title: A phase I study of irinotecan in pediatric patients: a pediatric oncology group study.
abstract: A Phase I trial of irinotecan was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), and the incidence and severity of other toxicities in children with refractory solid tumors. Thirty-five children received 146 courses of irinotecan administered as a 60-min i.v. infusion, daily for 5 days, every 21 days, after premedication with dexamethasone and ondansetron. Doses ranged from 30 mg/m2 to 65 mg/m2. An MTD was defined in heavily pretreated and less-heavily pretreated (i.e., two prior chemotherapy regimens, no prior bone marrow transplantation, and no radiation to the spine, skull, ribs, or pelvic bones) patients. Myelosuppression was the primary DLT in heavily pretreated patients, and diarrhea was the DLT in less-heavily pretreated patients. The MTD in the heavily pretreated patient group was 39 mg/m2, and the MTD in the less-heavily pretreated patients was 50 mg/m2. Non-dose-limiting diarrhea that was well controlled and of brief duration was observed in approximately 75% of patients. A partial response was observed in one patient with neuroblastoma, and in one patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. Stable disease (4-20 cycles) was observed in seven patients with a variety of malignancies including neuroblastoma, pineoblastoma, glioblastoma, brainstem glioma, osteosarcoma, hepatoblastoma, and a central nervous system rhabdoid tumor. In conclusion, the recommended Phase II dose of irinotecan administered as a 60-min i.v. infusion daily for 5 days, every 21 days, is 39 mg/m2 in heavily treated and 50 mg/m2 in less-heavily treated children with solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Texas Children's Cancer Center/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston 77030, USA. sblaney@txccc.org
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blaney
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weitman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luchtman-Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin