Phase I studies of nogitecan hydrochloride for Japanese.
BACKGROUND
SmithKline Beecham synthesized camptothecin analogs and identified nogitecan hydrochloride (topotecan) with a broad spectrum of antitumor activity and less toxicity than camptothecin. Because preclinical and overseas clinical data indicated the antitumor effect of nogitecan hydrochloride with a 5-day repeat-dose schedule, we carried out phase I studies in Japan to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and antitumor effect of nogitecan hydrochloride.


METHODS
Phase I studies of nogitecan hydrochloride given by single and 5-day repeat dosing were carried out in patients with various solid tumors at 15 medical institutions in Japan. Pharmacokinetic evaluations were performed for both single and 5-day repeated dosing.


RESULTS
The dose-limiting factor (DLF) was reversible leucopenia, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was higher than 22.5 mg/m2 in the single-dose study. In the 5-day repeat-dose study, the DLF was also reversible leucopenia, and the MTD was estimated to be 1.5 mg/m2 per day. The plasma concentration of nogitecan hydrochloride increased with increasing dose, and the half-life after single dosing ranged from 3 to 5h. There was no evidence of accumulation or delayed excretion during 5-day repeat dosing.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results and the finding that there were responders among patients treated at 1.5 mg/m2 per day by 5-day repeat dosing in overseas studies, 5-day repeat dosing of 1.2mg/m2 per day, one dose level lower than the MTD, was selected for phase II studies in Japan.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Cancer Center, Inamachi, Japan. go1059@cancer-c.pref.saitama.jp
Kunihiko
K
Kobayashi
Mitsunori
M
Hino
Masahiro
M
Fukuoka
Kunio
K
Takeuchi
Kiyoyuki
K
Furuse
Shuichi
S
Yoneda
Koichi
K
Hasegawa
Kiichiro
K
Noda
Hiroaki
H
Kinoshita
Ikuro
I
Kimura
Tetsuo
T
Taguchi
Ryunosuke
R
Kanamaru
Noboru
N
Horikoshi
Hisanobu
H
Niitani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006207:Half-Life; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D019772:Topotecan