Phase I and pharmacokinetic trial of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin.

A total of 21 patients with advanced cancer were entered into a phase I study to determine the maximum tolerable dose (MTD) of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (LED) given weekly for 3 consecutive weeks at doses of 20, 30, or 37.5 mg/m2 per week. For a comparison of the pharmacokinetic behavior of LED with that of standard-formulation doxorubicin, 13 patients received a dose of standard-formulation doxorubicin 2 weeks prior to the first dose of LED. All doses were given by 1-h infusion through a central vein. Toxicity was evaluated in 22 courses delivered to 17 patients. The MTD with this schedule was 30 mg/m2 per week x 3. The single patient treated at 37.5 mg/m2 weekly could not complete the entire course due to myelosuppression. At the dose of 30 mg/m2 per week, three of eight patients had grade > or = 3 leukopenia. Other toxicities included mild to moderate thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, fever, alopecia, diarrhea, fatigue, stomatitis, and infection. At the dose of 30 mg/m2 per week, the total doxorubicin AUC and peak total doxorubicin concentrations in plasma were 8.75 +/- 8.80 microM h (mean +/- SD) and 3.07 +/- 1.45 microM, respectively, after LED administration. The total doxorubicin AUC and peak total doxorubicin concentrations in plasma were 3.92 +/- 2.47 microM h and 2.75 +/- 2.70 microM, respectively, after the infusion of standard-formulation doxorubicin. The total body clearance of doxorubicin was 18.42 +/- 11.23 l/h after the infusion of LED and 31.21 +/- 15.48 l/h after the infusion of standard-formulation doxorubicin. The mean elimination half-lives of doxorubicin were similar: 8.65 +/- 5.16 h for LED and 7.46 +/- 5.16 h for standard-formulation doxorubicin. Interpatient variability in pharmacokinetic parameters as demonstrated by the percentage of coefficients of variation was 33%-105%. There was no relationship between the percentage of WBC decrease or the duration of WBC suppression and the total doxorubicin or doxorubicinol AUC. There was no correlation between the duration of leukopenia and drug exposure as reflected by the AUC of liposome-associated doxorubicin. LED can be given in doses similar to those of standard-formulation doxorubicin and produces acute toxicities similar to those caused by standard doxorubicin.

Cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide combination chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer.

Because of potential synergistic interactions, we added 25 mg/m2 i.v. cisplatin (P) 25 given on days 1-5 to the combination of 45 mg/m2 i.v. doxorubicin (A) given on day 1, 800 mg/m2 i.v. cyclophosphamide (C) given on day 1, and 50 mg/m2 i.v. etoposide (E) given on days 1-5. The resulting PACE regimen was given every 21 days for the first three courses and then every 28 days for the next five courses. PACE was used in two trials: the first, for both limited and extensive disease, was conducted at the University of Maryland Cancer Center and North Shore University Hospital; and the second, for extensive disease, was carried out as a Cancer and Leukemia Group B pilot study. Chest irradiation was not used. Prophylactic cranial irradiation at a dose of 3,000 cGy was given to all patients achieving a complete response (CR). A total of 33 subjects were entered in the first study; 8 of the 15 (53%) presenting with limited disease and 7 of the 18 (39%) exhibiting extensive disease achieved a CR. A partial response (PR) was obtained in 27% and 33% of cases, respectively. Of the 34 patients entered in the second study, 25 were eligible; 8 (32%) achieved a CR and 6 (24%) showed a PR. Toxicity was severe in both studies, including greater than 90% severe or life-threatening leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Serial creatinine-clearance evaluations in the first study indicated progressive deterioration, which required discontinuation of the cisplatin before the planned completion of treatment in most cases. Since the response rate was no higher than the historic data reported for the three-drug ACE combination and because the toxicity was severe, the studies were stopped and patients were followed for survival. After a follow-up period of greater than 6 years, the median survival was 24 months for limited disease, with 33% and 27% of the patients being alive at 3 and 6.5 years, respectively. The median survival for extensive disease was 15 and 11 months in the first and second studies, respectively. These pilot studies suggest that the addition of cisplatin may augment the activity of the ACE regimen, but at the cost of severe toxicity. Further studies seem warranted if the myelotoxicity can be better controlled.

Planning and implementing clinical trials.

Careful planning and organization are essential in the design and conduct of a clinical trial. The clinical protocol provides a framework that describes the proposed experiment and outlines the means for achieving specific endpoints. Protecting research participants and assuring quality control are important to the conduct of clinical trials. the participation and responsibilities of oncology nurses contribute to the success of clinical trials.

Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of hexamethylene bisacetamide (NSC 95580) administered as a five-day continuous infusion.

Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA), a potent differentiating agent, was tested in patients with refractory, solid tumors. Twenty patients received 25 evaluable courses. HMBA was given by continuous i.v. infusion for 5 consecutive days with courses repeated every 4 wk, provided there was acceptable, reversible toxicity. The starting dose was 4.8 g/m2/day for 5 days with escalations in subsequent cohorts of patients to 43.2 g/m2/day for 5 days. The patients included 12 females and eight males with median age of 56 yr (range 35 to 75 yr) and a median performance status of 80% (range, 60 to 100%). All except two patients had received prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both. Metabolic acidosis and neurotoxicity, consisting of agitation, hallucinations, confusion, and alteration of consciousness, were dose dependent and dose limiting. The one patient treated with 43.2 m/m2/day became acidotic, agitated, and disoriented but recovered to his previous mental and electrolyte status by 8 days after the end of the HMBA infusion. One patient treated with 33.6 g/m2/day became severely acidotic (pH 7.07) and obtunded and also developed myocardial and cerebral infarctions during the HMBA infusion. The other two patients treated with 33.6 g/m2/day became mildly agitated during drug infusion. Six patients were treated at 24 g/m2/day without neurotoxicity. Transient renal insufficiency was seen in the two patients with severe neurotoxicity and in three other patients. Dose-related, mild to moderate nausea and vomiting were observed in ten patients. Four patients developed cutaneous herpes infections during treatment. White blood cell depression was not dose related, and at 24 g/m2/day, the median white blood cell nadir was 4,500/microliter (range, 2,000 to 7,900/microliter). Thrombocytopenia was dose related. At 24 g/m2/day, the median platelet count nadir was 207,000/microliter (range, 66,000 to 542,000/microliter). No objective tumor regressions were noted. HMBA pharmacokinetics was studied at all dosages. Plasma and urine samples from 20 patients were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for parent compound. HMBA plasma steady-state concentrations (Css) were achieved in all patients by 12 to 24 h into infusion. Once Css was achieved, daily variation was generally less than or equal to 10% from the mean Css. HMBA plasma Css increased linearly with dose, but there was variation in the Css achieved in individual patients at each dose. Doses of 24 to 33.6 g/m2/day consistently produced plasma HMBA Css of 1 to 2 mM matching concentrations required for differentiation in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Phase I trial of menogaril administered as an intermittent daily infusion for 5 days.

Menogaril, a semisynthetic derivative of nogalomycin, was brought to phase I clinical testing in patients with refractory solid tumors. Twenty-seven patients received 50 evaluable courses. Menogaril was given as a 1-2-hour iv infusion on 5 consecutive days, with courses repeated every 4 weeks, provided there was reversal of all drug-related toxic effects. The starting dose was 3.5 mg/m2/day X 5, with escalations in subsequent cohorts of patients to 56 mg/m2/day X 5. Neutropenia was dose dependent and dose limiting. At 56 mg/m2/day X 5, the median wbc count nadir was 1100/microliter, and two of four patients were hospitalized for fever and suspected bacteremia. At 50 mg/m2/day X 5, the wbc count nadir was 2300/microliter. Platelet toxicity was less severe. Nonhematologic toxicity consisted primarily of local urticaria and moderate to severe phlebitis at the infusion site, which were dose dependent and lasted up to 6 weeks. For phase II studies, the recommended dose of menogaril is 50 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days administered as a 2-hour intermittent infusion, repeated every 28 days.

Human pharmacokinetics, excretion, and metabolism of the anthracycline antibiotic menogaril (7-OMEN, NSC 269148) and their correlation with clinical toxicities.

In a Phase I study, menogaril (7-OMEN) was administered daily for 5 days/course, every 21-28 days. Dosages of 3.5, 7, 11.5, 17, and 31.5 mg/m2 were infused over 1 h, and dosages of 42, 50, and 56 mg/m2 were infused over 2 h. Pharmacokinetics was studied at all dosages. Plasma and urine samples were collected from 24 patients, and bile samples were also collected from 2 patients. 7-OMEN and metabolites were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. 7-OMEN was the major plasma fluorescent species at all times, with only trace amounts of N-demethyl menogaril observed. 7-OMEN disappeared from plasma biexponentially with t1/2 alpha 0.19 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SE) h and t1/2 beta 13.22 +/- 1.54 h. Plasma pharmacokinetics of 7-OMEN was linear from 3.5-56 mg/m2; area under the curve increased proportionally with dosage. Total body clearance of 7-OMEN was 28.18 +/- 3.33 liter/m2/h, Vc was 224 +/- 30.8 liter/m2, and Vss was 370 +/- 25.7 liter/m2. Plasma pharmacokinetics of 7-OMEN studied on multiple days of a given course were similar. Urinary excretion of 7-OMEN and fluorescent metabolites accounted for 5.4 +/- 0.4% of the daily dose. Parent compound still represented greater than or equal to 80% of urinary drug fluorescence after 24 h. N-demethyl menogaril was the only other fluorescent drug species detected in urine. In two patients with biliary tract drains, biliary excretion of drug fluorescence accounted for 2.2-4.2% of the daily dose. Only 7-OMEN and N-demethyl menogaril were detected in bile by high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography. 7-OMEN was the major fluorescent biliary species, but, by 24 h, N-demethyl menogaril accounted for approximately 40% of biliary drug fluorescence. When considered in light of each patient's observed toxicities, excellent relationships were observed between the plasma area under the curve of 7-OMEN and the percentage of decreases in WBC and absolute neutrophil count. These latter findings should be useful in developing more precise and intelligent dosing schemes for 7-OMEN.

Phase I trial of 5-day continuous infusion aziridinylbenzoquinone (AZQ, diazaquone, NSC 182968).

AZQ was given to 14 patients with solid tumors in a phase I trial. Eight males and six females with a median Karnofsky performance status of 70% (range 40-90%) and a median age of 64 years (range 24-72) received 18 evaluable courses. All patients received prior chemotherapy and seven had prior irradiation. A continuous infusion for 5 consecutive days at doses of 4-8 mg/m2 per day was given every 3-4 weeks. Dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, especially thrombocytopenia. No patient developed an infection while on this study. There was no evidence of cumulative toxicity in the three patients receiving two or more courses. Nonhematologic toxicity consisted only of mild nausea and vomiting in three patients and mild diarrhea in two patients. No patient experienced any mucosal, hepatic, renal, cardiac, or central nervous system toxicity. No objective antitumor responses were seen in the three patients with measurable disease who received two or more courses of AZQ. The recommended doses for phase II studies for continuous-infusion AZQ are 6 mg/m2/day X 5 repeated every 4 weeks.

Prospective validation of a pharmacologically based dosing scheme for the cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) analogue diamminecyclobutanedicarboxylatoplatinum.

We previously correlated both renal function and thrombocytopenia, the dose limiting toxicity of carboplatin, with the plasma pharmacokinetics of carboplatin. From these correlations, we developed equations to calculate carboplatin dosage for any patient based on that patient's creatinine clearance, body surface area, pretreatment platelet count, desired platelet nadir, and status of prior chemotherapy. We prospectively applied these equations in 44 courses of carboplatin given to 24 patients. There were 13 males and 11 females with median age 53 (range, 33-77), median Karnofsky performance status 80 (range, 50-100), and creatinine clearance 32 to 118 ml/min. Ten patients had creatinine clearances less than 60 ml/min. Precision of the equations used for dose calculation was evaluable in 38 courses administered to 23 patients. In 23 courses of carboplatin administered to 12 patients without extensive prior chemotherapy, the observed change in platelets = 1.04 X predicted change -48,000 (r = 0.96). In the 15 courses of carboplatin administered to 11 heavily pretreated patients, the observed change in platelets = 1.13 X predicted change +6,600 (r = 0.97). For the overall combined population, the observed change in platelets = 0.96 X predicted change -7,000 (r = 0.94). These relationships which nearly define the line of identity (observed = expected) validate our initial observations. Only 2 patients developed WBC less than 2,000, but 12 patients developed hematocrit less than or equal to 29% and 8 required RBC transfusions. Fifteen patients had nausea and vomiting greater than or equal to grade 2. There were no other nonhematological toxicities observed. In view of continuing documentation of the antitumor activity of carboplatin, these equations allow safe and rational drug dosing of patients with potentially platinum-responsive tumors but with renal function too poor to receive cisplatin. Among the 9 patients in this study evaluable for response, there was 1 partial response in a patient with malignant melanoma and 1 objective response (less than partial response) in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

Pharmacokinetics and dosage reduction of cis-diammine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum in patients with impaired renal function.

cis-Diammine(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)platinum (CBDCA) is a nonnephrotoxic but myelosuppressive analogue of cisplatin (DDP) with greatly reduced protein binding and greatly increased renal excretion. Thus, CBDCA might produce undue toxicity in patients with decreased renal function. Twenty-two patients [14 females and 8 males; median age, 66 (range, 35 to 83); median Karnofsky performance status, 70 (range, 40 to 90)] with refractory tumors and renal dysfunction [creatinine clearance (CCr) 6 to 83 ml/min] were treated with 31 courses of i.v. bolus CBDCA every 4 to 5 weeks. Dosages were determined by pretreatment CCr. Patients with CCr greater than or equal to 40 ml/min received 400 mg/sq m; patients with CCr 20 to 39 ml/min received 250 mg/sq m; and patients with CCr 0 to 19 ml/min received 150 mg/sq m. Toxicities were assessed by weekly clinical and laboratory assessment. Responses were assessed in patients with measurable disease. Plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of total and ultrafilterable platinum were measured with flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. Observed toxicities were similar to those in patients with normal renal function. Myelosuppression, especially thrombocytopenia, was the major toxicity. Nausea and vomiting were mild to moderate. There was no ototoxicity, neurotoxicity, or nephrotoxicity or reduction in CCr due to CBDCA. Total body clearance of ultrafilterable platinum correlated highly with CCr. The percentage of reduction in platelet count correlated highly and linearly with the area under the curve (AUC) of plasma-ultrafilterable platinum. However, for any AUC, there was 17% greater platelet reduction in patients who had previously received extensive myelosuppressive chemotherapy than in nonpretreated patients. Since total body clearance is proportional to CCr, platelet reduction is proportional to AUC, and total body clearance = dosage/AUC, we have derived an equation to calculate a dosage that will produce a desired reduction in platelet count. Calculations for theoretical patients (both pretreated and nonpretreated) with CCr of 100 ml/min produce dosages very close to maximum tolerated dosages derived in actual Phase I trials. The actual clinical utility of these predictive equations must await validation in prospective studies with larger numbers of patients.

Phase I clinical and pharmacologic trial of carboplatin daily for 5 days.

Twenty-two patients with refractory tumors received 64 courses of iv bolus carboplatin every day X 5, every 4-5 weeks. All patients are evaluable for toxicity and 18 are evaluable for response. For solid tumor phase II studies, a dose of 77 mg/m2/day X 5 is recommended for patients who have received prior chemotherapy. Patients with no prior chemotherapy experience should receive 99 mg/m2/day X 5. The major dose-limiting side effect is dose-related thrombocytopenia. Courses of carboplatin on this schedule should be repeated every 5 weeks to avoid cumulative wbc count toxicity, since leukopenia frequently did not occur until Day 28. Other toxic effects observed were nausea and vomiting and lower-extremity myalgias and arthralgias. There was no evidence of hearing loss, mucosal damage, or changes in liver or renal function tests of any patient while in this study. Therapeutic responses were seen in four patients: one partial response in renal cancer of 9+ months' duration; one partial response in head and neck cancer of 7+ months' duration; and objective responses in melanoma and colorectal carcinoma of 6 months' duration.

Multiple sequential biomarkers in monitoring patients with carcinoma of the lung.

To correlate serial biomarkers and disease activity in carcinoma of the lung, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), C3-derived protein (C3DP-C), and LDH were assayed in 43 patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and in 20 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (15 with adenocarcinoma, three with squamous cell carcinoma, and two with mixed histology). Disease status after treatment was rated as one of the following: complete response, partial response, minor regression, stable disease, and progressive disease. Significant correlations between disease status and markers in SCLC were found for CEA, NSE, LDH, and ACTH. In NSCLC, only CEA and LDH showed significant correlation. Marker-marker correlations were significant in SCLC for CEA and NSE (P less than 0.05), CEA and LDH (P = 0.01), and NSE and LDH (P less than 0.01); in NSCLC none were significant. None of the markers exhibited significant correlations with specific metastatic sites. Certain biomarkers (CEA, NSE, and LDH in SCLC; CEA and LDH in NSCLC) can be used alone or in combination to monitor disease activity but appear to be no more sensitive than standard clinical investigational methods.

Value of prophylactic cranial irradiation given at complete remission in small cell lung carcinoma.

The optimal use of "prophylactic" cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with small cell lung cancer remains undetermined. This study reviews the impact of PCI, given at complete remission (CR), on neurologic relapse in 172 consecutive patients with small cell lung cancer treated in three sequential chemotherapy protocols at the University of Maryland Cancer Center. In the first study of 38 patients, none received PCI. In the second study of 109 patients, the first 28 achieving CR were randomized to 3000 rad of PCI in ten fractions (PCI+) or to observation (PCI-). Thereafter, based on interim analysis, all patients achieving CR received PCI. In the third study, to date, 25 patients achieving CR have received PCI. Overall, 169 patients were evaluable for neurologic relapse, and 30 of 90 patients achieving CR received PCI. Among all patients with CR, with adjustment for disease extent, there was a significant delay to any neurologic relapse (P = 0.01) and cerebral metastases (P = 0.02) for PCI+ compared to PCI- patients. Among PCI- patients with CR, cerebral metastases alone occurred in 28% as the sole site and in 33% as the initial site, whereas cerebral relapse occurred prior to systemic relapse in only one PCI+ patient with CR. Patient survival however, was not significantly altered by PCI. PCI at CR confers effective and worthwhile local control in the CNS, especially during periods of systemic response, and a small percentage of patients may benefit. Systemic drug resistance still determines overall survival.

Phase I trial of aclacinomycin A.

Aclacinomycin A (ACM-A), an anthracycline analog, was given to 17 patients with solid tumors and to one patient with multiple myeloma, in a phase I clinical trial. A single dose of 60-120 mg/m2 was given every 3 weeks. Dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, especially thrombocytopenia. Granulocytopenia was variable and did not always recover by Day 21 in time for the next ACM-A treatment. Other toxic effects were nausea, vomiting, urticaria, and elevation of hepatic enzymes. Alopecia was not a side effect, even in patients receiving multiple courses of ACM-A. Nine patients were monitored with 24-hour continuous ECG recordings (Holter) on 19 ACM-A treatment days. The incidence of premature atrial and ventricular beats was significantly increased following ACM-A administration. In addition, one patient developed episodes of high-degree atrioventricular block and complete heart block after each of four ACM-A doses, necessitating the insertion of a pacemaker. No antitumor responses were seen in the ten patients who had measurable disease and who had received two or more courses of ACM-A. The recommended doses for solid tumor phase II studies are 100 mg/m2 as a single dose every 4 weeks for patients with high performance status and minimal prior chemotherapy and 60 mg/m2 every 4 weeks for all other patients. Until the acute cardiac effects of ACM-A are further understood, we recommend that all patients receiving ACM-A be monitored by ECG recordings.

Phase I trial of dihydroxyanthracenedione.

Dihydroxanthracenedione was given to 16 patients with solid tumors in a phase I clinical trial. The dose schedule used was a single daily dose for 3 consecutive days given every 3 weeks. The amount given ranged from 2 to 5 mg/m2/day. The dose-limiting toxic effect was moderate to severe leukopenia which occurred at a dose greater than or equal to 4 mg/m2/day X 3. Thrombocytopenia was infrequent and did not require transfusion. Nonhematologic side effects were insignificant and included nausea, vomiting, and green-tinged urine. A minor tumor response was noted in a patient with fibrosarcoma. The recommended doses for solid tumor phase II studies are 4 mg/m2/day X 3 for good-risk patients and 3 mg/m2/day X 3 for poor-risk patients, given every 3 weeks.