title: High-dose carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide with hematological growth factors, without stem cell support in patients with advanced cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation, introduced into clinical practice to decrease the hematological toxicity of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT), is both a costly procedure and a potential source of tumor cell reinfusion. The maximum tolerated dose of carboplatin (CB), cyclophosphamide (CT) and etoposide (VP) administered with growth factors without PBPC was determined in a previous phase I study. The aim of this phase II study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of HDCT with CB, CT and VP administered with growth factors, without PBPC in a group of patients with advanced solid tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with a median age of 52 years received two consecutive courses of chemotherapy every four weeks, consisting of CT 1500 mg/m2, VP 400 mg/m2 and CB AUC of 7-8. Following chemotherapy, hematological growth factors were administered for 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grade 4 leukopenia and thrombocytemia occurred in 40 and 21 patients, respectively. An overall response rate of 72.5% was achieved. After a median 81 months follow-up, median time to progression and overall survival were 29 and 38 months, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that HDCT chemotherapy may be delivered safely without PBPC support. Prolonged responses were observed in patients that had few therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Unità operative di Oncologia Ospedale Civile di Avezzano, Italy. franre@ermes.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Recchia
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Fillipis
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D005047:Etoposide; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin