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Effect of topical oral G-CSF on oral mucositis: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Oral mucositis is a dose-limiting toxicity of intensive chemotherapy. It is caused directly by the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents and indirectly by sustained neutropenia. Severe oral mucositis is an important predisposing factor for life-threatening septic complications during aplasia. It also reduces quality of life. At present, no effective causal prophylaxis or treatment against oral mucositis is established. We performed a prospective randomised placebo-controlled trial using topical oral r-metHuG-CSF (filgrastim) in high-grade lymphoma patients treated according to the B-NHL protocol, which contains high-dose methotrexate and causes severe oral mucositis (WHO grades I-IV) in >50% of patients. Between August 1996 and July 1997, a total of 32 chemotherapy cycles were documented in eight patients (four male, four female). Mucosal erythema and ulceration were recorded. All patients assessed their oral pain and impact on swallowing daily, using a subjective scale from no to maximal discomfort (1-10). In addition, oral mucositis was assessed according to the WHO score. Filgrastim was administered in 16 cycles as a viscous mouthrinse (carboxymethylcellulose 2%, oleum citrii) 4 x 120 microg/day from days 10 to 16. Sixteen cycles were given to control patients, of these 14 with placebo, and another two cycles with no treatment. Severe mucositis (WHO grade III/IV) was documented in 21 of 32 cycles (65.5%). A difference of borderline significance was observed for the reduction of maximum severity of oral mucositis between G-CSF vs placebo (P = 0.058), with a reduction of WHO grade IV of 50% (four G-CSF vs eight control). The number of days in hospital was reduced significantly in the G-CSF group (P = 0.02). In conclusion, topical oral G-CSF mouthrinses may be beneficial to reduce oral mucositis.

Administration, Topical↗

A phase I study of paclitaxel for mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells.

We conducted a phase I trial to determine the dose and schedule of paclitaxel, when given together with filgrastim, which would optimally promote mobilization of stem cells with tolerable toxicity. Dose escalation began at 275 mg/m2 3 h infusion. Dose-limiting neuropathy was observed at the 300 mg/m2 dose level. A second dose escalation was conducted utilizing 24 h infusion schedules, beginning at 225 mg/m2. Dose escalation was continued by 25 mg/m2 increments to 300 mg/m2, at which dose neuropathy was again dose-limiting. The recommended dose and schedule of paclitaxel for the purpose of mobilization of stem cells, when given together with filgrastim, are 275 mg/m2 as a 24 h infusion. The median stem cell yield after this dose of paclitaxel was 6.6 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg/apheresis (range 3.6 x 10(6)-7.7 x 10(6)).

Adult↗

Neutropenic infections in 100 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease treated with high-dose BEAM chemotherapy and peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant: out-patient treatment is a viable option.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 100 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, n = 75) or Hodgkin's disease (HD, n = 25) who underwent peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant (PBPCT) following high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM) between March 1994 and June 1997. Following PBPCT and until engraftment all patients received oral ciprofloxacin and fluconazole, patients with positive Herpes simplex virus serology received acyclovir and 91 patients received filgrastim. The median days of neutropenia and days to an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >500/mm3 were 6 and 9, respectively. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 68 patients. Gram-positive bacteremia occurred in 14 patients. No gram-negative infections, invasive fungal infections, intensive care visits or deaths occurred during the period of neutropenia or in the first 30 days following transplant. In multivariate logistic regression the risk of development of any infection was associated only with the duration of neutropenia (P = 0.02) and the risk of bacteremia was associated only with the number of CD34+ cells infused (P = 0.046). Among 49 patients treated in the outpatient setting, 14 (28%) were never admitted. High-dose chemotherapy with BEAM supported by PBPCT, prophylactic antibiotics and filgrastim resulted in a low incidence of infections and no acute mortality. WBC engraftment occurred rapidly allowing for a predictable course during which lengthy hospital stays and amphotericin therapy could be avoided.

Adult↗

A prospective randomized trial of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy after autologous blood stem cell transplantation in adults.

In order to assess the potential clinical benefit of filgrastim (G-CSF) after peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) autotransplantation a randomized study was begun in our center in July 1997: 62 patients were involved (30 received filgrastim after PBSC infusion and 32, the control group, received no cytokines). All were adults (median 40 years, range 18-65). Patients with one of three different pathologies were recruited: 28 had advanced breast carcinoma, 23 had lymphomas (12 Hodgkin's disease and 11 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and 11 had de novo AML. All of them were transplanted using myeloablative chemotherapy conditioning regimens. G-CSF was administered subcutaneously from day +5 in the treated group at a dose of 5 microg/kg body weight/day. The numbers of CD34+ and mononuclear (MNC) cells infused were similar in each group. Only minor differences regarding the use of G-CSF could be inferred from the analysis of the data. Faster granulocyte engraftment was evident in the treated group (mean of 10 vs 12 days to achieve >0.5 x 109/l granulocytes, P = 0.0008), without differences in incidence and severity of infections, days of fever or duration of antibiotic treatment between groups. There was slightly slower platelet engraftment (mean of 15 days in the group with G-CSF vs 12 days in the other group to achieve >20 x 109/l platelets, P = NS) in this series, but there were no differences in incidence and severity of haemorrhage or platelet transfusion support. Considering the economical costs, the median expenditure per inpatient stay was Eur5961 (range Eur4386-Eur17186) in the G-CSF group compared with Eur5751 (range Eur3676-Eur15640) in the control group (P = 0.47). From our data it could be concluded that for adult patients transplanted with PBSC there is no clear beneficial impact of post-infusion G-CSF administration.

Adolescent↗

CD34 selected alloPBSCT and adoptive immunotherapy.

To circumvent aGVHD in the early phase after allogeneic stem cell transplantation but to provide GVL activity later on, we performed alloPBSCT with CD34+ selected grafts followed by delayed add-back of CD3+ T cells. Ten consecutive patients having an HLA-identical sibling donor were enrolled on to this trial. Four patients were in first CR of high-risk ALL, another four in first CR of AML, one was in second myeloid blast crisis of CML, and one was in PR of relapsed NHL. Conditioning consisted of 2 x 60 mg/kg CY plus 12 Gy TBI. G-CSF (Filgrastim) mobilized peripheral cells were CD34+ selected using the Isolex 300i system in nine patients and the CliniMacs system in one. Median CD34+ purity was 86%. A median of 2.8 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells were transplanted. The number of CD3+ cells in the allografts was 5.7 x 10(4)/kg (median) after Isolex 300i, and 0.2 x 10(4)/kg after CliniMacs. All patients received G-CSF (Filgrastim) and engrafted rapidly. Standard-dose CsA was administered, and until day +60 no aGVHD occurred. At that time point, seven patients received 2 x 10(6)/kg CD3+ cells while CsA had been tapered to 50% of the starting dose. One of these patients died after a second T cell boost given on day +90 without concomitant immunosuppression due to grade IV intestinal aGVHD. Three others developed cutaneous cGVHD. Taken together, T cell depletion by CD34+ selection does not impair rapid engraftment in the HLA-identical sibling donor setting. Using standard-dose CsA the risk for acute GVHD seems to be minimized. Add-back of 2 x 10(6)/kg CD3+ cells on day +60 with CsA protection is feasible. However, whether this is the optimal time point and number of T cells remain to be further elucidated.

Adult↗

Economic comparison of home-care-based versus hospital-based treatment of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare health-care resource utilization and outcomes among children treated for low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN) in a hospital-based setting with those treated in a home-care-based setting. METHODS: The perspective of this retrospective, cohort study was the health payer. We collected health-care utilization and treatment outcome data from medical records of 63 children (26 boys and 37 girls) with low-risk, chemotherapy-induced FN who were treated at the University of Arizona (27 children, the hospital-based group) and University of New Mexico (36 children, the home-care-based group). We identified 144 FN episodes (72 episodes in each group). Health-care utilization included physician visits, home-care visits, laboratory visits, outpatient visits, hospital days, intensive care unit days, medical tests and studies, and medications used to manage FN (e.g., filgrastim, antimicrobials, and ancilliary drugs and supplies). We applied uniform charges, based on those used at the University of New Mexico in 1998. We collected outcomes of the FN treatment (success vs. failure and time to resolution, defined as number of days of antibiotic therapy). Rates of positive blood cultures during treatment were also compared. Data were analyzed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous data and chi-square analysis for categorical data. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by varying the amount of total resource utilization, as well as utilization of specific health-care resources. RESULTS: There was no difference in outcome; all episodes of treatment in both groups resulted in successful recovery from FN. Time to resolution of FN was 8.3 +/- 2.7 days for home-care FN episodes versus 7.3 +/- 3.6 days for hospital FN episodes (P =.064). Median charge per FN episode was significantly (P<.001) greater when managed in the hospital compared to home care (9392 US dollars vs. 5893 US dollars). There was greater use of laboratory and radiographic studies in the hospital-based patients (P <.01). However, children in the home-care-based group were more often treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim, median charge 1085 US dollars vs. 451 US dollars, P <.001), and median antibiotic charges were higher (2523 US dollars vs. 1526 US dollars, P <.001). Positive blood cultures were more common among the hospital-based FN treatments (30.6 vs. 11.1%, P=.012). CONCLUSIONS: We found that management of low-risk FN in a home-care-based setting was associated with significantly lower median total charges with no differences in outcome.

Adolescent↗

A phase II study of sequential chemotherapy with docetaxel after the weekly PELF regimen in advanced gastric cancer. A report from the Italian group for the study of digestive tract cancer.

In advanced gastric cancer, we investigated feasibility and activity of sequential chemotherapy with docetaxel after an intensive weekly regimen consisting of cisplatin, epidoxorubicin, fluorouracil, leucovorin (PELF) plus filgrastim. Chemotherapy-naive patients with relapsed or metastatic gastric cancer received 8 weekly administrations of chemotherapy with cisplatin 40 mg/m(2), fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2), epidoxorubicin 35 mg/m(2), 6S-stereoisomer of leucovorin 250 mg/m(2) and glutathione 1.5 g/m(2). On the other days filgrastim 5 microg kg(-1) was administered by subcutaneous injection. Subsequently, patients with partial response or stable disease received 3 cycles of docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. 40 patients have been enrolled and they are evaluable for response and toxicity. After the PELF regimen, 3 patients achieved complete response, 13 patients showed partial response, 21 patients had stable disease and 3 patients progressed (40% response rate; 95% CI 25% to 55%). After docetaxel, 9 out 34 patients improved the outcome (26.5%); 7 patients with stable disease achieved partial response and 2 patients with partial response achieved complete response. The overall response rate in the 40 patients was 57.5% (95% CI, 42.5% to 72.5%). The PELF regimen did not cause any grade IV toxicity, the most frequent grade III acute side-effects were thrombocytopenia and vomiting which occurred in the 10% of 320 PELF cycles. Docetaxel caused grade III-IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in the 10% and the 19% of cycles respectively. Fatigue was a frequent side-effect during both PELF and docetaxel chemotherapy. The sequential application of docetaxel after PELF chemotherapy gained major objective responses with manageable toxicity. This strategy is worth of further investigation in the setting of palliative or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Survival and freedom from progression in autotransplant lymphoma patients is independent of stem cell source: further follow-up from the original randomised study to assess engraftment.

Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) have become the stem cell source of choice in autologous transplantation. In a prospective randomised trial, we previously demonstrated that autologous transplantation using filgrastim-mobilised PBPCs resulted in faster haematopoietic recovery with shorter hospitalisation and reduced platelet transfusions compared to bone marrow transplant (BMT). This study is a follow-up analysis evaluating the long-term clinical outcome. Seventy-two patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease or high-grade lymphoma were randomised to receive either filgrastim-mobilised PBPCs (n = 37) or bone marrow (n = 35) after BEAM chemotherapy. Fourteen patients withdrew from the study before commencing high-dose chemotherapy. Fourteen of the 58 patients who received treatment with chemotherapy and transplant have died, 6 (19%) in the ABMT arm and 8 (30%) in the PBPC transplant (PBPCT) arm. Twenty-five patients (81%) in the ABMT arm and 17 (63%) in the PBPCT arm, who received treatment, were in complete remission at the date of last follow-up. Progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were similar for both arms (OS 81% at 46 months for ABMT versus 63% for PBPC; p = 0.38). Further prospective studies with larger number of patients need to be done to assess which source of stem cells may translate into a long-term clinical benefit for the patient.

Adolescent↗

Impaired PBPC collection in patients with myeloma after high-dose melphalan.

BACKGROUND: Tandem stem cell transplantation is an important treatment option for patients with myeloma and some additional tumors. In an attempt to reduce the contamination of the stem cell graft with tumor cells, patients with myeloma who entered complete remission after the first transplant underwent a second episode of mobilization to obtain progenitor cells for the second transplant. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with myeloma participated in the study. The first mobilization utilized CY, etoposide and filgrastim. The second mobilization used the same regimen, but seven patients received only filgrastim. The interval between the two collection periods was 6 months (median; range 4-9 months). The preparative regimen for the first transplant consisted of melphalan 200 mg/m(2). RESULTS: The number of total white cells collected during the two collection episodes was similar: 10.8+/-1.6 x 10(8)/kg white cells vs. 11.8+/-1.7 x 10(8)/kg white cells (P=0.63). The collected CD34(+) cell dose was much larger during the first collection: 45.2+/-8.4 x 10(6)/kg vs. 6.9+/-2.7 x 10(6)/kg (P<0.001). Similarly, the collected colony-forming unit (CFU)-GM dose was much larger during the first collection: 295.4+/-59.3 x 10(4)/kg vs. 67.3+/-21.6x10(4)/kg (P<0.001). While the CD34(+) cells collected during the two collection episodes correlated significantly (r=0.55, P<0.01); the first dose was a median of 14.9-fold larger. DISCUSSION: No laboratory parameter was able reliably to predict the results of the second collection. A second mobilization/collection episode as part of a tandem transplant approach carries a considerable risk of failing to obtain sufficient progenitor cells.

Adult↗

Dose density in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dose-dense chemotherapy increases the dose intensity of the regimen by delivering standard-dose chemotherapy with shorter intervals between the cycles. This article discusses the rationale for dose-dense therapy and reviews the results with dose-dense adjuvant regimens in recent clinical trials in breast cancer. METHODS: The papers for this review covered evidence of a dose-response relation in cancer chemotherapy; the rationale for dose-intense (and specifically dose-dense) therapy; and clinical experience with dose-dense regimens in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, with particular attention to outcomes and toxicity. RESULTS: Evidence supports maintaining the dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy within the conventional dose range. Disease-free and overall survival with combination cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil are significantly improved when patients receive within 85% of the planned dose. Moderate and high dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil within the standard range results in greater disease-free and overall survival than the low dose regimen. The sequential addition of paclitaxel after concurrent doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide also significantly improves survival. Disease-free and overall survival with dose-dense sequential or concurrent doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel with filgrastim (rhG-CSF; NEUPOGEN) support are significantly greater than with conventional schedules (q21d). CONCLUSIONS: The delivered dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy within the standard dose range is an important predictor of the clinical outcome. Prospective trials of high-dose chemotherapy have shown no improvement over standard regimens, and toxicity was greater. Dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy improves the clinical outcomes with doxorubicin-containing regimens. Filgrastim support enables the delivery of dose-dense chemotherapy and reduces the risk of neutropenia and its complications.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

New strategies for the application of high-dose chemotherapy with haematopoietic support in paediatric solid tumours.

Because paediatric solid tumours are usually highly chemosensitive, conventional-dose adjuvant chemotherapy has improved survival rates for the majority of paediatric patients. However, high-dose regimens are being explored for the treatment of tumours not curable by, or resistant to, conventional treatment. The use of high-dose melphalan and the BACT regime have produced encouraging results in neuroblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma respectively. Haematopoietic growth factors have also emerged as useful adjuncts both to conventional therapy and in megatherapy with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thus, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (filgrastim) given to children with disseminated neuroblastoma receiving intensive chemotherapy significantly reduced the duration of febrile neutropenia and led to significantly fewer cycles of chemotherapy requiring antibiotic support. Studies are currently underway to compare the use of autologous BMT with that of peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) rescue in children with solid tumours receiving high-dose chemotherapy. The studies will explore the reduction in thrombocytopenia achievable with PBPC and also the effect of filgrastim on the duration of neutropenia and fever. It seems that haematopoietic growth factors have an important supportive role to play in the treatment of paediatric solid tumours.

Child↗

High-dose chemotherapy for breast cancer: clinical advantages of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) compared with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT).

Peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) autografts have a number of advantages over autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) as haematopoietic support after high-dose chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. These may include less contamination by tumour cells, reduced morbidity and mortality and additional dose escalation of chemotherapy. A dose-escalation study is described using recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim) primed PBPC support and post-infusion filgrastim for patients with high-risk or metastatic breast cancer. The regimen involved the use of cyclophosphamide, thiotepa and carboplatin at five dose levels. The main problem to emerge was organ toxicity induced by chemotherapy or sepsis. Patients receiving higher levels of chemotherapy were therefore allocated or not to an additional regimen involving pentoxifylline, ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone in an attempt to inhibit tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) which is believed to be one of the principal mediators of chemotherapy-related organ toxicity. The incidence of bilirubin elevations, weight gain > 5% and veno-occlusive disease (VOD) was lower in patients receiving the 'anti-TNF' therapy. The simultaneous use of PBPC support and 'anti-TNF' therapy therefore allows a substantial increase in chemotherapy dosage. Further studies with larger patient numbers are required to show whether this decreased toxicity also produces increased patient survival.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Thromboembolism following removal of femoral venous apheresis catheters in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Apheresis catheters have simplified collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), but may be associated with thrombosis of the instrumented vessels. We performed a retrospective analysis to study the prevalence of thromboembolism associated with the use of femoral apheresis catheters in patients with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were participants in clinical trials of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous PBSC rescue. They underwent mobilization with either high-dose cyclophosphamide (n = 21) or cyclophosphamide/paclitaxel (n = 64), followed by filgrastim. Double lumen catheters (12 or 13 Fr) were placed in the femoral vein and removed within 12 h of the last apheresis procedure. Apheresis was performed using a continuous flow cell separator and ACD-A anticoagulant. Thromboembolism was diagnosed by either venous ultrasonography or ventilation-perfusion scan. RESULTS: Nine of 85 patients (10.6%) undergoing large volume apheresis with use of a femoral catheter developed thromboembolic complications. Pulmonary embolus (PE) was diagnosed in five and femoral vein thrombosis in four patients. Four of the five patients who developed PE were symptomatic; one asymptomatic patient had a pleural-based, wedge-shaped lesion detected on a staging computed tomography scan. The mean number of apheresis procedures was 2.4 (range one to four) and the mean interval between removal of the apheresis catheter and diagnosis of thrombosis was 17.6 days. In contrast, none of 18 patients undergoing apheresis using jugular venous access and none of 54 healthy allogeneic donors undergoing concurrent filgrastim-mobilized PBSC donation (mean 1.7 procedures/donor) using femoral access experienced thromboembolic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboembolism following femoral venous catheter placement for PBSC collection in patients with breast cancer may be more common than previously recognized. Healthy PBSC donors are not at the same risk. Onset of symptoms related to thrombosis tended to occur several weeks after catheter removal. This suggests that the physicians not only need to be vigilant during the period of apheresis, but also need to observe patients for thromboembolic complications after the catheter is removed. The long interval between the removal of apheresis catheter and the development of thromboembolism may have a potential impact on prophylactic strategies developed in future, such as the duration of prophylactic anticoagulation. Avoidance of the femoral site in breast cancer patients, and close prospective monitoring after catheter removal, are indicated.

Adolescent↗

Impact of the treating institution on survival of patients with "poor-prognosis" metastatic nonseminoma. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Collaborative Group and the Medical Research Council Testicular Cancer Working Party.

BACKGROUND: Because metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell cancer is a rare but treatable cancer, we have explored whether there is an association between the experience of the treating institution with this disease and the long-term clinical outcome of the patients, particularly patients with a poor prognosis. METHODS: We analyzed data on 380 patients treated in one of 49 institutions participating in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/ Medical Research Council randomized trial of four cycles of bleomycin-etoposide-cisplatin followed by two cycles of etoposide-cisplatin versus three cycles of bleomycin-vincristine-cisplatin followed by three cycles of etoposide-ifosfamide-cisplatin-bleomycin, both treatment regimens given with or without filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor). Institutions were divided into four groups based on the total number of patients entered in the trial. The groups were compared by use of the Cox proportional hazards model stratified for treatment with filgrastim and for patient prognosis as defined by the International Germ Cell Consensus Classification Group. With the use of this classification, only 65 % of the patients had a poor prognosis. RESULTS: Patients treated in the 26 institutions that entered fewer than five patients into the trial had an overall survival that was statistically significantly worse (two-sided P = .010; hazard ratio = 1.85; 95% confidence interval = 1.16-3.03) than that of patients treated in the 23 institutions that entered five patients or more. Overall survival and failure-free survival were similar among institutions that entered at least five patients. The observed effect may be related to differences in adherence to the chemotherapy protocol and in the frequency and extent of surgery for residual masses, although only the differences in dose intensity achieved statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated in institutions that entered fewer than five patients into the trial appeared to have poorer survival than those treated in institutions that entered a larger number of patients with "poor-prognosis" nonseminoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Dose-dense sequential adriamycin-Paclitaxel-cyclophosphamide chemotherapy is well tolerated and safe in high-risk early breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The feasibility of dose-dense sequential adjuvant chemotherapy with Adriamycin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide was evaluated. METHODS: Fifty-five high-risk breast cancer patients were enrolled. The following chemotherapy schedule was used: 4 x Adriamycin --> 4 x paclitaxel --> 4 x cyclophosphamide, q 2 weeks (Adriamycin, 60 mg/m2; paclitaxel, 200 mg/m2 over 3 h, and cyclophosphamide, 800 mg/m2). RESULTS: The dose intensity was 95.0, 99.8 and 97.4% of that planned for treatment with Adriamycin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide, respectively. During treatment with Adriamycin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide, 20, 12.7 and 25.5% of the patients, respectively, did not need filgrastim to maintain the dose density. The average number of filgrastim doses per cycle, when necessary, was 3.6. Neutropenia of grade 3-4 was found in 67.3, 13.5 and 10.0% of the patients after treatment with Adriamycin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide, respectively. A single case of febrile neutropenia was observed. Anemia occurred in 96.4% of the patients, and was significantly more frequent (p = 0.031) and more severe (p = 0.002) during paclitaxel treatment than in the other chemotherapy cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-dense sequential chemotherapy with Adriamycin, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide is well tolerated and safe. Individual treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is needed to maintain the dose density in most patients, but some tolerate this regimen without it, probably due to differences in drug clearances.

Adult↗

Cyclophosphamide plus topotecan in children with recurrent or refractory solid tumors: a Pediatric Oncology Group phase II study.

PURPOSE: To determine the response rate of the combination of cyclophosphamide and topotecan in pediatric patients with recurrent or refractory malignant solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 91 pediatric patients, 83 of whom were fully assessable for response and toxicity, received cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m2/dose) followed by topotecan (0.75 mg/m2/dose), each given as a 30-minute infusion daily for 5 days. All patients received filgrastim (5 mcg/kg) daily until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was > or = 1,500 microL after the time of the expected ANC nadir. RESULTS: A total of 307 treatment courses were given to the 83 fully assessable patients. Responses (complete response plus partial response) were seen in rhabdomyosarcoma (10 of 15 patients), Ewing's sarcoma (six of 17 patients), and neuroblastoma (six of 13 patients). Partial responses were seen in two of 18 patients with osteosarcoma and in one patient with a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. Twenty-three patients had either minor responses (n = 6) or stable disease (n = 17); the median number of courses administered to patients with partial or complete response was six (range, two to 13 courses), and the median administered to those with stable disease was three (range, one to 11 courses). The toxicity of the combination was limited principally to the hematopoietic system. Of 307 courses, 163 (53%) were associated with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 84 (27%) with grade 3 or 4 anemia, and 136 (44%) with grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. Despite the severe myelosuppression, only 34 (11%) of 307 courses were associated with grade 3 or 4 infection. Nonhematopoietic toxicity of grades > or = 3 was rare and consisted of nausea and vomiting (two courses), perirectal mucositis (one course), transaminase elevation (one course), and hematuria (two courses). CONCLUSION: The combination of cyclophosphamide and topotecan is active in rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Ewing's sarcoma. Stabilization of disease was seen in osteosarcoma, although objective responses were rare in this disease. The therapy can be given with acceptable hematopoietic toxicity with the use of filgrastim support.

Adolescent↗

Phase I study of infusional paclitaxel in combination with the P-glycoprotein antagonist PSC 833.

PURPOSE: PSC 833 (valspodar) is a second-generation P-glycoprotein (Pgp) antagonist developed to reverse multidrug resistance. We conducted a phase I study of a 7-day oral administration of PSC 833 in combination with paclitaxel, administered as a 96-hour continuous infusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with advanced cancer were enrolled onto the trial. PSC 833 was administered orally for 7 days, beginning 72 hours before the start of the paclitaxel infusion. Paclitaxel dose reductions were planned because of the pharmacokinetic interactions known to occur with PSC 833. RESULTS: In combination with PSC 833, maximum-tolerated doses were defined as paclitaxel 13.1 mg/m(2)/d continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) for 4 days without filgrastim, and paclitaxel 17.5 mg/m(2)/d CIVI for 4 days with filgrastim support. Dose-limiting toxicity for the combination was neutropenia. Statistical analysis of cohorts revealed similar mean steady-state concentrations (C(pss)) and areas under the concentration-versus-time curve (AUCs) when patients received paclitaxel doses of 13.1 or 17.5 mg/m(2)/d for 4 days with PSC 833, as when they received a paclitaxel dose of 35 mg/m(2)/d for 4 days without PSC 833. However, the effect of PSC 833 on paclitaxel pharmacokinetics varied greatly among individual patients, although a surrogate assay using CD56+ cells suggested inhibition of Pgp was complete or nearly complete at low concentrations of PSC 833. Responses occurred in three of four patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, and clinical benefit occurred in five of 10 patients with ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSION: PSC 833 in combination with paclitaxel can be administered safely to patients provided the paclitaxel dose is reduced to compensate for the pharmacokinetic interaction. Surrogate studies with CD56+ cells indicate that the maximum-tolerated dose for PSC 833 gives serum levels much higher than those required to block Pgp. The variability in paclitaxel pharmacokinetics, despite complete inhibition of Pgp in the surrogate assay, suggests that other mechanisms, most likely related to P450, contribute to the pharmacokinetic interaction. Future development of combinations such as this should include strategies to predict pharmacokinetics of the chemotherapeutic agent. This in turn will facilitate dosing to achieve comparable CPss and AUCs.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Dose-intense chemotherapy every 2 weeks with dose-intense cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone may improve survival in intermediate- and high-grade lymphoma: a phase II study of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG 9349).

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that therapy of intermediate- and high-grade (excluding Burkitt lymphoblastic) lymphoma with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) could be safely dose-intensified with routine filgrastim support. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients were those who were previously untreated and who had either bulky stage II, or stage III or IV lymphoma with working formulation histology D, E, F, G, H, or J; performance status < or = 2; and acceptable end organ function. No upper age limit was specified. Therapy was dose-intensified CHOP (CHOP-DI) with filgrastim support. Each course was repeated every 14 days for six planned courses. RESULTS: Eighty-eight eligible patients were treated with CHOP-DI and had a median follow-up of 5.1 years on this phase II study, designated Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) 9349. The progression-free survival was 51% at 2 years and 41% at 5 years. The overall survival was 60% at 5 years. Three fatal treatment-related events occurred. One patient with myelodysplastic syndrome was reported. CONCLUSION: Treatment with CHOP-DI can be safely administered in the cooperative group setting and results in improved survival. Estimated overall survival at 5 years was 14% better than that of patients treated with standard-dose CHOP in an earlier SWOG study, although progression-free survival of 60% at 2 years-the prespecified end point-was not achieved. CHOP-DI, given every 2 weeks at escalated doses, is a strategy that should be tested in a future randomized clinical trial in lymphoma.

Adult↗