title: Phase I/II study of liposome-complexed mitoxantrone in patients with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: The toxicity of escalating doses of liposome-complexed mitoxantrone (LCM) was evaluated in 22 women with histological/cytological diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (21 pts) or adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin (1 pt). All patients but one had been pretreated with chemotherapy. LCM was given IV as a 1h-infusion, repeated every 3 weeks, from a starting dose of 3 mg/m2, corresponding to 1/3 of the MELD10. An intra-patient dose escalation scheme, with an increase per cycle of 3 mg/m2 up to 12 mg/m2, and then by 2 mg/m2 was applied, treatment being continued until tumour progression, or toxicity, or up to a maximum of 6 cycles, whichever occurred first. Granulocytopenia was dose-limiting, with a GNC count of less than 0.5 x 10(3)/microliters after 30%, 28%, 50% and 50% of the cycles given at 16, 18, 20 and 22-24 mg/m2, respectively. The lowest GNC count occurred usually 2 weeks after treatment, with recovery in the following week. Gastro-intestinal toxicity, mucositis and alopecia were rare and of mild degree. Two patients, with a subtotal neoplastic involvement of the liver and a pretreatment grade 4 liver impairment, died because of acute liver failure a few days after treatment. The maximum tolerable dose was defined at 22 mg/m2 and 18 mg/m2, given every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, was the regimen recommended for phase II studies. Seven previously untreated patients with metastatic breast cancer have been so far treated. The pattern of toxicity of LCM (specific, short-lasting granulocytopenia; negligible, non cumulative non hematological toxicity) was confirmed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pestalozzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwendener
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D008942:Mitoxantrone