title: Caspofungin first-line therapy for invasive aspergillosis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: an European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer study.
abstract: Caspofungin at standard dose was evaluated as first-line monotherapy of mycologically documented probable/proven invasive aspergillosis (IA) (unmodified European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycosis Study Group criteria) in allogeneic hematopoietic SCT patients. The primary efficacy end point was complete or partial response at end of caspofungin treatment. Response at week 12, survival and safety were additional end points. Enrollment was stopped prematurely because of low accrual, with 42 enrolled and 24 eligible, giving the study a power of 85%. Transplant was from unrelated donors in 16 patients; acute or chronic GVHD was present in 15. In all, 12 patients were neutropenic (<500/microl) at baseline, 10 received steroids and 16 calcineurin inhibitors or sirolimus. Median duration of caspofungin treatment was 24 days. At the end of caspofungin therapy, 10 (42%) patients had complete or partial response (95% confidence interval: 22-63%); 1 (4%) and 12 (50%) had stable and progressing disease, respectively; one was not evaluable. At week 12, eight patients (33%) had complete or partial response. Survival rates at week 6 and 12 were 79 and 50%, respectively. No patient had a drug-related serious adverse event or discontinued because of toxicity. Caspofungin first-line therapy was effective and well tolerated in allogeneic hematopoietic SCT patients with mycologically documented IA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Hematology, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France. raoul.herbrecht@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbrecht
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maertens
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baila
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ullmann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paesmans
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ameye
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shivaprakash
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viscoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000077336:Caspofungin; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D000077336:Caspofungin