title: Phase I study of taxol using a 5-day intermittent schedule.
abstract: Taxol is a plant product derived from the western yew, Taxus brevifolia. We have conducted a phase I clinical study of Taxol used intravenously daily for 5 days at 3-week intervals. The starting dose was 5 mg/m2 daily, and the highest dose used was 40 mg/m2 daily for 5 days. The daily dosage of Taxol was mixed in 250 mL of intravenous fluid and infused over a period of 1 hour. A total of 20 patients with metastatic solid tumors refractory to standard therapy received 45 courses of therapy. Taxol was generally well tolerated and caused no significant nausea or vomiting. A mild degree of diarrhea was reported by six patients, and a moderate degree of stomatitis at the higher dose levels developed in four patients. All patients treated in the dosage range of 20 mg/m2 to 40 mg/m2 experienced nearly complete alopecia. Myelosuppression, predominantly in the form of leukopenia, was the dose-limiting toxicity. The nadir of leukopenia was reached between days 8 and 12 followed by complete recovery between days 15 and 21. Leukopenia was first observed following the Taxol dosage level of 20 mg/m2/d, was moderately severe at the dosage level of 30 mg/m2/d, and was severe at the dosage level of 40 mg/m2/d. No objective tumor regression was observed. A starting dosage level of 30 mg/m2/d for 5 days is recommended for phase II trials using this schedule.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Legha
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tenney
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Krakoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel