Trabectedin in pre-treated patients with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: a phase II study evaluating co-treatment with dexamethasone.
OBJECTIVE
This study assesses the efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetic profile of trabectedin with or without prophylactic dexamethasone co-treatment in patients with recurrent advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS).


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive trabectedin as a 3-h infusion every 3 weeks with dexamethasone or placebo in the first cycle, with the alternate in the second cycle and with the patient's choice subsequently. Due to toxicity, the randomized design was modified to open-label to make dexamethasone mandatory and the initial dose (1,650 μg/m(2)) was reduced to 1,500 μg/m(2) and then to 1,300 μg/m(2).


RESULTS
Forty-one patients were enrolled and 35 were evaluable for efficacy. One partial response and 18 disease stabilizations were found. The median PFS and OS were 2.1 and 10.2 months, respectively, with the 3- and 6-month PFS rates indicating activity in pretreated STS. Twenty-three and 27 patients developed transient asymptomatic grade 3/4 AST and ALT elevation, respectively, and 21 patients had grade 3/4 neutropenia. Dose reduction from 1,650 μg/m(2) to 1,300 μg/m(2) decreased the incidence of grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (26% vs. 0%), neutropenia (51% vs. 25%) and AST increase (76% vs. 25% of patients). Four patients died due to drug-related toxicities (3 with placebo). The total body clearance of trabectedin was 28% higher and half-life was 21% lower with dexamethasone compared to placebo, with no differences in volume of distribution.


CONCLUSIONS
Trabectedin has confirmed activity in patients with pretreated STS. This study shows that co-treatment with dexamethasone improves the safety of trabectedin by reducing drug-induced hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression.
Paz-Ares
Luis
L
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. Luis.pazares.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
López-Pousa
Antonio
A
Poveda
Andrés
A
Balañá
Carmen
C
Ciruelos
Eva
E
Bellmunt
Joaquim
J
del Muro
Javier García
JG
Provencio
Mariano
M
Casado
Antonio
A
Rivera-Herrero
Fernando
F
Izquierdo
Miguel Angel
MA
Nieto
Antonio
A
Tanović
Adnan
A
Cortes-Funes
Hernán
H
Buesa
José María
JM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D013030:Spain; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077606:Trabectedin; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D004149:Dioxoles; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000077606:Trabectedin