Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of ecteinascidin-743, a new marine compound, administered as a 24-hour continuous infusion in patients with solid tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and the phase II recommended dose (RD) of ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) given as a 24-hour continuous infusion every 3 weeks to patients with treatment-refractory solid tumors.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients received a total of 158 cycles of ET-743 at one of nine dose levels (DLs) ranging from 50 to 1,800 microg/m(2).


RESULTS
The MTD was defined as 1,800 microg/m(2) (DL 9), and the phase II RD was 1,500 microg/m(2) (DL 8) for moderately pretreated patients with performance status (PS) 0 to 1 and good hepatobiliary function. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and were severe at the MTD (1,800 microg/m(2)) in 94% and 25% of cycles, respectively. At the RD (1,500 microg/m(2)), neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were present in 33% and 10% of cycles, respectively. Transient acute elevated transaminase levels occurred in almost all cycles and was severe in 38% of cycles. Severe toxicities and DLTs were observed in patients with poor PS or abnormal liver function or who had received a large number of previous chemotherapy regimens. Antitumor activity was observed at the three highest DLs, including three partial responses (breast cancer, osteosarcoma, and liposarcoma), and four patients (all with progressing soft tissue sarcomas) had stable disease lasting > or = 3 months. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed on all patients for at least the first cycle, giving a linear pharmacokinetic profile; this showed a relationship between area under the curve (AUC) and transaminitis grade and a clear correlation between AUC and severe hematologic toxicity likelihood.


CONCLUSIONS
The RD for a 24-hour continuous intravenous infusion of ET-743 is 1,500 microg/m(2), with the most prevalent DLTs being hematologic. Patients with minor baseline hepatobiliary function abnormalities have a higher likelihood of severe hematologic toxicities and AUC-related DLTs, requiring dose adjustments or delays.
Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France.
A
A
Taamma
J L
JL
Misset
M
M
Riofrio
C
C
Guzman
E
E
Brain
L
L
Lopez Lazaro
H
H
Rosing
J M
JM
Jimeno
E
E
Cvitkovic
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019540:Area Under Curve; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000077606:Trabectedin
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004149:Dioxoles; D007546:Isoquinolines; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin