropenia precluded dose escalation. The objectives of this study were: to determine either the maximum tolerated dose of Ara-AC or to safely achieve target plasma levels of 2-5 microgram/ml when Ara-AC was administered as a 24-h infusion with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to patients with advanced refractory malignancies; to characterize the pharmacokinetic behavior of Ara-AC with G-CSF; and to define the relationship of Ara-AC pharmacokinetics to toxicity. Twenty-four patients received 67 courses of Ara-AC at doses of 54-112 mg/m2/h. Dose-limiting toxicity was approached but not reached. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and nausea were the principle side effects. Steady-state plasma concentrations exceeded the minimum target concentration of 2 microgram/ml in all patients who received >/=78 mg/m2/h for 24 h. The maximum target concentration was approached during administration of 112 mg/m2/h for 24 h. The mean steady-state clearance was 475 +/- 103 ml/min/m2 and did not change with dose. One partial response was seen. One patient received 16 courses and another received 7 courses of therapy before progression. Ara-AC can be safely administered in doses that result in plasma concentrations of 2-5 microgram/ml, if it is given with G-CSF. Phase II trials of Ara-AC in selected malignancies are planned.
BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine differentiation can be identified in 10-30% of patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) by immunohistochemical or electron microscopic techniques. However, its clinical significance is not well established. METHODS: Tumors from 107 patients with Stage IIIA, IIIB, and IV NSCLC treated with cisplatin/etoposide with or without hydrazine in the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and Mayo Clinic protocols were analyzed immunohistochemically with antibodies to chromogranin A (CGA), Leu 7 (CD 57), and synaptophysin (SY). These results were compared with clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Keratin AE1/AE3, used as a control, was positive in 99.1% of cases; 34.6% had positive staining for at least 1 neuroendocrine marker, and 11.3% had positive staining for 2 or more markers. CGA was positive in 4.7%, Leu 7 in 18.7%, and SY in 24.3% of cases. A significant increase in survival was seen in patients with tumors expressing any one neuroendocrine marker or any combination of neuroendocrine markers (P < or = 0.01). There was no correlation between the presence of neuroendocrine differentiation and either response to chemotherapy or time to disease progression (P > 0.3), nor was there any correlation between chemotherapy response, time to progression, or survival with staining intensity or percent of cells positive per case. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroendocrine differentiation may be of prognostic significance in patients with advanced stage NSCLC treated with chemotherapy.
Thirty patients with recurrent primary brain tumors were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. There were three responses seen. Toxicity consisted of stomatitis, diarrhea, and hematological suppression. 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin would appear to be minimally effective in recurrent brain tumors.