Phase I/II pilot study of intravesical apaziquone (EO9) for superficial bladder cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The quinone based bioreductive drug apaziquone (EO9) failed to demonstrate efficacy in previous phase II studies following intravenous administration. We determined the dose of apaziquone that can be safely administered intravesically and explored its activity for superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Six patients with multifocal, Ta/T1 and G1/G2 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder received escalating doses of apaziquone formulated as EOquintrade mark (0.5 mg/40 ml up to 16 mg/40 ml) weekly for 6 weeks. A further 6 patients received weekly apaziquone at the highest nontoxic dose established. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined in urine and blood, and the pharmacodynamic markers NQO1 (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate:quinone oxidoreductase-1) and glucose transporter 1 were also characterized. Efficacy was determined against a marker lesion.


RESULTS
Local toxicity (grades 2 and 3 dysuria, and hematuria) was observed at doses of 8 mg/40 ml and above but 4 mg/40 ml was well tolerated with no systemic or local side effects. Apaziquone in urine increased linearly with the dose but no apaziquone was detected in plasma. In 8 of 12 patients complete macroscopic and histological disappearance of the marker lesion occurred. A correlation between response and NQO1 and/or glucose transporter 1 expression could not be established.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravesical administration of 4 mg/40 ml apaziquone was well tolerated and had ablative activity against superficial bladder cancer marker lesions.
Puri
Rajiv
R
Department of Urology, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom.
Palit
Victor
V
Loadman
Paul M
PM
Flannigan
Michael
M
Shah
Tariq
T
Choudry
Guzanfar A
GA
Basu
Saurajyoti
S
Double
John A
JA
Lenaz
Gino
G
Chawla
Shanta
S
Beer
Mario
M
Van Kalken
Coen
C
de Boer
Richard
R
Beijnen
Jos H
JH
Twelves
Christopher J
CJ
Phillips
Roger M
RM
D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001388:Aziridines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D045563:Indolequinones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001388:Aziridines; D045563:Indolequinones; C060817:apaziquone