title: Phase I trial of intramuscularly administered tumor necrosis factor in patients with advanced cancer.
abstract: A phase I trial of intramuscularly administered recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) was conducted in 19 adult patients with advanced solid tumors. The agent was administered daily for up to five consecutive days every other week for two to four courses. Doses of rTNF ranged from 5 to 200 micrograms/m2/d. Dose-limiting toxicities were encountered at doses greater than 100 micrograms/m2/d. Toxicities included tenderness, erythema and induration at the site of injection, fatigue, fever, chills, headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Moderate to marked reductions in WBC and platelet counts were observed regularly at the highest dose levels, but none were clinically significant. Hepatic enzyme elevation was seen frequently, and two patients developed hyperbilirubinemia. Only one of seven patients treated with doses greater than 100 micrograms/m2/d completed the planned course of therapy. Even at the highest dose levels, serum concentrations of rTNF could only rarely be detected in the serum. No therapeutic responses were observed. The maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of rTNF in this trial was 150 micrograms/m2/d, administered for two courses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Casper
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gabrilove
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sherwin
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Oettgen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha