Faculty Bibliography

Our objective was to evaluate the role of amifostine as a cytoprotector in patients with solid tumors receiving the myelosuppressive regimen of gemcitabine/cisplatin combination. Patients with advanced solid tumors were randomized to gemcitabine-amifostine-cisplatin (GAP) or gemcitabine-cisplatin (GP) in Cycle 1 (C1) and then were crossed over to the other treatment in Cycle 2 (C2). Amifostine at 740 mg/m2, followed by gemcitabine and cisplatin, were given for 2 consecutive weeks, every 4 weeks. Two GP combinations were studied: G 1000 mg/m2 and P 40 mg/m2 days 1, 8 (high dose), and G 800 mg/m2 and P 30 mg/m2 days 1, 8 (low dose). Forty patients were enrolled. Of the 19 patients treated with high-dose GP, 11 (nine patients GP in C1 and GAP in C2, two patients GAP in C1 and GP in C2) completed 2 cycles of therapy. Of the eight non-evaluable patients, five patients dropped out due to toxicity or refusal after treatment with amifostine in C1. Of the 21 patients treated with low-dose GP, 15 (eight patients GP in C1 and GAP in C2, seven patients GAP in C1 and GP in C2) were likewise evaluable. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities was similar for GP and GAP during the first 2 cycles of treatment, and there were no statistically significant differences in mean absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin level and platelet levels between the cycles in each arm. We conclude that amifostine, at 740 mg/m2, does not lead to less myelosuppression when combined with gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy regimens and may possibly contribute to subjective intolerance

PURPOSE: Preoperative chemotherapy is the conventional primary treatment in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). We investigated the safety and efficacy of primary twice-weekly paclitaxel and concurrent radiation (RT) before modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Stage IIB (T3N0) to III LABC patients were eligible. Primary chemoradiation consisted of paclitaxel, 30 mg/m(2) delivered intravenously for 1 hour twice weekly for a total of 8 to 10 weeks, and concurrent RT (45 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction). Modified radical mastectomy was performed at least 2 weeks after completion of chemoradiation or on recovery of skin toxicity. Postoperatively, patients who responded to paclitaxel and RT received four cycles of doxorubicin/paclitaxel, whereas patients who did not respond received doxorubicin/cytoxan. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were accrued. Toxicity from paclitaxel/RT included grade 3 skin desquamation (7%), hypersensitivity (2%), and stomatitis (2%). Postsurgery complications occurred in six patients (14%). The only grade 4 toxicity of postmastectomy chemotherapy was hematologic (10%). Grade 3 toxicities were leukopenia (24%), infection (22%), peripheral neuropathy (17%), arthralgia and pain (17%), stomatitis (12%), fatigue (10%), esophagitis (5%), and nausea (2%). Overall clinical response rate to preoperative paclitaxel and RT was 91%. Thirty-four percent of patients achieved a pathologic response in the mastectomy specimen: 16% pathologic complete responses (clearance of invasive cancer in the breast and axillary contents) and 18% pathologic partial responses (< 10 residual microscopic foci of invasive breast cancer). CONCLUSION: Twice-weekly paclitaxel with concurrent RT is a feasible and effective primary treatment for LABC. Future studies should compare primary chemoradiation to chemotherapy in LABC

PURPOSE: PS-341 is a novel dipeptide boronic acid proteasome inhibitor with in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity that induces mechanisms of apoptosis by unknown mechanisms. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines were used to investigate effects PS-341 on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and the induction of apoptosis. RESULTS: PS-341 was 38-360-fold more cytotoxic against H460 cells when compared with the proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and PSI. Differential PS-341 cytotoxic effects were found with respect to P53 function: H322 cells (p53 mutant) were 6-fold less sensitive as compared with H460 cells (p53 wild type); and H358 cells (p53 null) were 1.6-fold more sensitive as compared with H460 cells (p53 wild type). A concentration- and time-dependent cell cycle blockade at G(2)-M phase was seen for H460 cells without any direct effects on microtubule polymerization or depolymerization. PS-341 exposure in H460 cells led to stabilization of p53, induction of p21(cip/waf-1) and MDM2 expression, an increase in cyclin B and cyclin A, and the activation of cyclin B and cyclin A kinases. MDM2 induction was found only in H460 cells, whereas in H322 and H358 cells, G(2)-M-phase arrest, p21(cip/waf-1) induction, and an increase in cyclin B1 were found. The commitment of G(2)-M-phase cells to apoptosis was verified by the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in drug-free medium. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the PS-341-induced G(2)-M-phase arrest may be associated with the inhibition of degradation of cell cycle regulators and that the up-regulation of p21(cip/waf-1) expression may be via p53-dependent and/or -independent pathways. The resulting disturbance of cell cycle progression leads either to growth inhibition or to the initiation of apoptotic pathways

Anti-tubulin couplets have activity in hormone-resistant prostate cancer. This study was designed to define the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and recommended phase II dose (RPTD) of the unique triplet combination of paclitaxel, estramustine phosphate (EMP) and vinorelbine (Pacl-E-Vin). Patients with advanced malignancies who had failed standard therapy, ECOG performance status (PS 0-2) and adequate organ function were included. Dose of EMP was fixed at 300 mg/m /dose p.o. t.i.d. on days 1-3 and 8-10. Vinorelbine dose was 20 mg/m /day i.v. on days 3 and 10. Paclitaxel was dose escalated from 40 to 50 mg/m /day i.v. on days 3 and 10. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. Twelve adults (median age 72) were entered on this study. Primary tumors included prostate ( =7), cervix ( =2), melanoma ( =1), colon (1) and lung with synchronous prostate cancer ( =1). Nine patients had received no prior chemotherapy, one had received a prior regimen and two had received two or more prior regimens. Of four evaluable patients at dose level 1, one patient had grade 3 neutropenia leading to the day 10 dose being withheld. Of five evaluable patients at dose level 2, there was one DLT (febrile neutropenia) and two grade 3 neutropenias leading to the day 10 dose being withheld. One patient had a lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. Other side effects were mild and reversible. Nine patients were evaluable for efficacy: three with prostate cancer had a greater than 50% prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, and a patient with synchronous prostate and lung cancer had a greater than 50% PSA response. We conclude that the DLT of Pacl-E-Vin is neutropenia. RPTD is vinorelbine 20 mg/m, paclitaxel 40 mg/m, both administered on days 3 and 10, and EMP 900 mg/m /day on days 1-3 and 8-10, q3w. Dose omission at day 10 followed by 20% dose reduction of paclitaxel and vinorelbine is recommended in the event of grade 3 neutropenia. Activity in hormone-refractory prostate cancer is promising and warrants phase II evaluation

PURPOSE: Combined biological therapy with 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cRA) and interferon alpha-2a (IFN alpha-2a) was reported to be highly effective in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and skin. Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis is rare in the United States, accounting for less than 1/2% of all male malignancies. Because of the association of infection with human papillomavirus with both carcinomas of the cervix and penis and their shared squamous cell histology, we carried out a phase II study of 13-cRA and IFN alpha-2a in carcinoma of the penis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen ambulatory patients with surgically unresectable, recurrent, and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were treated with IFN alpha-2a, 3MU/day administered subcutaneously and 13-cRA, 1 mg/kg orally daily for at least eight weeks, unless intolerable toxicity occurred. RESULTS: One patient was ineligible; one patient withdrew prior to treatment. Among the 16 eligible, treated patients, there was one complete response. Fourteen patients had progressive disease as their only treatment effect. Two patients were unevaluable for tumor response because they had no follow-up tumor measurements. No unexpected treatment-related toxicities were found on study. The only common form of grade 3 toxicity was hypertriglyceridemia found in eight of the 17 patients (47%). No toxicities above grade 3 were observed. CONCLUSION: In contrast to its benefit in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix and skin, the combination of 13-cRA and IFN alpha-2a has low efficacy in advanced carcinoma of the penis.

Anthracyclines and platinums have activity in GYN, lung, breast and upper GI tumors, lymphomas and sarcomas. C and PLD (Doxil, Caelyx) have non-overlapping toxicity profiles: C produces myelosuppression, nausea and peripheral neuropathy while PLD causes schedule-dependent mucocutaneous toxicity. This study aimed to define the RPTD of the two agents in combination. Design: Patients (pt) received C and PLD on D1 of a 21 day schedule. 5 dose levels (DL) were studied (C AUC / PLD mg/m2): DL1: 4/20; DL2: 4/25; DL3: 4/30; DL4: 5/30; DL5: 6/30. DLT were febrile neutropenia, G4 heme or G3 non-heme toxicity other than hypersensitivity (HSR). Pt with heme toxicity could omit C in later cycles and continue PLD until disease progression. Pt with mucocutaneous toxicity extended the PLD dosing interval to 28 days. Results: 20 pt were treated: 7M/13F. Age: med 58.5, range 36-85. Tumors: ovarian (EOC)(7), MMT (2), endometrial (1), cervix (2), H&N (3), NPC (2), leiomyosarc (1), breast (1), islet cell (1). Prior chemo: 13. Pt received a median of 4 cycles of C/PLD (range 1-8) and 8 pt received maintenance PLD after cessation of C. No DLT occurred at any DL. At DL5 (n=6 eval), C1 toxicities were G1-2 ANC/Hb (4), G2 vaginal mucositis (1), G2 HSR (1), G1-2 nausea/vom (2), G2 fatigue (1), G2 hand-foot syndrome (1), G1 diarrhea (1). No cardiac events were observed. RECIST responses were observed in 4 pts (MMT 2, NPC 1, EOC 1). In pt with EOC, Ca125 responses were seen in 4/4 evaluable pt. Conclusions: C and PLD can be safely administered together at full dose, and maintenance PLD is feasible. This combination warrants phase III evaluation in ovarian cancer and may be a useful regimen in other solid tumors. Supported by M01 RR00096 and the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research