title: Tallimustine is inactive in patients with previously treated small cell lung cancer. A phase II trial of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group.
abstract: Tallimustine binds to the minor groove of DNA where it alkylates the N3 position of adenine and may interfere with gene transcription. We conducted a phase II trial of Tallimustine given at a dose of 750 micrograms/m2 intravenously every 4 weeks in patients with small cell lung cancer progressing or relapsing following cisplatin or carboplatin-based chemotherapy. We treated 14 eligible patients with a performance status 0, 1 or 2, bi-dimensionally measurable disease and adequate end-organ function. The main toxicity was neutropenia with a median granulocyte count of 0.1 x 10(9) per liter (range 0-3.9) and four patients (27%) developing febrile neutropenia. In addition, most patients (93%) experienced lethargy. No objective responses were seen. A mixed response was seen in one patient and three others had stable disease for a median of 3.7 months. We conclude that Tallimustine is an ineffective agent in previously treated small cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Viallet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cormier
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: DiPietro
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steward
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004214:Distamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004214:Distamycins; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; C066900:tallimustine