A phase II trial of 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene (MGI-114, irofulven) in patients with relapsed or refractory non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and toxicity of 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene (HMAF; MGI-114, irofulven) as therapy for relapsed or refractory non-small cell lung cancer.


METHODS
A two-stage phase II design was employed separately for refractory and relapsed patients to differentiate between ineffective treatment (response rate < or =10%) and active treatment (response rate > or =30%). Eligible patients received HMAF 11 mg/m2 per day intravenously over 5 min on days 1-5, with cycles repeated every 28 days.


RESULTS
Thirty-six patients (15 relapsed; 21 refractory) were treated, and no responses were seen.


RESULTS
Grade 3 neutropenia and grade 3 thrombocytopenia each occurred in 11% of the patients. Grade 3 nausea occurred in 47%; grade 3-4 vomiting in 42%. Twenty-two percent developed grade 3 fatigue. Eleven percent developed grade 3 hallucinations.


CONCLUSIONS
HMAF, administered at this dose and schedule, is not active as salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory non-small cell lung cancer.
Sherman
Carol A
CA
Department of Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, P.O. Box 250955, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. shermanc@musc.edu
Herndon
James E
JE
Watson
Dorothy M
DM
Green
Mark R
MR
D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C102714:irofulven