Weekly epirubicin plus docetaxel as first-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a weekly schedule of epirubicin in combination with docetaxel in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A total of 43 women with MBC not previously treated with chemotherapy for metastatic disease received weekly epirubicin 25 mg m(-2) and docetaxel 25 mg m(-2) for a maximum of five cycles (total cumulative epirubicin dose of < or =900 mg m(-2)). Dose reduction was not permitted. Objective response and evaluation of toxicity profile were the primary study end points; time to progression and overall survival were secondary end points. Patients were followed for a median of 21 (4-38) months. Analysis was by intent to treat; 33 patients completed five cycles of therapy, and the median dose of epirubicin administered to the 43 patients was 23 mg m(-2). Twenty-five patients (58%) achieved a partial response and one (2%) achieved a complete response. An additional 12 patients (28%) had stable disease. The median time to progression was 11 months (95% confidence intervals (CI) 7-14) overall, and 13 months (95% CI 12-14) in the 26 patients who responded to treatment. Median overall survival was 25 months for responders and 14 months for nonresponders. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 16% of patients and in 6% of cycles. One patient developed cardiac toxicity (20% reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction). The combination of epirubicin plus docetaxel is highly active in MBC, with a manageable toxicity profile. Such a weekly schedule might provide a valuable treatment option for MBC.

The combination of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel: a safe and active regimen in advanced non small-cell lung cancer patients. A phase I-II study.

The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel given every three weeks is a tolerated and reasonably active regimen in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a fixed dose of carboplatin with an area under the curve (AUC) of 6 and escalating doses of weekly paclitaxel with an initial dose of 50 mg/m2 with 10 mg/m2 increments at each level in untreated NSCLC patients (phase I study). The study continued with a phase II study. Thirty patients entered the phase I study. The MTD was: carboplatin AUC = 6 on days 1 and 28 plus paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 (1 hour) on days 1, 8,15, 28. The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was severe neutropenia and cardiological toxicity. Subsequently, 42 patients entered the phase II study with the same treatment schedule. The 2-drug combination was globally well tolerated. The overall response rate (RR) was 42% [CI 95%: 26.3-57.7], stable disease (SD) 29% and progression (PD) 29%. The median duration of response was 8.0 mos (range: 1.0-19.0). The median time to progression was 8.0 mos (range: 7.0-19.0) and the median survival was 14.0 months (range: 9.0-19.0). The association of carboplatin AUC = 6 and weekly paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 proved to be manageable, active and extremely safe even in elderly patients (one third of all patients in our cohort). The survival results were interesting: the median survival time was 14 months (9-19 months) and the 1- and 2-year survival was 59% and 16%, respectively.

Superiority of three-drug combination chemotherapy versus cisplatin-etoposide in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized trial by the Italian Oncology Group for Clinical Research.

To evaluate the efficacy of a three-drug regimen vs. a two-drug CDDP based combination in the treatment of NSCLC, we conducted a three-arm randomized parallel trial comparing (a) CDDP (120 mg/m2 day 1) + etoposide (100 mg/m2 days 1-3) every 3 weeks (PE--arm A); (b) CDDP (120 mg/m2 every 4 weeks) + mitomycin (8 mg/m2 days 1, 29, 71) + vindesine (3 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, 22 every 2 weeks) (MVP--arm B); and (c) CDDP (120 mg/m2 day 1) + mitomycin (6 mg/m2 day 1) + ifosfamide (3 g/m2 day 2) every 3 weeks (MIC--arm C). From May 1989 to April 1992, 393 consecutive previously untreated patients with NSCLC Stage IIIB and IV entered the trial; 373 were evaluable for survival and 360 for response. The response rate was significantly better for both the three-drug regimens compared with PE (Table 3). Logistic regression model showed a significantly better response in patients with a good P.S. and in Stage IIIB. Main toxicity consisted of myelosuppression: neutropenia Grade III-IV was recorded in 14% (arm A), 15% (arm B) and 21% (arm C). Thrombocytopenia Grade III-IV was worst in arm C: 10% vs. 5% (arm A) and 3% (arm B). Nephrotoxicity Grade III-IV was more common in arm C: 3.5%. Toxic deaths were 11 (3%: three in arm A, five in arm B, three in arm C). From our data, the three-drug containing regimens, MVP and MIC, appear more active than the two-drug combination PE in treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Oral doxifluridine in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a multicenter phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer chemotherapy in elderly patients is an important and under-researched area. Doxifluridine is a fluoropyrimidine derivative and is activated to 5-fluorouracil by uridine phosphorylase, which is more highly expressed in malignant cells. Because of the high bioavailability and low toxicity of oral doxifluridine we conducted this phase II trial to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and activity of a home therapy with oral doxifluridine in elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three elderly metastatic colorectal cancer patients entered the study: their median ECOG performance status was 1 (0-2) and median age 74 years (69-83), the predominant site of metastasis was liver and all but one of the patients had received no previous chemotherapy. Doxifluridine was given orally at the initial daily total dose of 2250 mg for 4 consecutive days every week. The daily dose was reduced to 1500 mg if toxicities greater than grade 2 (WHO) occurred. RESULTS: Forty-two patients are evaluable for toxicity: treatment was well tolerated, with the most common side effect being diarrhea, severe in 7 (17%) patients (6 grade 3 and 1 grade 4). Thirty-six patients are evaluable for response and 2 complete and 3 partial responses have been observed (response rate 14%; 95% confidence limit interval 5%-29%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that a home therapy with oral doxifluridine in elderly advanced colorectal cancer patients is feasible, with a relatively low rate of toxicity, and has moderate activity, comparable to that of intravenous 5-fluorouracil. Therefore, this treatment may be considered for the management of advanced colorectal cancer in the elderly.

Multicenter randomized trial of dacarbazine alone or in combination with two different doses and schedules of interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of advanced melanoma.

PURPOSE: Some phase II studies have suggested that the combination of interferons (IFNs) with dacarbazine (DTIC) in the treatment of malignant melanoma (MM) increases the antitumor activity of DTIC alone. In an attempt to confirm this hypothesis, a randomized study was performed with the further intent of observing whether low doses of recombinant interferon alfa-2a (rIFN alpha 2a) could be as effective as intermediate doses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred sixty-six patients were randomized onto three different treatment arms: DTIC 800 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) days 1 and 21; DTIC plus rIFN alpha 2a 9 mIU intramuscularly (IM) daily; and DTIC plus rIFN alpha 2a 3 mIU IM three times per week. Major prognostic factors were well balanced among the three arms. Chemotherapy was administered for a maximum of eight cycles. After 6 months of therapy, rIFN alpha 2a was continued until disease progression at 3 mIU three times per week in responding patients who had received the combined treatment. RESULTS: The percentage of objective responses did not differ among the three groups (20%, 28%, and 23%, respectively), although a significant prolongation of response duration was observed when rIFN alpha 2a was added to DTIC (2.6 v 8.4 v 5.5 months, respectively). However, this improvement in response duration did not translate into an amelioration of overall survival. The addition of rIFN alpha 2a led to the onset of flu-like syndrome, but in no case was it necessary to withdraw the treatment program and no toxic deaths or life-threatening toxicities were reported. CONCLUSION: In this study, rIFN alpha 2a significantly prolonged response duration, whereas no effects on response rate and survival were observed; rIFN alpha 2a 3 mIU appeared to be equally effective and better tolerated than 9 mIU.

Treatment of carcinoid syndrome with recombinant interferon alpha-2a.

The prognosis and the quality of life of patients with carcinoid tumors is related either to symptoms from the substances secreted or to progressive tumor growth. Medical treatment with cytotoxic agents is of marginal value for increasing life expectancy and reducing clinical symptoms. Recent studies with interferon have shown interesting results. In the present investigation, 22 patients with carcinoid tumors and syndrome were treated with recombinant interferon alpha-2a (r-IFN alpha-2a) at the dose of 6 x 10(6) IU intramuscularly daily for 8 weeks and three times weekly thereafter. The primary tumor was localized in the foregut (n = 11), midgut (n = 7), hindgut (n = 1), and unknown site (n = 3). Most cases had liver metastasis. Seventeen patients had elevated 5-hydroxyindoloacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion and 5 had flushing and/or diarrhea as the only clinical manifestation. Six cases presented a complete syndrome (flushing, diarrhea and 5-HIAA excretion). Control of symptoms was obtained in 80% and a 5-HIAA level reduction in 58% of the patients. The interferon treatment was more effective for control of the carcinoid syndrome than for control of tumor growth. The treatment was well tolerated and fever, myalgia, anorexia and fatigue were the most frequent side-effects.

Early observations on the administration of Lonidamine in cancer patients.

Lonidamine was studied in advanced cancer patients. The drug was given orally by single or repeated administrations. Single doses ranged from 150 to 450 mg. Repeated administrations were performed with progressively increasing doses: 450-900 mg daily. Lonidamine lacked severe toxic effects after both single and prolonged administrations. The most common side effect was myalgia; gastrointestinal discomfort was also reported. 1 patient with lung cancer experienced an episode of arrhythmia which subsided upon discontinuation of treatment and did not reoccurr++ when treatment was reinstated. 1 partial and 2 minor responses were observed in the 6 patients with breast cancer.

5-Fluorouracil, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide combined with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate in advanced breast cancer.

Seventy-six patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with fluorouracil, adriamycin (doxorubicin) and cyclophosphamide (FAC) plus high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (HD-MPA). MPA was given for 21 days at the dose of 500 mg/day i.m., then on a randomized basis, either 500 mg/week i.m. (FAC+HD-MPA i.m.) or 300 mg/day p.o. (FAC+HD-MPA p.o.). Objective response rates were 79% in 39 patients on FAC+HD-MPA i.m. and 73% in the 37 patients on FAC+HD-MPA p.o. There was no significant difference in the median duration of response and median survival for the 2 regimens (respectively, 17 months and 22 months, and 15 months and 21 months for FAC+HD-MPA i.m. and FAC+HD-MPA p.o.). Toxicity was mild and similar in both groups. Although FAC+HD-MPA was highly effective, at present it is difficult to select which regimen provides the best initial treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

Mitomycin C in patients with metastatic breast cancer refractory to hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

43 patients with advanced breast cancer, resistant to conventional therapies, were treated with mitomycin C at a dose of 20 mg/m2 i.v. every 6 weeks. No response was observed. The most common side effect was myelotoxicity. Leukopenia occurred in 63% of the patients, thrombocytopenia in 67%, and anemia in 14%. Two episodes of acute dyspnea were observed which were thought to be pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions. This study does not suggest that mitomycin C is of value as second- or third-line treatment in metastatic breast cancer. It is likely that the drug could play a more important role in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.