A phase I trial of gemcitabine administered as a 96-h continuous intravenous infusion in patients with advanced carcinoma and lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
Preclinical data suggest gemcitabine may have schedule-dependent activity favoring prolonged infusion. We sought to determine the recommended phase II dose (RPTD) and toxicity of gemcitabine when given as a continuous intravenous (CIVI) over 96 h.


METHODS
Gemcitabine was initially given at 1 mg/m(2)/d for 48, then 72, and finally 96 h. The dose was then increased to 2, 4, 6, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/m(2)/d. Dose levels of 7, 8, 9 mg/m(2)/d as 96-h infusion were added later after a protocol modification. After identifying the RPTD using an every 3-wk schedule, we then evaluated the feasibility of repeating the infusion every 2 wk, and then weekly for 3 of 4 wk.


RESULTS
Thirty-four patients with a variety of tumor types received a total of 126 cycles of therapy (median of 2 cycles, range 1-10 cycles). The RPTD was 8 mg/m(2)/d every 3 wk, and 6 mg/m(2)/d every 2 wk. The most common grade 2 or higher toxicities at all dose levels (>or= grade 2) included fever (n = 14), dyspnea (n = 7), mucositis (n = 6), hypotension (n = 6), nausea/vomiting (n = 6), and fatigue (n = 5). Neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia were uncommon.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of gemcitabine as a 96-h infusion results in a markedly different toxicity profile and RPTD than when given by a conventional 30-min infusion. The RPTD was 8 mg/m(2)/d (32 mg/m(2)/course) when given every 3 wk, or 6 mg/m(2)/d (24 mg/m(2)/course) when given every 2 wk.
Rajdev
Lakshmi
L
Department of Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
Goldberg
Gary
G
Hopkins
Una
U
Sparano
Joseph A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine