Randomised double blind placebo control study of adjuvant treatment with the metalloproteinase inhibitor, Marimastat in patients with inoperable colorectal hepatic metastases: significant survival advantage in patients with musculoskeletal side-effects.
BACKGROUND
A double blind placebo RCT of adjuvant treatment of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, Marimastat, in patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases showed no significant effect on survival. There was a statistically significant survival advantage for the marimastat-treated patients with musculoskeletal-side effects, (p = 0. < 000).


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of adjuvant Marimastat in patients with inoperable colorectal liver metastases (CRCLM).


METHODS
Patients (n = 121) with CRCLM, stratified by treatments for their liver disease status prior to randomization, received adjuvant oral Marimastat treatment 10 mg b.d. or placebo for up to two years.


RESULTS
Prognostic indicators such as number and size of hepatic lesions and percentage of liver replacement were well distributed between the treatment (57) and placebo (64) groups. There was no significant overall survival advantage for MARIMASTAT TREATMENT: 388 days, 95% CI, 277-499 and placebo 410 days, 95% CI 306-514, (p = 0.5) log rank. Musculoskeletal symptoms in hands, wrists and/or shoulders developed in 35 out of 57 Marimastat-treated patients. Median survival for 35 patients with musculoskeletal symptoms was 619 days, 95% CI, 360-878 days vs 184 days, 95% CI, 77-291, (p = 0.000 log rank) for 22 patients without symptoms. Musculoskeletal symptoms developed within three months of study treatment in 28 out of 35 (80%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased survival in Marimastat-treated patients with musculoskeletal symptoms suggests that these may be biological evidence of tissue effect with resulting importance for dose optimisation of Marimastat. This should now be studied in the other randomized control trials of Marimastat.
King
Julie
J
UNSW Department of Surgery, St. George Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia.
Zhao
Jing
J
Clingan
Phillip
P
Morris
David
D
D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005467:Floxuridine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D010919:Placebos
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D010919:Placebos; D005467:Floxuridine; C100342:marimastat; D005472:Fluorouracil