title: A phase I/II trial of fixed-dose docetaxel plus irinotecan and escalating doses of estramustine phosphate for second-line or greater treatment of selected advanced solid tumors.
abstract: This phase I/II study evaluated the safety of the combination of irinotecan, docetaxel, and estramustine for selected advanced solid tumors and also obtained initial efficacy data. Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the study. The regimen consisted of docetaxel 30 mg/m(2) and irinotecan 60 mg/m(2) both given intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 21 days in combination with escalating doses of estramustine (500 mg/m(2)/day escalated to 750 mg/m(2)/day on days 0, 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 given every 21 days) during phase I. Dose escalation was continued until the maximum planned dose level of estramustine (750 mg/m(2)/day) was reached. After the appropriate phase II dose of estramustine was found additional patients were enrolled. Twenty-one of the 22 patients were evaluable for toxicity and 17 for tumor response. The recommended phase II dose of estramustine was found to be 750 mg/m(2)/day orally on days 0, 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 given every 21 days. Hematologic toxicity was fairly mild, with only one episode of grade 3 neutropenia. Diarrhea was the most common nonhematologic toxicity with grade 3 toxicity occurring in five of 21 patients. Only one episode of venous thrombosis was observed. Objective response rate was 15.8%, overall clinical benefit rate was 63%, and median time to progression was 15 weeks. Estramustine in combination with the doublet of docetaxel and irinotecan is a well-tolerated regimen with minimal hematologic toxicity, mild to moderate nonhematologic toxicity, and promising initial antitumor activity in previously treated patients with advanced solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY 10305, USA. walidbazmd@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baz
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakhl
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El-Soueidi
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burton