A Phase II study of high-dose paclitaxel in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors.
BACKGROUND
New agents with antitumor activity in patients with neuroendocrine tumors are sorely needed. A Phase II study of high-dose paclitaxel in patients with metastatic carcinoid and islet cell tumors was performed at the Mayo Clinic. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) also was administered to ameliorate neutropenia.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients (14 with carcinoid tumors, 9 with islet cell tumors, and 1 with an anaplastic tumor) were enrolled on this Phase II study of paclitaxel given as a 24-hour continuous infusion at a dose of 250 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks plus GCSF at a dose of 5 microg/kg/day subcutaneously, beginning 24 hours after the completion of the paclitaxel dose and continuing until the absolute neutrophil count was > 10,000/microL.


RESULTS
All 24 patients were evaluable for analysis. The overall response rate was 8% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0-0.11). At last follow-up all patients except 1 had developed disease progression, with an estimated median time to disease progression of 3.2 months (95% CI, 1.6-6.0 months). The estimated median survival was 1.5 years (95% CI, 1.0-1.8 years). Hematologic toxicity was significant with 12 of 24 patients developing Grade 4 (according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria scale) neutropenia; however, there were no septic deaths reported. There were 17 episodes of Grade 4 neutropenia in these 12 patients and the duration of these events ranged from 2-5 days. More common nonhematologic toxicities included arthralgia (21 patients), anorexia (15 patients), nausea (15 patients), diarrhea (12 patients), and allergic reactions (2 patients).


CONCLUSIONS
Given the lack of antitumor activity of paclitaxel and the significant hematologic toxicity observed despite the use of GCSF support in the current study cohort of patients with neuroendocrine tumors, further studies of this combination in this particular patient population are not recommended.
Ansell
S M
SM
Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Pitot
H C
HC
Burch
P A
PA
Kvols
L K
LK
Mahoney
M R
MR
Rubin
J
J
D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D017239:Paclitaxel