Initial testing of topotecan by the pediatric preclinical testing program.
BACKGROUND
Topotecan is a small molecule DNA topoisomerase I poison, that has been successful in clinical trials against pediatric solid tumors and leukemias. Topotecan was evaluated against the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP) tumor panels as part of a validation process for these preclinical models.


METHODS
In vivo three measures of antitumor activity were used: (1) an objective response measure modeled after the clinical setting; (2) a treated to control (T/C) tumor volume measure; and (3) a time to event (fourfold increase in tumor volume for solid tumor models, or > or =25% human CD45+ cells in the peripheral blood for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL models) measure based on the median event-free survival (EFS) of treated and control animals for each xenograft.


RESULTS
Topotecan inhibited cell growth in vitro with IC(50) values between 0.71 and 489 nM. Topotecan significantly increased EFS in 32 of 37 (87%) solid tumor xenografts and in all 8 of the ALL xenografts. Seventy-five percent of solid tumors met EFS T/C activity criteria for intermediate (n = 17) or high activity (n = 7). Objective responses were noted in eight solid tumor xenografts (Wilms, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, neuroblastoma). Among the six neuroblastomas, three achieved a PR. For the ALL panel, two maintained CRs, three CRs, and two PRs were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Topotecan demonstrated broad activity in vitro and in vivo against both the solid tumor and ALL panels, with significant tumor growth delay generated in all the panels. These results further demonstrate the validity of the PPTP panel for preclinical testing of new drugs.
Carol
Hernan
H
Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
Houghton
Peter J
PJ
Morton
Christopher L
CL
Kolb
E Anders
EA
Gorlick
Richard
R
Reynolds
C Patrick
CP
Kang
Min H
MH
Maris
John M
JM
Keir
Stephen T
ST
Watkins
Amy
A
Smith
Malcolm A
MA
Lock
Richard B
RB
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan