title: Phase I/II trial of dexverapamil, epirubicin and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: A group of 28 previously untreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were entered in this phase I/II study. Treatment consisted of oral dexverapamil 1000-1200 mg/day for 3 days, epirubicin given as an intravenous bolus injection on day 2 with a starting dose of 90 mg/m2, and 400 micrograms granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) administered subcutaneously from day 5 through 14. Epirubicin dose escalation levels were 90, 105, 120 and 135 mg/m2. Consecutive cohorts of 4-8 patients were planned at each dose level. Treatment cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. Haematological toxicity, specifically granulocytopenia constituted the dose-limiting toxicity with a maximum tolerated dose of 120 mg/m2 for epirubicin. Despite routine supportive therapy with GM-CSF, 4, 2, and 5 patients experienced grade 4 granulocytopenia during their first two treatment courses at levels of 105, 120, and 135 mg/m2 respectively. Non-haematological toxicity was uncommon, generally modest, and did not demonstrate a clear relationship with the anthracycline dose. Dexverapamil-related cardiovascular symptoms occurred frequently, but they never resulted in serious toxicity requiring active medical intervention or permanent discontinuation of therapy. Of the 28 patients, 9 achieved partial reponses to this therapy. The recommended dose of epirubicin for this regimen with dexverapamil and GM-CSF is 120 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Therapeutic results suggest this regimen to be an effective and tolerable treatment strategy in pancreatic cancer, which should be evaluated further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Vienna University Medical School, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kornek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raderer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koperna-Mach
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kastner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tetzner
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015251:Epirubicin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014700:Verapamil