[Imatinib--a possible therapeutic option for cervical carcinoma: results of a preclinical phase I study].
BACKGROUND
In the last few years, the therapy of cervical carcinoma has progressed substantially due to the use of simultaneous platinum- containing radiochemotherapy. However, there are no data which evaluate an individualized treatment adapted to tumor biology, in spite of the fact that patients show remarkably different responses to chemotherapy. Therefore this preclinical phase I study aims at finding therapeutic alternatives to the current cytostatic drugs to treat cervical carcinoma.


METHODS
In a tumor chemosensitivity assay, 8 drugs were tested on freshly isolated tumor cells of 16 patients [carbo- and cisplatin, topotecan, paclitaxel as well as the 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib (Glivec) and gefitinib (Iressa (R) ) and the 2 monoclonal antibodies cetuximab (Erbitux) and trastuzumab (Herceptin (R) )].


RESULTS
Overall the test was evaluable for 16 specimens (100%). Ten of 15 tumor samples (66.6%) were sensitive to imatinib. A sensitive therapeutic response could be demonstrated in all tested FIGO stages. An interindividual comparison could establish sensitivity to cetuximab in 12.5% of cases, to gefitinib in 6.25%, to trastuzumab in 6.6%, to cisplatin in 13.3%, to carboplatin in 7.6%, to paclitaxel in 93.8% and to topotecan in 25%.


CONCLUSIONS
Imatinib seems to be an efficacious therapeutic option for patients with cervical carcinoma, independently of tumor subtype.
Kummel
S
S
Klinik fur Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universitatsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland. sherko.kuemmel@uk-essen.de
Heidecke
H
H
Brock
B
B
Denkert
C
C
Hecktor
J
J
Koninger
A
A
Becker
I
I
Sehouli
J
J
Thomas
A
A
Blohmer
J U
JU
Lichtenegger
W
W
Kimmig
R
R
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001549:Benzamides; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate