Jean-Marc Tourani

Outpatient treatment with subcutaneous interleukin-2 and interferon alfa administration in combination with fluorouracil in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: results of a sequential nonrandomized phase II study. Subcutaneous Administration Propeukin Program Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE We report the results of the Subcutaneous Administration Propeukin Program (SCAPP) II trial of an outpatient treatment in renal cell carcinoma using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon alfa-2a (IFN-alpha) administered subcutaneously in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU). The objective of this multicenter trial was to confirm that the combination of IL-2, IFN-alpha, and 5-FU leads to a response rate greater than 20%. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were included in this study. During the induction phase of the treatment, which lasted 10 weeks, IL-2 and IFN-alpha were administered subcutaneously three times a week for 8 weeks at doses of 18 MIU and 9 MIU, respectively. During these 8 weeks, every Monday, 5-FU was administered at a dose of 750 mg by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. After evaluation, responding patients or patients with stable disease (SD) were given maintenance treatment, until disease progression (PD) or the appearance of unacceptable toxicity. Each maintenance cycle consisted of a 2-week treatment followed by a three-week rest period. During treatment, IL-2 and IFN-alpha were administered subcutaneously three times a week at doses of 18 MIU and 9 MIU, respectively. Every Monday, 5-FU was administered at a dose of 750 mg by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. RESULTS This trial was closed when the sixth sequential analysis showed the lack of benefit from this combination. At the end of the induction period, of 62 patients, 12 (19%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10% to 31%) reached an objective response, including one complete response (CR), 16 presented with SD, and 27 showed PD. Twenty-seven patients (43%) developed severe toxicity that required reduction of the planned doses (13 patients), delayed treatment (eight patients), or treatment termination (six patients). Seventeen patients were given maintenance treatment. One- and 2-year survival rates were estimated at 55% and 33%, respectively. The 2-year survival rate was 15% in 11 patients who presented with three poor-prognosis factors and 41% in 51 patients who initially presented with no, one, or two poor-prognosis factors (P = .04). CONCLUSION As in other recently published studies that used 5-FU, IL-2, and IFN-alpha, the multicenter SCAPP II trial in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma generated severe toxicity. This sequential trial failed to confirm the favorable results previously obtained by Atzpodien and Sella with this combination of three drugs. Its efficacy, assessed on the response and survival rates, is near to the results observed in programs that used IL-2 alone given subcutaneously.

Gemcitabine in Patients With Solid Tumors and Renal Impairment: A Pharmacokinetic Phase I Study

The purpose of this phase I study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of gemcitabine in patients with advanced, recurrent, and/or metastatic cancer and renal impairment. Patients were entered in 4 groups estimated by EDTA-Cr51 plasma clearance (CLp, mL/min): ≥80; ≥60 and <80; ≥30 and <60; and ≥30 and <80 plus renal insufficiency induced by previous chemotherapy, respectively. Gemcitabine 500 to 1000 mg/m2 was administered intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks. Plasma concentration data were pooled and analyzed using a population pharmacokinetic program (NONMEM). Eighteen white patients (14 females, 4 males) entered the study with a median age of 55 years. Linear regression analyses revealed no significant relationship between gemcitabine CLp and indices of renal impairment (EDTA-Cr51 CL; p = 0.797 or β2-microglobulin; p = 0.153). Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were mild. Thus, there seems to be no significant impact of mild to moderate renal insufficiency on gemcitabine pharmacokinetics in patients with advanced cancer.

Docetaxel plus gemcitabine in recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase II multicenter study.

Objectives:This phase II study was conducted to assess the efficacy of docetaxel plus gemcitabine in locally recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Patients and Methods:Forty patients with pharynx or larynx cancer were included and treated with an intravenous infusion of docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 8 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 day 1 and day 8 every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Results:Among the 40 patients included, 17 had metastatic disease and 18 had received prior chemotherapy. Thirty-two patients were assessable for response. The overall response rate was 20.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0%–35.7%), with 8 (20.0%) partial responses. Thirteen patients (32.5%) had stable disease, whereas 11 patients (27.5%) had progressive disease. The median response duration was 6.5 months (95% CI, 5.8–7.2). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 18 patients (45.0%). Three treatment-related deaths due to infection were reported. Conclusion:The docetaxel and gemcitabine combination is an active treatment of recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. However, this regimen is associated with a high hematologic toxicity. A new schedule of administration must be explored.

Phase I-II study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with weekly paclitaxel as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Objectives:Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) appears to be as active as doxorubicin in first-line metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, with lower cardiac toxicity. This phase I-II trial aimed to determine the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and recommended dose (RD) of a first-line combination of PLD and weekly paclitaxel. Methods:MBC patients received PLD on day 1, administered over 60 minutes IV. (starting dose 30 mg/m2, escalation by 5 mg/m2 increments), and paclitaxel on days 1, 8, and 15. Initially (schedule A), paclitaxel was administered over 60 minutes (starting dose 80 mg/m2, 10 mg/m2 increments), then (schedule B) over 24 hours on day 1 (at a dose of 70 mg/m2, 10 mg/m2 increments), and in a 60 minute IV infusion at a fixed dose of 90 mg/m2 on days 8 and 15. Pharmacokinetics were assessed during cycle 1 in schedule B. Results:Thirty patients were treated (schedules A = 9; B = 21). Because of cutaneomucous toxicities in all patients in schedule A with discontinuation in 5 patients, schedule B was explored. Two DLTs (febrile neutropenia) occurred, with PLD 35 mg/m2 with paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 day 1 and 90 mg/m2 days 8 and 15 identified as recommended dose. Pharmacokinetic evaluation revealed an interaction, with increased levels of free doxorubicin and PLD during the paclitaxel infusion. Conclusions:This combination according to schedule and dosages results in cutaneomucous and hematological toxicity, probably because of a pharmacokinetic interaction, which is poorly compatible with a good quality of life for MBC patients.

Phase I study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in combination with ifosfamide in pretreated ovarian cancer patients.

Objectives:To determine the dose limiting toxicity, the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended dose of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in association with a fixed dose of ifosfamide (IFO) to patients with recurrent, advanced ovarian cancer (AOC). Methods:Patients with progressing platinum-sensitive or resistant disease were included in 5 dose levels consisting of PLD (25 mg/m2 to 45 mg/m2, day 1) combined with a fixed IFO dose administered as a continuous infusion (1700 mg/m2/d, day 1 to 3) to define the MTD on the basis of acute toxicity during the first 2 cycles, then confirm the MTD, by the evaluation of delayed toxicity (hand-foot syndrome). Results:Forty-eight patients were treated. The MTD was determined in the first 29 patients to be dose level V (45 mg/m2), with 2 cases of febrile neutropenia. The recommended dose (level IV) combines 40 mg/m2 PLD on day 1 and 1700 mg/m2/d IFO day 1 to day 3. The principal toxicity was hematotoxicity (grade 3–4 neutropenia 61.8% of patients, grade 3/4 thrombcytopenia 7.2%, and grade 3/4 anemia 21.8%). Nonhematological toxicity essentially consisted of grade 3/4 nausea and vomiting (14%). Nineteen additional patients were included in levels III (11 patients) and IV (8 patients), to evaluate late-onset toxicity. No hand-foot syndrome was observed in the 48 treated patients, confirming the identification of dose level IV as recommended dose. Conclusion:This study regimen presents an acceptable tolerance. The preliminary assessment of efficacy merits confirmation in a phase II study.

Phase I study of pemetrexed and cisplatin with concurrent high-dose thoracic radiation after induction chemotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE This is a phase I, escalating-dose trial targeting exclusively patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), investigating pemetrexed and fixed-dose cisplatin concurrently administered with high-dose radiotherapy (RT) after induction chemotherapy (CT). Primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase II dose of pemetrexed. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS Patients with unresected stage III NSCLC, planned V20 ≤ 35%, and FEV ≥ 1.3 L, were treated every 21 days for 2 cycles (pemetrexed 500 mg/m2; cisplatin 75 mg/m2), followed by 2 cycles of concurrent CT-RT: pemetrexed starting dose was 400 mg/m2, escalated up to 800 mg/m2 per 100mg/m2 dose level (DL), cisplatin at 75 mg/m2 and RT at fixed dose of 66 Gy/33 fractions. RESULTS Nine of 10 enrolled patients (age range 46-68 years; 6 men; ECOG PS 0 [6 patients], PS 1 [4]; stage IIIA [1], IIIB [9]; 6 adenocarcinomas, 3 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 large cell carcinoma) were entered on 3 DLs. Dose escalation of pemetrexed was conducted up to 600 mg/m2 based on the independent safety monitoring board recommendation. One dose-limiting toxicity occurred at DL3: Grade 4 septic shock. Grade 3 related toxicities: 2 neutropenia at DL3, 2 lymphopenia per DL (3 recurrent), 2 leukopenia (1 recurrent) at DL3, 1 gastric pain (DL3), 1 nausea and 1 recurrent vomiting (DL2). No Grade 3/4 radiation-related toxicities were observed. No toxic death was observed. Disease control rate was 77.7% (1 CR, 4 PR, 2 SD). One-year survival rate was 90%. CONCLUSIONS This phase I report of pemetrexed is dedicated to NSCLC with induction therapy and fixed high-dose RT. Pemetrexed at 500 mg/m2, concurrently given with cisplatin and RT was well tolerated and appears to be the only third-generation agent that can likely be recommended safely at full dose in future trials with concurrent RT.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of IV vinflunine in combination with carboplatin in chemonaive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

ObjectiveVinflunine (VFL) (Javlor®), a novel fluorinated semisynthetic vinca alkaloid has shown significant antitumor activity in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We propose to define the recommended dose (RD) of VFL in combination with carboplatin in advanced NSCLC patients. MethodsThis phase I and pharmacokinetic study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose and to establish the RD of VFL in combination with carboplatin. Twenty-one chemonaive patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with a first-line chemotherapy of VFL and carboplatin both given on day 1 every 3 weeks with 3 dose levels. ResultsFive patients experienced a dose limiting toxicity consisting of constipation in 2 patients and febrile neutropenia in 2 patients. One patient experienced grade 3 abdominal pain concurrent with grade 4 neutropenia. The combination of VFL (320 mg/m2) and carboplatin AUC6 was defined as the maximum tolerated dose. The RD was established at the dose of VFL (320 mg/m2) combined with carboplatin AUC5. At the RD, 12 patients received a median number of 3 cycles of the combination. Neither VFL nor carboplatin seemed to be influencing the pharmacokinetics of the other. Among 19 patients evaluable for tumor response, 7 had a partial response and 7 experienced stable disease. ConclusionsThe combination of VFL (320 mg/m2) and carboplatin AUC 5 given once every 3 weeks is established as the RD of the combination, which was shown to be active in these chemonaive NSCLC patients.

Gemcitabine, ifosfamide, and cisplatin combination (GIP) in treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer : Results of a phase II study

Objectives:We have carried out a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and the toxicity associated with the combination of gemcitabine, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (GIP) in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:Each cycle consisted of treatment with ifosfamide (3000 mg/m2) and gemcitabine (1500 mg/m2) on day 1, followed by cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and gemcitabine (1500 mg/m2) on day 15. Each treatment cycle was repeated every 28 days. A maximum of 6 cycles were administered. Results:Sixty NSCLC patients (23 stage III and 37 stage IV) were entered in this study. The median survival for all patients is 9 months (stage III: 12.3 months; stage IV: 7.5 months). The overall survival at 1 and 2 years is 38% and 17%, respectively (52% and 30% for stage III; 30% and 8% for stage IV). The median time to progression is 6.3 months (stage III: 8.8 months; stage IV: 3.6 months). Progression free survival at 1 and 2 years for all patients is 22% and 8%. The response rate is 56% for patients with stage III disease and 27% for patients with stage IV disease. Among the grade 3/4 toxicities, hematological toxicity was the most frequent (59% of patients) followed by gastrointestinal toxicity (nausea/vomiting) in 21% of patients. Conclusion:The GIP combination yields an efficacy, in terms of response and survival, comparable to that reported with other triplet combination treatments for local advanced or metastatic NSCLC, with an acceptable toxicity profile.