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This study evaluates the efficacy of capecitabine using data from a large, well-characterised population of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated in two identically designed phase III studies. A total of 1207 patients with previously untreated mCRC were randomised to either oral capecitabine (1250?mg?m-2 twice daily, days 1-14 every 21 days; n=603) or intravenous (i.v.) bolus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV; Mayo Clinic regimen; n=604). Capecitabine demonstrated a statistically significant superior response rate compared with 5-FU/LV (26 vs 17%; P<0.0002). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that capecitabine consistently resulted in superior response rates (P<0.05), even in patient subgroups with poor prognostic indicators. The median time to response and duration of response were similar and time to progression (TTP) was equivalent in the two arms (hazard ratio (HR) 0.997, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.885-1.123, P=0.95; median 4.6 vs 4.7 months with capecitabine and 5-FU/LV, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified younger age, liver metastases, multiple metastases and poor Karnofsky Performance Status as independent prognostic indicators for poor TTP. Overall survival was equivalent in the two arms (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.84-1.06, P=0.48; median 12.9 vs 12.8 months, respectively). Capecitabine results in superior response rate, equivalent TTP and overall survival, an improved safety profile and improved convenience compared with i.v. 5-FU/LV as first-line treatment for MCRC. For patients in whom fluoropyrimidine monotherapy is indicated, capecitabine should be strongly considered. Following encouraging results from phase I and II trials, randomised trials are evaluating capecitabine in combination with irinotecan, oxaliplatin and radiotherapy. Capecitabine is a suitable replacement for i.v. 5-FU as the backbone of colorectal cancer therapy.British Journal of Cancer (2004) 90, 1190-1197. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6601676 www.bjcancer.com Published online 24 February 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- 23 patients with advanced, hormonal-resistant, prostatic cancer were treated with daily oral prednimustine - a combination of prednisolone and chlorambucil. 8 patients (35%) subjectively responded with disappearance of skeletal pain and improvement in appetite, weight and sense of well being. 3 patients had objective evidence of tumour regression. Clinical toxicity was moderate, and only occasional myelosuppression was encountered. The ease of administration and predictable toxicity of prednimustine make it a potentially useful agent, alone or in combination, for advanced prostatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of a novel lipid-soluble antifolate, 2,4 diamino-5-adamantyl-6-methyl pyrimidine ethane sulfonate (DAMP-ES) has been carried out on two schedules: I--daily x5; II--24-h continuous infusion. In schedule I, doses of 10-90 mg/m2 per day were evaluated. Dose-limiting toxicity was hematologic, but nausea and vomiting, skin rash, diarrhea, anorexia, alopecia, mucositis, and neurotoxicity were also noted. In schedule II, doses of 192 and 240 mg/m2 were evaluated. Dose-limiting toxicity was neurotoxicity, but hematologic toxicity was also marked. Recommended starting doses for phase II studies are 75 mg/m2 per day for 5 days or 192 mg/m2 by continuous infusion for 24 h. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated a beta-phase plasma half-life of 12.4-24 h and a large and variable volume of distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase I clinical trial of the intravenous administration of a novel pyridyl imidazoline ethyl carboxy phenyl urea was carried out in 42 patients with advanced solid tumors. Five schedules were evaluated: I, daily X 5; II, daily X 10; III, daily X 15; IV, continuous infusion for 5 days; V, continuous infusion for 7 days. Toxicity was not seen in schedule I (maximum dose 3 g/m2/day) and was minimal in schedule IV (6 g/m2/day). In schedule II it was seen at 2 and 3 g/m2/day, in schedule III at 2 g/m2/day and in schedule V at 6 g/m2/day. Dose-limiting toxicity consisted of a syndrome of lethargy and fatigue. There were no definitely drug-related changes in hematologic or serum chemistry parameters. No responses were seen, but relief of pain in three patients with prostate cancer was noted. Pharmacokinetics indicate a short half-life, limited volume of distribution, and rapid renal clearance. The recommended dose for phase II studies is 3 g/m2/day X 10 or 2 g/m2/day X 15 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase I study of single i.v. doses of a new sugar containing nitrosourea 6-deoxy-3,5 di-O-methyl 6-(3 methyl-3-nitrosoureido)-alpha-D-glucofuranoside (CGP 6809, EDMN) has been carried out in 47 patients with advanced solid tumors. Nine dose levels between 200 and 4500 mg/m2 were examined. Nausea and vomiting were seen in most patients but were controlled with antiemetics. Myelosuppression was minimal. The dose-limiting toxicity was hepatotoxicity, occurring early (peak at days 2-4) and resolving rapidly. No cumulative toxicity was seen with an every 6 weeks schedule. Other toxicities were abdominal pain, diarrhea, arm pain, restlessness, and headache. Pharmacokinetic studies in 20 patients using an HPLC assay and in 5 patients using [14C]EDMN showed a short half-life, rapid plasma clearance, rapid metabolism, and minimal excretion of unchanged drug. There was one partial response in a patient with colon carcinoma. The recommended dose for phase II studies in 3750 mg/m2 every 6 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levels of three enzymes, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and beta-glucuronidase (BGA) were measured in the urine of patients receiving hematologically toxic doses of iproplatin (a) with or (b) without pretreatment hydration. The maximum post-treatment increases in the levels of each of the enzymes were compared between these two groups of patients. In addition, the maximum increases in urinary enzyme levels in iproplatin-treated patients were compared with those in patients treated with 40 mg/m2 cisplatin, a known nephrotoxic agent. Increases in LAP levels after cisplatin treatment in the periods studied are significantly higher than those after iproplatin treatment (P less than 0.05). No differences were found in the increases in BGA and NAG levels between iproplatin treatment and cisplatin treatment. No differences were found in the increases in levels of any of the enzymes between patients receiving iproplatin with pretreatment hydration and no prior hydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The goals of this study are to evaluate the association between levels of invasive circulating tumor cells (iCTCs) with CRC outcomes and to explore the molecular characteristics of iCTCs. Peripheral blood from 93 patients with Stage I⁻IV CRC was obtained and assessed for the detection and characterization of iCTCs using a functional collagen-based adhesion matrix (CAM) invasion assay. Patients were followed and assessed for overall survival. Tumor cells isolated by CAM were characterized using cell culture and microarray analyses. Of 93 patients, 88 (95%) had detectable iCTCs, ranging over 0⁻470 iCTCs/mL. Patients with Stage I⁻IV disease exhibited median counts of 0.0 iCTCs/mL ( n = 6), 13.0 iCTCs/mL ( n = 12), 41.0 iCTCs/mL ( n = 12), and 133.0 iCTCs/mL ( n = 58), respectively ( p < 0.001). Kaplan⁻Meier curve analysis demonstrated a significant survival benefit in patients with low iCTC counts compared with in patients with high iCTC counts (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox model analysis revealed that iCTC count was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival ( p = 0.009). Disease stage ( p = 0.01, hazard ratio 1.66; 95% confidence interval: 1.12⁻2.47) and surgical intervention ( p = 0.03, HR 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15⁻0.92) were also independent prognostic factors. Gene expression analysis demonstrated the expression of both endothelial and tumor progenitor cell biomarkers in iCTCs. CAM-based invasion assay shows a high detection sensitivity of iCTCs that inversely correlated with overall survival in CRC patients. Functional and gene expression analyses showed the phenotypic mosaics of iCTCs, mimicking the survival capability of circulating endothelial cells in the blood stream.

Purpose: To assess safety and efficacy of folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine (FFG) and folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) regimens with added bevacizumab as first-line treatment in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC)., Patients and Methods: Patients with Stage III unresectable or Stage IV adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum were randomly assigned to either FFG weekly for 6 weeks of an 8-week cycle or FOLFOX4 every 2 weeks. After FDA approval, bevacizumab 5 mg/kg was added every 2 weeks. Treatment continued until disease progression. Planned enrollment was 190 patients. Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR); secondary endpoints included evaluation of adverse events, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS). Disease Control Rate (DCR; % of patients with complete or partial responses or stable disease) was a post hoc analysis., Results: The trial was stopped prematurely due to low enrollment. Of 84 enrolled patients (42 to each arm), 36 patients (18 in each arm) received bevacizumab. ORR was greater (P = .002) for FOLFOX4 (17/42; 40.5%) than for FFG (4/42; 9.5%); however, TTP, OS, and DCR results were not statistically different comparing FOLFOX4 and FFG. Peripheral neuropathy was more frequent (P = <.001) with FOLFOX4 (18/42; 42.9%) than with FFG (1/42; 2.4%)., Conclusions: FFG and FOLFOX4 were generally well tolerated. Based on ORR, FOLFOX4 was superior to FFG. However, differences in TTP and OS comparing regimens were inconclusive. General use of gemcitabine as a biomodulator of 5-fluorouracil in CRC cannot be recommended at this time and the regimen remains investigational.

Recent research advances show that tumor cell intravasation (entry into the circulation) and metastasis occur very early in breast cancer progression. Clinical studies also illustrate the potential importance of detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in outcomes of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Whether these cells exhibit the invasiveness and express tumor stem or progenitor markers, hallmark of the metastatic phenotype, is less well characterized. To detect CTCs with the invasive phenotype and to explore their molecular features, we applied a functional cell separation method, called collagen adhesion matrix (CAM) assay, as enrichment and identification steps. The CAM-coated device successfully recovered tumor cells spiked in 1 ml of blood with a 54% +/- 9% (n = 18) recovery rate and 0.5-35% purity, and detected invasive tumor cells in 10/10 blood samples (100% yield) from patients with metastatic breast cancer with a range of 18-256 CTCs/ml and average of 126 +/- 25 (mean +/- SD) CTCs/ml. CTCs were detected in blood samples of 28/54 (52%) Stage I-III breast cancer patients with a mean count of 61 CTCs/ml. Furthermore, the relative frequency of these cells correlated to the staging, lymph node-status and survival of patients with early stage breast cancer. CAM-captured cells were capable of propagation in culture. Gene expression and multiplex flow cytometric analyses on CAM-captured cells demonstrated the existence of distinct populations of CTCs including these of epithelial lineage and stem or progenitor cells. Thus, CAM-initiated CTC detection provides advantages for examining invasiveness and tumor progenitor phenotypes.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a recombinant human glycoprotein that promotes proliferation and differentiation of granulocytic-committed progenitors. It is commonly used to treat neutropenia and is generally well tolerated. Occurrences of rare but serious adverse events in association with the use of G-CSF have been described. We report the case of a 54-year-old male with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung who developed abdominal aortitis following the use of G-CSF. Other possible aetiological conditions were excluded based on laboratory and radiological evaluations. To our knowledge, this represents the second case report demonstrating an association between aortitis and the use of G-CSF.

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicity profile and pharmacological properties of oral CP-547,632 alone and in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin administered every 3 weeks, and to assess efficacy as measured by the objective response and progressive disease rates of oral CP-547,632 administered in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin., Patients and Methods: Patients with stage IIIB/IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy were treated with oral daily CP-547,632 in combination with paclitaxel 225 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC = 6 every 3 weeks. Pharmacokinetics parameters for CP-547,632 and paclitaxel were determined independently and during co-administration., Results: Seventy patients were enrolled and 68 patients were treated, 37 in phase 1 and 31 in phase 2 (14 with the combination and 17 with chemotherapy alone). Dose-limiting toxicity of CP-547,632 250 mg by mouth daily in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin was grade 3 rash and grade 3 diarrhea despite medical intervention. CP-547,632 did not significantly affect the pharmacologic profiles of paclitaxel and carboplatin. No subject had CR. In phase I, seven subjects (22.6%) had a confirmed partial response. In phase II, four subjects (28.6%) receiving CP-547,632 plus chemotherapy had a confirmed partial response. In the phase II chemotherapy alone group, four subjects (25%) had a confirmed partial response., Conclusion: The combination of CP-547,632 and paclitaxel and carboplatin was well-tolerated at doses up to 200 mg by mouth daily. Dose-limiting toxicity of CP-547,632 at 250 mg consisted of diarrhea and rash. CP-547,632 did not increase the objective response rate to chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Carboplatin and gemcitabine are one standard regimen for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The oral proapoptotic agent exisulind is a cyclic guanosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase that increases apoptosis in vitro. We performed a phase II trial of carboplatin and gemcitabine with exisulind in patients with advanced NSCLC., Methods: Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m days 1 and 8) and carboplatin (AUC = 5 day 1) were administered every 21 days, with exisulind orally at 250 mg orally twice daily continuously, starting day 1. The primary objective was to evaluate the 18-month survival. Secondary objectives included response rate, progression-free survival, and toxicities. Eligibility included stage IIIB (pleural effusion) or stage IV NSCLC, no previous chemotherapy, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-1., Results: Of 57 eligible patients treated, 34 patients were male and 23 female, 42 had stage IV, six stage IIIB, and nine had recurrent disease. The median age was 63 years (range, 37-83). Twenty-six patients had an ECOG PS of 0 and 31 had a PS of 1. The majority of grade 3-4 toxicities were hematologic. Grade 3-4 nonhematologic toxicity seen in >5% of patients included nausea/vomiting in 16% and fatigue in 23% of patients. The overall response rate was 19.3%. Median progression-free survival was 4.7 months. Median overall survival was 9.0 months. Eighteen-month overall survival was 30%., Conclusion: The chemotherapy combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin with the oral proapoptotic agent exisulind is generally well tolerated with principally hematologic toxicity. The statistical endpoint of 17 patients alive at 18 months was met, but given ongoing developments in advanced NSCLC, ECOG will not be pursuing additional trials of exisulind in NSCLC.

Most currently used systems for dendritic cell (DC) production from progenitors entail tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) at the onset of cell culture, based on the notion that TNF-alpha might be required in the early stages of DC development. To optimize conditions for DC expansion from cryopreserved cord blood (CB) CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors, we took a dynamic approach to define the timing of TNF-alpha exposure to the culture. We cultured cord blood CD34+ cells in RPMI-1640 with 10% human AB plasma, stem cell factor (days 1-6), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (days 1-18), interleukin-4 (days 6-18) and varying schedules of TNF-alpha (0-144 h after thawing). Expression of the DC-associated markers, including CD83/CD1a, HLA DR/CD86/CD80, CD14/CD40, was monitored every 3 days. Our data demonstrate that delayed TNF-alpha exposure by 48-72 h after thawing gave rise to two- to three-fold increase in the yield of CD83+ DCs that were highly active in stimulating allogeneic T-cell proliferation compared to immediate TNF-alpha exposure. Thus, the immediate exposure of cryopreserved cord blood CD34+ cells to TNF-alpha, potentially compromising DC expansion, should be avoided. This finding should be of significant consideration when using cryopreserved CD34+ progenitor cells as a source of immunologically competent DCs in a clinical setting.

Chemotherapy for malignant brain tumors has a limited efficacy largely due to restricted blood-brain barrier permeability for chemotherapeutic drugs. Intraarterial chemotherapy (IAC) has the advantage of increased uptake during the first passage of the drugs through tumor capillaries. Initial IAC trials had less than satisfactory results due to unacceptable toxicities. Between 1987 and 1996, 173 patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors were treated with intraarterial (intracarotid and/or intravertebral) cisplatin and etoposide (VP-16). Out of these, 168 patients, who received a total of 438 cycles, were evaluated for the incidence of toxicities. Patients received either cisplatin at 40 mg/m2 and VP-16 at 20 mg/m2 or cisplatin at 60 mg/m2 and VP-16 at 40 mg/m2. Nausea and vomiting were the most common toxicities (42 patients, 14% of cycles). Arterial puncture was associated with a 1.6% incidence of groin hematomas (6 patients), and a 0.7% incidence of failure to canulate the carotid or vertebral arteries (3 patients). Neurologic toxicities included headache (1.4% of cycles, 5 patients), focal seizures (1.4% of cycles, 5 patients), transient confusion and urinary retention/incontinence (1.9% of cycles, 8 patients), and blurred vision (0.9% of cycles, 4 patients). We have not seen visual loss, strokes, major vessel dissection or thrombosis, or myelosuppression. Toxicity incidence was higher in patients with metastatic brain tumors than in those with primary brain tumors (34% versus 17%, p < 0.001). It was also higher in patients who had brain radiation therapy (RT) prior to IAC than in those who had RT concomitant with IAC (31% versus 19%, p = 0.05). No significant difference in toxicity incidence was noticed between patients who received RT concomitant with IAC and those who received RT after IAC (19% and 23% respectively, p = 0.08). Intracarotid chemotherapy given prior to RT resulted in 23 months of median survival for patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Intraarterial chemotherapy with cisplatin and VP-16 is a relatively safe treatment modality, especially in patients with primary brain tumors who have not received brain radiotherapy.

Patients with stage IIIB breast carcinoma represent only a small proportion of women with breast cancer in western countries but may constitute up to 50% of cases in underdeveloped countries. The prognosis remains poor despite aggressive treatment. Nineteen patients (11 with inflammatory breast carcinoma) received at least three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy of methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin, and folinic acid (MVAC/FA) followed by mastectomy. Six months of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil were given after surgery. Radiation therapy followed chemotherapy. Seventy percent of patients achieved complete and 14% partial response after MVAC/FA chemotherapy alone. Eleven patients (58%) survived 5 years, and 30% survived at least 8 years. The addition of cisplatin in combination chemotherapy used as first-line treatment for stage IIIB breast carcinoma was well tolerated, resulted in higher response rates, and appeared to have an effect on overall survival.

The physical characteristics of Sn-117m combined with the biodistribution of the compound tin-117m (Stannic, 4+) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Sn-117m DTPA) suggest that it should be an excellent agent for the palliation of pain from bony metastases. Prior work has established the dosimetry and the safety for the material in human beings. The presence of low-energy conversion electrons should result in the relative sparing of the bone marrow while delivering a high radiation dose to sites of bony metastatic disease. Forty-seven patients with painful bone metastases from various malignancies were treated with Sn-117m DTPA. The patients were assigned to five different dose levels ranging from 2.64 to 10.58 MBq (71-286 microCi) per kg of body weight. Follow-up included review of pain diaries, performance scores, analgesic requirements, blood chemistries, and hematological assessment. Three patients received a second treatment. There was an overall response rate for relief of pain of 75% (range, 60-83%) in the 40 treatments that could be evaluated. No correlation was apparent in this limited series between response rate and the five dose levels used. The relief was complete in 12 patients (30%). The time to onset of pain relief was 19 +/- 15 days with doses < or = 5.29 MBq/kg and 5 +/- 3 days with doses > or = 6.61 MBq/kg. Myelotoxicity was minimal, with only one patient having a marginal grade 3 WBC toxicity. On the basis of our data, Sn-117m DTPA should be an effective and safe radiopharmaceutical for palliation of painful bony metastases. A large-scale trial is warranted to evaluate it in comparison to other similar agents.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of oral ondansetron with i.v. granisetron each given as a single dose prior to administration of highly emetogenic cisplatin chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive patients with histologically confirmed malignancies were randomized to receive a single 24 mg ondansetron hydrochloride tablet plus a 50 ml i.v. infusion of normal saline, or a single 10 µg/kg (50 ml) i.v. infusion of granisetron plus a placebo tablet in this multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Study drug was administered 30 min prior to a single i.v. infusion of cisplatin (50-75 mg/m&sup2;), given over a period of

This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of oral ondansetron (8 mg twice daily [BID] for up to 3 days) with those of phenothiazine prochlorperazine (10 mg BID for up to 3 days) in 133 cancer patients receiving cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. In addition, the study evaluated the impact of these treatments on patients' health-related quality of life, measured with both the Functional Living Index-Cancer and the Functional Living Index-Emesis questionnaires. The first dose of study drug was administered 30 minutes before initiation of chemotherapy. Patients received a rescue antiemetic at their request or if the investigator deemed it necessary. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of patients with no emetic episodes over the 3-day study period: 60% in the ondansetron group compared with 21% in the prochlorperazine group. Twenty-five percent of ondansetron-treated patients compared with 68% of prochlorperazine-treated patients experienced three or more emetic episodes, rescue medication use, or withdrawal from the study due to emesis or adverse events. Among patients with at least one emetic episode, the mean time to emesis was significantly longer (13 hours and 37 minutes) in the ondansetron group compared with the prochlorperazine group (9 hours and 30 minutes). Nausea and appetite scores did not differ significantly between groups. The score on the vomiting subscale of the Functional Living Index-Emesis was significantly more favorable in the ondansetron group compared with the prochlorperazine group, indicating better maintenance of health-related quality of life in ondansetron-treated patients. Both treatments were well tolerated. The most common potentially drug-related adverse event was headache, which occurred in significantly more (16%) ondansetron-treated patients compared with prochlorperazine-treated patients (3%). The results of this study demonstrate that oral ondansetron 8 mg BID for up to 3 days is more effective than prochlorperazine 10 mg BID for up to 3 days in the prevention of emesis associated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

Background: We assessed the effects of 60-mg single doses of pamidronate disodium compared with saline alone in the treatment of cancer-associated hypercalcemia., Methods: After pretreatment hydration, patients with corrected serum calcium concentrations of 3.0 mmol/L (12 mg/dL) or greater secondary to cancer were randomized to double-blind treatment with a single infusion of pamidronate disodium, 60 mg, over either 4 or 24 hours or continued infusions of 0.9% saline alone (n = 23 per group). Corrected serum calcium levels were measured daily for 7 days of inpatient evaluation., Results: Response rates for both of the pamidronate regimens were significantly (P < .05) higher than that for saline alone. A complete response to treatment (corrected serum calcium concentration normalized) was observed for five (22%), 18 (78%), and 14 (61%) patients, respectively, who received saline alone, 4-hour infusion of pamidronate, and 24-hour infusion of pamidronate. There were no significant differences between the two pamidronate regimens. Median durations of complete response were 6, 6, and 11 days, respectively, and median times to relapse (includes complete plus partial responders and nonresponders) were 0, 7, and 7 days, respectively. Pamidronate was well tolerated as assessed by all clinical and laboratory measures, regardless of the time of infusion., Conclusions: A 4-hour infusion of pamidronate disodium, 60 mg, was as safe and effective as a 24-hour infusion, and both were superior to saline alone in lowering corrected serum calcium concentrations in patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia.