title: A phase II trial of O6-benzylguanine and carmustine in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tumor resistance to alkylating agents such as carmustine (BCNU) has been found to be associated with intracellular expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Administration of O6-benzylguanine (O6-BG), a substrate that inactivates MGMT, may help overcome chemotherapy resistance. We performed a phase II study to explore the activity of O6-BG in combination with BCNU in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Informed consent was obtained from patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma naïve to systemic chemotherapy (adjuvant chemotherapy allowed). Patients received O6-BG 120 mg/m2 I.V. followed by BCNU 40 mg/m2 I.V. Treatment was repeated every 6 weeks until disease progression or development of unacceptable toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No objective responses were observed in 12 enrolled patients. Four patients exhibited stable disease lasting 11-25+ weeks. The median overall survival was 16.9 months (95% CI, 2.9-NR). The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Depletion of MGMT activity was demonstrated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Immunohistochemical estimation of MGMT expression from archival tissue ranged from 20 to 99% positive staining cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observed toxicities were consistent with previous studies of O6-BG plus BCNU. The degree of MGMT expression was variable in this small sample of heterogeneous sarcomas. Further development of this regimen and dose for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma is not warranted due to the lack of objective responses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. CR145, Portland, OR 97239, USA. ryanc@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: M Eileen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Bruce B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Brockstein
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McLendon
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: Edem S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Agamah
authors.forename: Everett E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Vokes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000139:chemically induced; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C064976:O(6)-benzylguanine; D006147:Guanine; D019853:O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; D002330:Carmustine