title: Amifostine (WR-2721), a cytoprotective agent during high-dose cyclophosphamide treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a phase II study.
abstract: Clinical trials indicate that amifostine may confer protection on various normal tissues without attenuating anti-tumor response. When administered prior to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it may provide a broad spectrum of cytoprotection including against alkylating drugs. The mechanism of protection resides in the metabolism at normal tissue site by membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase. Toxicity of this drug is moderate with hypotension, nausea and vomiting, and hypocalcemia being observed. We report a phase II study using amifostine as a protective drug against high-dose cyclophosphamide (HDCY) (7 g/m2), used to mobilize peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) and to reduce tumor burden. We enrolled 29 patients, 22 (75. 9%) affected by aggressive and 7 (24.1%) by indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), who were submitted to 58 infusions of amifostine and compared them with a historical group (33 patients) affected by aggressive NHL and treated with VACOP-B followed by HDCY. The most important results in favor of amifostine were the reduction of intensity of cardiac, pulmonary and hepatic toxicity, and a significant reduction of frequency and severity of mucositis (P = 0. 04). None of the 29 patients died in the protected group, while in the historical group 2/33 patients died because of cardiac or pulmonary toxicity and 2 patients stopped therapy due to toxicity. Amifostine did not prevent the aplastic phase following HDCY. PBPC collection and hematological recovery were adequate in both groups. The number of CFU-GM (colony-forming units-granulocyte/macrophage) colonies and mononuclear cells in the apheresis products was significantly higher in the amifostine group (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). Side effects were mild and easily controlled. We conclude that amifostine protection should be useful in HDCY to protect normal tissues, with acceptable side effects.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, Unidade de Transplante de Medula, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil. carmino@obelix.unicamp.br
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nati
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Congiu
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vigorito
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Damasio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004999:Amifostine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D004999:Amifostine