Thomas B. Hakes

Second-line platinum therapy in patients with ovarian cancer previously treated with cisplatin.

In an effort to critically define the incidence and clinical characteristics of secondary responses to cisplatin-based therapy in patients with ovarian cancer previously treated with a cisplatin-based program, a retrospective review was undertaken of patients at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center who received greater than or equal to two cisplatin/carboplatin-based programs. Eighty-two patients were identified who met the entry criteria of having had a cisplatin-free interval (CFI) of more than 4 months between the completion of their first regimen and the institution of a second cisplatin/carboplatin program. Of the 72 assessable patients (10 had no measurable disease, and a laparotomy was not performed to assess response), 31 (43%) responded, including 10 surgically defined complete responses (S-CRs). The overall response rates (and S-CR rate), based on duration of CFI, were 5 to 12 months, 27% (5%); 13 to 24 months, 33% (11%); and more than 24 months, 59% (22%). Twenty-nine patients (35%) received noncisplatin/carboplatin-containing treatments between the cisplatin programs. Patients without any treatment for more than 24 months from the completion of their initial therapy experienced a 77% (17 of 22) response rate and a 32% (seven of 22) S-CR rate. In conclusion, secondary responses to cisplatin/carboplatin-based treatment are common in patients with ovarian cancer who have previously responded to the agents and increase in frequency with greater distance from the initial therapy.

Paclitaxel and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as initial chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE A phase II study of Taxol (paclitaxel; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Princeton, NJ) as initial chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer was conducted. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) was used to ameliorate myelosuppression, the anticipated dose-limiting toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-eight patients with bidimensionally measurable breast cancer who had not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease were treated. Taxol was administered at 250 mg/m2 as a continuous 24-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion every 21 days. rhG-CSF was administered at 5 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously on days 3 through 10. RESULTS Objective responses were observed in 16 of 26 assessable patients (62%; 95% confidence interval, 41% to 80%). There were three (12%) complete responses (CRs) and 13 (50%) partial responses (PRs). Ten of 16 patients (63%) who had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy responded, which included one CR and four PRs among eight patients who had received prior doxorubicin-containing therapy. Responses were observed in all sites of metastatic disease. The median time to first objective response was 5 weeks (range, 1 to 14). Administration of rhG-CSF was associated with a short duration of neutropenia (median, 2 days with absolute neutrophil count < 500 cells/microL). Eight of 26 patients (31%) who received more than one course received subsequent therapy without dose reduction. One hundred seventy-eight cycles of treatment were administered, with a median of six cycles per patient (range, one to 19). Eight courses (4.5%) were associated with admissions for neutropenic fever. Twenty-two patients (79%) did not require admission for neutropenic fever. Treatment was well tolerated. Adverse effects included generalized alopecia in all patients. Myalgias, arthralgias, and peripheral neuropathy were mild. No hypersensitivity reactions and no cardiac toxicity were observed. CONCLUSION Taxol is highly active as initial chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. Administration of rhG-CSF reduced the incidence, depth, and duration of neutropenia, compared with published prior experience. Further studies of Taxol in breast cancer, including combinations with other active agents, are clearly warranted.

Phase I trial of intraperitoneal taxol: a Gynecoloic Oncology Group study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and pharmacology of the intraperitoneal (IP) administration of the antineoplastic agent taxol. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five pretreated patients who were entered onto a phase I clinical trial; 24 had advanced ovarian cancer. Patients were treated with taxol administered IP in 2 L of normal saline every 3 to 4 weeks. The starting dose was 25 mg/m2. There were no intrapatient dose escalations. RESULTS The dose-limiting toxicity was the development of severe abdominal pain at taxol doses more than 175 mg/m2. Moderate leukopenia (WBC count less than 2,000/mm3) was observed at IP doses of greater than or equal to 175 mg/m2. The exposure of the peritoneal cavity (peak levels and area under the time-versus-concentration curve [AUC]) to taxol after IP delivery exceeded that of the plasma by approximately 1,000-fold. However, concentrations of the agent previously shown to produce cytotoxicity in experimental systems were demonstrated in the systemic compartment after regional delivery, which was considered important. Significant concentrations of taxol persisted within the peritoneal cavity for more than 24 to 48 hours after a single IP installation. Several antitumor responses, which included control of platinum-refractory ascites, were documented. CONCLUSION Taxol can be delivered by the IP route with both an acceptable toxicity profile and a major pharmacokinetic advantage for cavity exposure.

Paclitaxel as second and subsequent therapy for metastatic breast cancer : activity independent of prior anthracycline response

PURPOSE Two phase II clinical trials were performed to determine efficacy and tolerability of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Wallingford, CT) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor ([G-CSF] Neupogen; Amgen, Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA) as second or subsequent therapy for metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Paclitaxel plus G-CSF was administered as a second stage IV regimen to 25 patients with metastatic breast cancer at a dose of 250 mg/m2 intravenously over 24 hours. Fifty-two patients received paclitoxel plus G-CSF at 200 mg/m2 as a third or subsequent regimen (no restriction on number of prior regimens or on prior high-dose chemotherapy). All patients had received prior anthracycline treatment, and ultimately had progressive bidimensionally measurable disease. RESULTS Twenty-five of 76 patients (32.8%) had a major objective response (95% confidence interval [CI], 14% to 37%). The median duration of response was 7 months (range, 1 to 20+). Responses were as likely in patients with disease demonstrated to be unresponsive to anthracycline, ie, de novo resistance (11 of 37, or 30%) as in those with disease that once exhibited anthracycline sensitivity, ie, acquired resistance, (10 of 31, or 32%). G-CSF administration was associated with febrile neutropenic episodes in 36 of 402 cycles (9%) in 16 of 76 patients (21%). CONCLUSION Paclitaxels clinically significant activity against metastatic breast cancer extends to patients with many prior chemotherapy regimens. The lack of impact of prior doxorubicin therapy on the likelihood of subsequent response to paclitaxel suggests an important role for this agent in the treatment of refractory metastatic breast cancer.

Phase II trial of paclitaxel by 3-hour infusion as initial and salvage chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel administered by 3-hour infusion as initial and salvage chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-nine patients with metastatic breast cancer received paclitaxel via 3-hour intravenous infusion after standard premedication. Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was not used, and chemotherapy was cycled every 3 weeks. For 25 patients who received paclitaxel as initial therapy (group I), the starting dose was 250 mg/m2. Twenty-four patients who had received two or more prior regimens, including an anthracycline (group II), started at 175 mg/m2. Paclitaxel pharmacokinetics were evaluated in 23 patients in group I. RESULTS Grade 3 and 4 toxicities included (groups I/II) neutropenia (36%/33%), thrombocytopenia (0%/8%), anemia (0%/13%), neuropathy (8%/0%), arthralgia/myalgia (16%/4%), and mucositis (4%/4%). No significant hypersensitivity-type reactions or cardiac arrhythmias were seen. Six patients who received paclitaxel at > or = 250 mg/m2 experienced transient photopsia, without apparent chronic neuro-ophthalmologic sequelae. The mean peak plasma paclitaxel concentration was 5.87 mumol/L (range, 1.99 to 7.89) for these patients, and 6.08 mumol/L (range, 0.81 to 13.81) for 17 of 19 patients who did not experience visual symptoms. In 25 assessable patients in group I at a median follow-up time of 12 months, one complete response (CR) and seven partial responses (PRs) have been observed, for a total response rate of 32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15% to 53%). In group II, five PRs were noted in 24 assessable patients (20.8%; 95% CI, 7% to 42%). Median response durations were 7 months for group I and 4 months for group II. CONCLUSION Paclitaxel via 3-hour infusion, without prophylactic G-CSF, is active and safe as initial and subsequent therapy for metastatic breast cancer. The transient visual symptoms noted at higher doses seem unrelated to peak plasma paclitaxel concentration. Further studies that compare 3- and 24 hour (or other) infusion schedules are necessary to determine the optimal administration of paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer.

A prospective randomized comparison of epirubicin and doxorubicin in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Fifty-four patients with advanced breast cancer who had failed prior non-anthracycline combination chemotherapy were randomized to treatment with either epirubicin 85 mg/m2 or doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 intravenously every three weeks. Of 52 evaluable patients, 25% (six of 24) treated with epirubicin, and 25% (seven of 28) treated with doxorubicin experienced major therapeutic responses. The median duration of response to epirubicin was 11.9 months compared to 7.1 months with doxorubicin. Cardiotoxicity was monitored by serial multigated radionuclide cineangiocardiography performed at rest and after exercise. Laboratory evidence of cardiotoxicity was defined as a decrease in resting left ventricular ejection fraction of greater than 10% from the baseline value, or a decrease of 5% or greater with exercise compared with the resting study performed on the same day. Fifteen patients treated with epirubicin and 18 patients treated with doxorubicin had at least two determinations of left ventricular ejection fraction and were evaluable for laboratory cardiotoxicity. Using methods of survival analysis, the median doses to the development of laboratory cardiotoxicity were estimated to be 935 mg/m2 of epirubicin and 468 mg/m2 of doxorubicin. Four patients treated with epirubicin and five treated with doxorubicin developed symptomatic congestive heart failure. The median cumulative dose at which congestive heart failure occurred was 1,134 mg/m2 of epirubicin compared with 492 mg/m2 of doxorubicin. Fewer episodes of nausea and vomiting were observed in patients receiving epirubicin. Epirubicin is a new anthracycline with reduced cardiac toxicity, but preserved efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Responses to second-line cisplatin-based intraperitoneal therapy in ovarian cancer: influence of a prior response to intravenous cisplatin.

Phase II trials of second-line intraperitoneal (IP) cisplatin-based therapy in patients with ovarian cancer have demonstrated the ability of this approach to produce objective antitumor responses, including surgically defined complete responses (CRs), in individuals with persistent small-volume disease after front-line cisplatin-based intravenous (IV) treatment. To examine the influence of a prior response to systemic cisplatin on the activity of second-line IP cisplatin, we retrospectively analyzed two phase II trials of cisplatin-based IP therapy in persistent/recurrent ovarian cancer conducted at our institution. Of the 89 assessable patients on the two trials, 52 (58%) had previously responded to IV cisplatin. The overall response and CR rates to second-line IP cisplatin-based therapy in this previously responding population were 56% and 33%, respectively, compared with overall response and CR rates in the 37 nonresponders to IV cisplatin of 11% and 3%, respectively (P less than .001; chi 2, 1 df). In the 36 patients responding to systemic cisplatin and whose largest tumor mass measured less than 1 cm at IP cisplatin initiation, a 42% CR rate was observed, compared with a 7% CR rate in the 14 patients with the same bulk of disease who had previously failed to respond to systemic cisplatin (P less than .025). We conclude that a prior response to systemic cisplatin strongly influences the antineoplastic activity of second-line IP cisplatin in ovarian cancer.

Phase II trial of docetaxel in patients with platinum-refractory advanced ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE This phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel in the treatment of patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients with platinum-refractory advanced ovarian cancer were treated. Twenty of the patients had failed to respond to platinum-based front-line chemotherapy and five had failed to respond to platinum-based therapy repeated at relapse. One patient had received prior pelvic radiation therapy. Patients were required to have bidimensionally measurable disease. Docetaxel was administered at a dose of 100 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) over 1 hour every 21 days. Twenty patients received no corticosteroid premedication and five received premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines. RESULTS Eight of 23 assessable patients (35%) had a partial response (PR; 95% confidence interval, 16% to 57%). The median response duration was 5 months. Hospitalization for toxicity, predominantly neutropenic fever, occurred in 12 patients (48%) and 16% of courses. Anemia was common in the study population. Nonhematologic toxicities included alopecia, rash, fluid retention, diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy, and hypersensitivity reactions. CONCLUSION Docetaxel demonstrates significant activity in patients with platinum-refractory advanced ovarian cancer. Routine premedication is recommended. Further investigations of this agent in ovarian cancer, including combinations with other active agents, appear indicated.

Phase I feasibility and pharmacologic study of weekly intraperitoneal paclitaxel: a Gynecologic Oncology Group pilot Study.

PURPOSE This study was designed to define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and pharmacology of paclitaxel administered by the intraperitoneal (IP) route on a weekly schedule. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-three patients with residual ovarian cancer following standard chemotherapy were entered onto this phase I trial. Patients were treated weekly with IP paclitaxel administered in 2 L of normal saline following premedication. Patients with nonassessable disease received 16 weekly courses. The initial dose level was 20 mg/m2/wk. There was no intrapatient dose escalation. RESULTS Multiple grade 2 toxicities were observed at the 75-mg/m2/wk dose level. These toxicities included abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, leukopenia, and fatigue. One episode of grade 4 vomiting thought to be secondary to a transient partial small-bowel obstruction occurred at this dose level. At dose levels > or = 60 to 65 mg/m2, pharmacology studies documented the persistence of significant IP paclitaxel levels 1 week after drug administration, suggesting very slow peritoneal clearance and continuous exposure of the peritoneal cavity to active concentrations of paclitaxel. Low plasma paclitaxel concentrations were detected in the majority of patients treated at dose levels > or = 55 mg/m2. CONCLUSION Paclitaxel can be delivered by the IP route on a weekly schedule with both an acceptable toxicity profile and a major pharmacokinetic advantage for cavity exposure. The recommended dose and schedule for phase II study of IP paclitaxel is 60 to 65 mg/m2 weekly.

Phase II and pharmacologic study of docetaxel as initial chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE Because docetaxel (Taxotere, RP 56976; Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France) appeared to be active against breast cancer in phase I trials, we performed this phase II study. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-seven patients with measurable disease were enrolled. Only prior hormone therapy was allowed, as was adjuvant chemotherapy completed > or = 12 months earlier. Docetaxel 100 mg/m2 was administered over 1 hour every 21 days. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride and/or corticosteroid premedication was added after hypersensitivity-like reactions (HSRs) were seen in two of the first six patients. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed during cycle 1 for correlation with toxicity. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients were assessable. Nineteen (51%) required dose reductions, usually for neutropenic fever. The median nadir WBC count was 1.4 x 10(3)/microL. HSRs were noted in 20 patients (54%). At a median cumulative dose of 297 mg/m2 (range, 99.6 to 424.5 mg/m2), 30 patients (81%) developed fluid retention, for which 11 (30%) subsequently stopped treatment. The first-cycle plasma area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) did not correlate with toxicity, although an ineligible patient with hepatic metastases (pretreatment bilirubin level 1.8 mg/dL) had an elevated AUC and died of toxicity. Responses were seen at all sites. On an intent-to-treat basis, there were two (5%) complete responses (CRs) and 18 (49%) partial responses (PRs). The overall response proportion (CRs plus PRs) was 54% (95% confidence interval, 37% to 71%). The median time to response was 12 weeks (range, 3 to 15) and the median duration was 26 weeks (range, 10 to 58+). CONCLUSION Docetaxel is active for metastatic breast cancer. Neutropenia and fluid retention are dose-limiting. The AUC did not predict toxicity, but caution is warranted when treating patients with liver dysfunction. An understanding of the pathophysiology of the fluid retention may facilitate prevention. Frequent HSR may warrant prophylactic premedication.