title: Ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) for chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas: multicenter phase II and pharmacokinetic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the response rate, toxicity profile, and pharmacokinetics of ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) as first-line therapy in patients with unresectable advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients with STS were enrolled onto the study between September 1999 and August 2000. Patients were treated with 1.5 mg/m2 of ET-743 given as a 24-hour continuous intravenous (IV) infusion every 21 days. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed in 23 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One complete and five partial responses were achieved in 35 assessable patients for an overall response rate of 17.1% (95% CI, 6.6% to 33.6%). In addition, one patient had a minor response, leading to an overall clinical benefit of 20%. Neutropenia and transaminitis were the main grade 3 to 4 toxicities, which occurred in 33% and 36% of the patients. The estimated 1-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 21% (95% CI, 11% to 41%) and 72% (95% CI, 59% to 88%), respectively. Total body clearance (L/h) was not significantly correlated with body-surface area (r = -0.28; P = .21). Mild hepatic impairment or the extent of prior cytotoxic therapy does not seem to contribute significantly to the high interpatient variability (49%) in the clearance of this drug. Severity of treatment-related toxicity was not correlated with pharmacokinetic variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET-743 demonstrates clinical activity as first-line therapy against STS with acceptable toxicity. Additional studies to establish empirical dosing guidelines may be necessary to improve the safety of the drug in patients with varying degrees of hepatic dysfunction and definitively establish the role of ET-743 for patients with these malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney St, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Carbonero
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Supko
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manola
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Puchalski
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goss
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Seiden
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waxman
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jimeno
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Demetri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004149:Dioxoles; D007546:Isoquinolines; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin