Nine months to progression using fourth-line liposomally encapsulated paclitaxel against hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer deaths. Difficulties to diagnose HCC at early stages remain the major obstacle to curative (surgical) therapy. Therapy in advanced stages has to be considered palliative. In this situation, a considerable amount of attention should be paid to innovative treatment strategies, e.g. including antiangiogenetic drugs.


RESULTS
We report on the successful treatment of a patient suffering from progressive HCC with a novel drug (EndoTAG-1, formerly named LipoPac) currently investigated in phase II studies. This drug consists of liposomally encapsulated paclitaxel. Its liposomal formulation favors the drug's adherence to the tumor neovasculature, in effect starving the tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
EndoTAG-1 stopped tumor progression for 9 months in our patient. This, along with successes observed testing this drug against other indications, makes it a suitable candidate for future clinical trials.
Christopeit
Maximilian
M
Department of Medicine IV, Oncology/Hematology, University Hospital Halle Saale, Halle Saale, Germany.
Lenz
Georg
G
Forstpointner
Roswitha
R
Bartelheim
Kerstin
K
Kühnbach
Robert
R
Naujoks
Kurt
K
Schalhorn
Andreas
A
D002214:Capsules; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D002214:Capsules; D008081:Liposomes; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017239:Paclitaxel