Jane Rabbitt

Phase II Study of Erlotinib Plus Temozolomide During and After Radiation Therapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme or Gliosarcoma

PURPOSE This open-label, prospective, single-arm, phase II study combined erlotinib with radiation therapy (XRT) and temozolomide to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and gliosarcoma. The objectives were to determine efficacy of this treatment as measured by survival and to explore the relationship between molecular markers and treatment response. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-five eligible adults with newly diagnosed GBM or gliosarcoma were enrolled. We intended to treat patients not currently treated with enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) with 100 mg/d of erlotinib during XRT and 150 mg/d after XRT. Patients receiving EIAEDs were to receive 200 mg/d of erlotinib during XRT and 300 mg/d after XRT. After XRT, the erlotinib dose was escalated until patients developed tolerable grade 2 rash or until the maximum allowed dose was reached. All patients received temozolomide during and after XRT. Molecular markers of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EGFRvIII, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and methylation status of the promotor region of the MGMT gene were analyzed from tumor tissue. Survival was compared with outcomes from two historical phase II trials. RESULTS Median survival was 19.3 months in the current study and 14.1 months in the combined historical control studies, with a hazard ratio for survival (treated/control) of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.45 to 0.91). Treatment was well tolerated. There was a strong positive correlation between MGMT promotor methylation and survival, as well as an association between MGMT promotor-methylated tumors and PTEN positivity shown by immunohistochemistry with improved survival. CONCLUSION Patients treated with the combination of erlotinib and temozolomide during and following radiotherapy had better survival than historical controls. Additional studies are warranted.

Phase 1 study of erlotinib HCl alone and combined with temozolomide in patients with stable or recurrent malignant glioma.

The purpose of this study was to define the maximum tolerated dose of erlotinib and characterize its pharmaco-kinetics and safety profile, alone and with temozolomide, with and without enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs), in patients with malignant gliomas. Patients with stable or progressive malignant primary glioma received erlotinib alone or combined with temozolomide in this dose-escalation study. In each treatment group, patients were stratified by coadministration of EIAEDs. Erlotinib was started at 100 mg orally once daily as a 28-day treatment cycle, with dose escalation by 50 mg/day up to 500 mg/day. Temozolomide was administered at 150 mg/m2 for five consecutive days every 28 days, with dose escalation up to 200 mg/m2 at the second cycle. Eightythree patients were evaluated. Rash, fatigue, and diarrhea were the most common adverse events and were generally mild to moderate. The recommended phase 2 dose of erlotinib is 200 mg/day for patients with glioblastoma multiforme who are not receiving an EIAED, 450 mg/day for those receiving temozolomide plus erlotinib with an EIAED, and at least 500 mg/day for those receiving erlotinib alone with an EIAED. Of the 57 patients evaluable for response, eight had a partial response (PR). Six of the 57 patients had a progression-free survival of longer than six months, including four patients with a PR. Coadministration of EIAEDs reduced exposure to erlotinib as compared with administration of erlotinib alone (33%-71% reduction). There was a modest pharmacokinetic interaction between erlotinib and temozolomide. The favorable tolerability profile and evidence of antitumor activity indicate that further investigation of erlotinib is warranted.

Treatment of pediatric low-grade gliomas with a nitrosourea-based multiagent chemotherapy regimen

Between March 9, 1984 and January 29, 1992, 42 children with newlydiagnosed symptomatic or previously diagnosed progressive low-gradegliomas received outpatient chemotherapy as their primary treatment.This study was a single arm, phase II trial designed to estimate the time to tumor progression and toxicity of this regimen. Procarbazine, 6-thioguanine, and dibromodulcitolwere given before lomustine (CCNU) and vincristine was given 1and 3 weeks after CCNU. Patients were treated for six treatmentcycles or until the tumor progressed, whichever came first. Twenty-three patients had juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, 11had astrocytomas, one had oligodendroglioma, one had ganglioglioma, and six had radiographically diagnosed low-grade gliomas. The mean age of the patients was 5 years (median, 3 years). The median time to treatment failure was 132 weeks (95% confidence interval:106, 186 weeks). Only eight patients have died; the estimated 5-yearsurvival rate is 78% (95% confidenceinterval, 60% 87%). There were two episodes of grade 4 neutropenia, and three episodes of grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Thisregimen was safe, able to be delivered in the outpatient setting, andproduced prolonged periods of disease stabilization in children with low-grade gliomas.

Phase III trial of accelerated hyperfractionation with or without difluromethylornithine (DFMO) versus standard fractionated radiotherapy with or without DFMO for newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma multiforme

PURPOSE To report the results of a prospective Phase III trial for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), treated with either accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation with or without difluromethylornithine (DFMO) or standard fractionated irradiation with or without DFMO. METHODS AND MATERIALS Adult patients with newly diagnosed GBM were registered and randomized following surgery to one of 4 treatment arms: Arm A, accelerated hyperfractionation alone using 2 fractions a day of 1.6 Gy to a total dose of 70.4 Gy in 44 fractions; Arm B, accelerated hyperfractionation as above plus DFMO 1.8 gm/m2 by mouth every 8 h beginning one week before radiation until the last fraction was given; Arm C, single-fraction irradiation of 1.8 Gy/day to 59.4 Gy; Arm D, single-fraction irradiation as in Arm C plus DFMO given as in Arm B. Patients were followed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), as well as for toxicity. Eligibility required histologically proven GBM, age > or =18, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > or =60, and no prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not used in this protocol. RESULTS A total of 231 eligible patients were enrolled. There were 95 men and 136 women with a median age of 57 years, and median KPS of 90. Extent of resection was total in 23, subtotal in 152, and biopsy only in 56 patients. The 4 arms were balanced with respect to age, KPS, and extent of resection. Times to event measurements are from date of diagnosis. Median OS and PFS were 40 and 19 weeks for Arm A; 42 and 22 weeks for Arm B; 37 and 16 weeks for Arm C; and 44 and 19 weeks for Arm D (p = 0.48 for survival; p = 0.32 for PFS). Comparison of the 2 arms treated with DFMO to the 2 arms without DFMO revealed no difference in OS (37 weeks vs. 42 weeks, p = 0.12) or PFS and thus no benefit to the use of DFMO. Comparison of the 2 standard fractionation arms to the 2 accelerated hyperfractionation arms also resulted in no difference in OS (42 weeks vs. 41 weeks, p = 0.75) or PFS, showing no benefit to accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation. CONCLUSION In this prospective Phase III study, no survival or PFS benefit was seen with accelerated hyperfractionated irradiation to 70.4 Gy, nor was any benefit seen with DFMO as a radiosensitizer. Standard fractionated irradiation to 59.4 Gy remains the treatment of choice for newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

A phase II study of intravenous carboplatin for the treatment of recurrent gliomas

SummaryThirty-two patients with recurrent glioma who had previously received radiation therapy and chemotherapy with nitrosoureas were treated with intravenous carboplatin every 3 weeks, starting at a dose of 350 mg/m2, with a dose escalation of 25 mg/m2 every 6 weeks until a level 4 hematologic toxicity was reached. Of the 28 patients who could be evaluated for a response, 50% demonstrated a response or had stabilization of their disease after two infusions of carboplatin. Their median time to tumor progression and median duration of survival were 19 weeks and 38 weeks. Thrombocytopenia was the major toxicity and was severe in one-third of the patients. No neurologic or renal toxicities were noted. Carboplatin has demonstrated activity against recurrent gliomas in patients who have already had extensive chemotherapy. Increasing the dose of carboplatin may improve the rate of response and the duration of progression-free survival in patients with recurrent glioma.

Temozolomide in the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma

Options for chemotherapy at the time of recurrence in patients with malignant glioma are limited. The authors describe the efficacy and safety results of their institutions open‐label, compassionate‐use protocol of temozolomide for patients with recurrent malignant glioma.

Hyperfractionated craniospinal radiation therapy for primitive neuroectodermal tumors: results of a Phase II study.

PURPOSE To report the results of a Phase II study of hyperfractionated craniospinal radiation therapy, with and without adjuvant chemotherapy for primitive neuroectodermal brain tumors (PNETs) and malignant ependymomas. METHODS AND MATERIALS Newly diagnosed PNET or malignant ependymomas were treated with hyperfractionated craniospinal radiation therapy. The primary tumor site was treated to a dose of 72 Gy, with 30 Gy given to the rest of the craniospinal axis. The fraction size was 1.0 Gy, given twice a day. Patients with poor risk factors also received adjuvant chemotherapy with CCNU, cisplatin, and vincristine. Patients had follow-up for survival, time to tumor progression, and patterns of relapse. RESULTS A total of 39 patients (21 males/18 females) were treated between March 12, 1990 and October 29, 1992. The median age was 16 years (range 3-59 years). Tumor types included 25 medulloblastomas, 5 pineoblastomas, 5 cerebral PNETs, 1 spinal cord PNET, and 3 malignant ependymomas. Twenty cases were staged as poor-risk and received adjuvant chemotherapy following radiation. Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 60% and 63% for poor-risk and good-risk patients, respectively. Overall 3-year survival for these groups was 70% and 79%, respectively. For the 25 patients with medulloblastoma, there were 16 good-risk and 9 poor-risk patients. Three-year PFSs were 63% and 56%, respectively. The 5-year survival for good-risk medulloblastoma was 69% with 43.7% of these patients having failures outside the primary site. CONCLUSIONS Survival in patients with good-risk medulloblastoma was no better than that seen in previous studies with single-fraction radiation, and the rate of failure outside the primary site is excessive. Those with poor-risk features had comparable survival to that seen in patients with good risk factors, but these patients were treated with chemotherapy, and the role that hyperfractionated radiation played in their outcome is uncertain.

High dose oral tamoxifen and subcutaneous interferon alpha-2a for recurrent glioma

Chemotherapeutic regimens in present use for recurrent glioma have substantial toxicity. Activity against recurrent gliomas has been reported for both tamoxifen and interferon alpha, agents that have more acceptable toxicity profiles and that can be administered in an outpatient setting. We tested the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of high-dose tamoxifen and interferon alpha in adults with recurrent glioma in a phase II trial. Eligible patients had radiographically measurable recurrent gliomas of any grade after initial radiation therapy. Interferon-alpha (6 × 106 U subcutaneously three times per week) and tamoxifen (240 mg/m2/day orally) were administered continuously. Treatment response was assessed at 6 week intervals using clinical and radiographic criteria. Eighteen patients (11 males and 7 females) were enrolled. Median age was 41 years (range 23–61 years). All patients had gliomas that progressed after radiation therapy and nitrosourea chemotherapy. The histologic diagnosis of the original tumor was glioblastoma multiforme in 8 patients, anaplastic astrocytoma in 5 patients, astrocytoma in 4 patients and mixed malignant glioma in 1 patient. Reversible moderate to severe neurological toxicity manifested by dizziness and unsteady gait was seen at tamoxifen doses of 240 mg/m2/day. Although the initial tamoxifen dose was reduced to 120 mg/m2/day, moderate neurotoxicity was noted at this dose as well and the trial was closed early. The combination of oral tamoxifen (120 to 240 mg/m2/day) and subcutaneous interferon-alpha (6 × 106 U three times per week) was associated with significant neurotoxicity in this group of recurrent glioma patients, resulting in early study closure. Of 16 evaluable patients, 12 had progressive disease after one cycle of treatment, 3 had stable disease, and there was one minor response. Gradual dose escalation may be required if similar patients are to be treated with high dose tamoxifen in conjunction with interferon.

Intravenous carboplatin for recurrent gliomas. A dose-escalating phase II trial.

In a Phase II trial, 63 evaluable patients with recurrent glioma received i.v. infusions of carboplatin every 3 weeks beginning at a dose of 400 mg/m2. The dose was increased by 50 mg/m2 at each subsequent infusion until the maximum tolerated dose reached, as defined by a platelet count < 25,000/mm3 or an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 500/mm3. Treatment was then resumed at the previous dose level and continued until tumor progression occurred. There were 43 men and 20 women studied (mean age, 41 years; range, 6 months to 70.6 years). The combined response and stabilization rate was 29% for 31 patients with glioblastoma and 71.9% for 32 patients with other tumors; median time to tumor progression was 8.2 and 20.3 weeks and median survival was 25.9 and 58.3 weeks, respectively. Twenty patients had level 4 platelet toxicity and nine had level 4 ANC toxicity. Most tumors progressed before the maximum tolerated dose was reached. These results were not better than those from a previous trial of carboplatin at an initial dose of 350 mg/m2, which was escalated by 25 mg/ m2 after every two infusions. Therefore, an optimal dosing schedule was not achieved in this trial.

Phase II study of 6-thioguanine, procarbazine, dibromodulcitol, lomustine, and vincristine chemotherapy with radiotherapy for treating malignant glioma in children.

We conducted a single-arm phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy combined with 6-thioguanine, procarbazine, dibromodulcitol, lomustine, and vincristine (TPDCV) chemotherapy for treating malignant astrocytoma in children and anaplastic ependymoma in patients of all ages. Between 1984 and 1992, 42 patients who had malignant astrocytomas (glioblastomas multiforme, anaplastic astrocytomas, or mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytomas) were treated with TPDCV chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Of these patients, 40 were younger than 18 years, but 2 were older (22 and 23 years) when treated. Cranial radiation averaged 58 Gy. TPDCV chemotherapy was given for 1 year or until progression. Between 1989 and 1991, 17 patients with malignant ependymoma were treated with TPDCV chemotherapy and craniospinal radiation. Radiation was given at an average dose of 54 Gy to the tumor, 28 Gy to the whole brain, and 31 Gy to the spinal axis. TPDCV chemotherapy was given for 1 year or until tumor progressed. Of the patients with glioblastoma multiforme, 13 of 17 died; the median time to progression was 49 weeks, and median survival was 85 weeks. The four patients surviving at this writing were followed a median 537 weeks (range 364-635 weeks). Of the patients with nonglioblastoma malignant astrocytoma, 14 of 25 died; the median time to progression was 224 weeks. Median survival was not reached in this group. The median follow-up for those surviving was 494 weeks. For the patients with ependymoma, 11 of 17 died with a median time to progression of 141 weeks. The median follow-up for the eight who survive was 469 weeks. Nine patients died with a median survival of 183 weeks. The combination of TPDCV and radiotherapy has activity against childhood anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and anaplastic ependymoma. The results of this study for children with glioblastoma were comparable to results in the literature, while the results for children with anaplastic astrocytoma appeared better than most reports. The combination of TPDCV chemotherapy and radiation therapy for anaplastic ependymomas appears to be active and at least as good as published reports using radiation therapy alone.