Phase I trial of BCL-2 antisense oligonucleotide (G3139) administered by continuous intravenous infusion in patients with advanced cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of BCL-2 antisense oligonucleotide (G3139) administered by prolonged i.v. infusion in patients with advanced cancer.


METHODS
A total of 35 patients was treated in cohorts of 3-6 with 0.6-6.9 mg/kg/day of BCL-2 antisense oligonucleotide as a continuous infusion for 14 or 21 days. Plasma levels of intact antisense oligonucleotide were measured in all patients.


RESULTS
G3139 was generally well tolerated. At the highest dose level examined in this study (6.9 mg/kg/day), fatigue and transient reversible elevations of serum transaminases (grades 2-3) became apparent after >or=7 days of treatment. Both reactions were believed to be drug related. Pharmacokinetic analyses showed that steady-state plasma concentrations of G3139 were reached approximately 10 h after starting the infusion and increased linearly across the range of doses administered <or=6.9 mg/kg/day. The terminal plasma half-life was approximately 2 h. Exploratory studies using Western blots, performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells on selected patients, demonstrated a decline in bcl-2 protein levels during treatment. No major antitumor responses were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
BCL-2 antisense therapy is well tolerated. Relative to other dose-finding studies of G3139, fatigue was somewhat more prominent in this study, possibly because of the protracted i.v. infusion schedule of the antisense oligonucleotide. Current randomized trials are using the highest daily dose established in this study given by shorter infusion periods (i.e., 7 mg/kg/day for 5-7 days) to enhance the antitumor activity of standard cytotoxic drugs.
Morris
Michael J
MJ
Genitourinary Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Tong
William P
WP
Cordon-Cardo
Carlos
C
Drobnjak
Marija
M
Kelly
William K
WK
Slovin
Susan F
SF
Terry
Kathryn L
KL
Siedlecki
Karen
K
Swanson
Paul
P
Rafi
Mohmed
M
DiPaola
Robert S
RS
Rosen
Neal
N
Scher
Howard I
HI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001682:Biological Availability; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012449:Safety; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013873:Thionucleotides; C408162:oblimersen; D000637:Transaminases