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.
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.
Viallet
J
J
Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Stewart
D
D
Shepherd
F
F
Ayoub
J
J
Cormier
Y
Y
DiPietro
N
N
Steward
W
W
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*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004214:Distamycins; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; C066900:tallimustine