title: Phase II trial of trimetrexate in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma.
abstract: Trimetrexate, a lipophilic, 2,4-diaminoquinazoline derivative of methotrexate, enters cells by passive diffusion rather than via a transport system. Trimetrexate has shown promising activity in animal model systems. A total of 16 patients with metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma who had received only one prior chemotherapy regimen were treated with trimetrexate (8 mg/m2 given intravenously daily for 5 days) every 3 weeks. Treatment-related toxicity included greater than or equal to grade 2 neutropenia (8/16), thrombocytopenia (3/16), mucositis (4/16) and skin rash (3/16). No partial or complete responses were observed in 15 evaluable patients (95% confidence interval for true response rate, 0-22%) Six subjects showed stabilization of disease for periods ranging from 2 to 9 months. At this dose and on this schedule, trimetrexate appears to have little activity against refractory soft-tissue sarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Licht
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonin
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Antman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016597:Trimetrexate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D011799:Quinazolines; D016597:Trimetrexate