A phase I study to determine the safety, tolerability and maximum tolerated dose of green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) lipid extract, in patients with advanced prostate and breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
This was a phase I trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a marine lipid extract from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), as an inhibitor of 5- and 12-lipo-oxygenase enzymes, in patients with advanced breast and prostate cancers.


METHODS
This was an open-labelled, phase I, dose-escalation study. Proprietary form of green-lipped mussel lipid extract (GLMLE), 260-mg capsule, was administered on a twice-daily schedule, orally. Patients remained on study until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.


RESULTS
From December 1999 to May 2003, 17 patients were enrolled. Fifteen of them were male with advanced prostate cancer and two were female with advanced breast cancer. The median age of the patients was 74 years (range 56-85 years). Sixteen patients were assessable for adverse events and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Reason for withdrawal from the study included progressive disease (n = 12), death (n = 1) and DLT (n = 3). Two patients had evidence of grade 4 hepatic dysfunction. The MTD was not reached. There were no objective tumour responses noted.


CONCLUSIONS
GLMLE appears to be a well-tolerated compound in this setting. There appears to be no objective benefit. However, grade 3/4 hepatic toxicity noted in two patients is of concern and should be considered while evaluating patients taking GLMLE or while designing studies with this agent.
Sukumaran
S
S
Department of Medical Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, Australia.
Pittman
K B
KB
Patterson
W K
WK
Dickson
J
J
Yeend
S
S
Townsend
A
A
Broadbridge
V
V
Price
T J
TJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D049883:Perna / Q000737:chemistry*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008055:Lipids