Phase II study of vinorelbine in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma

Efficacy of cisplatin combined with vinorelbine as second- or higher-line palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of a cisplatin and vinorelbine combination as second- or higher-line palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with advanced ovarian cancer who were treated with cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 1) and vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) every 3 weeks between January 2004 and March 2021. Treatment responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed; laboratory data were reviewed to determine toxicity. Thirty-two patients with advanced ovarian cancer were treated with a combination of vinorelbine and cisplatin. The objective response rate (ORR) was 18.8% and the disease control rate was 75.1%. The median PFS was 4.13 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-5.8 months). The median OS was 56.9 months (95% CI, 50.5-63.7 months). The ORR (42.9% vs 9.1%; P = .035) was higher in the platinum-sensitive group than in the platinum-resistant group. The median PFS tended to be longer in the platinum-sensitive group (5.3 vs 3.8 months; P = .339) and the median OS was significantly longer in the platinum-sensitive group than in the platinum-resistant group (69.6 vs 24 months; P < .001). All patients developed hematological toxicities, with 56% experiencing grade 3 to 4 neutropenia. Two (6.2%) patients developed febrile neutropenia, but no treatment-related death occurred. This combination therapy may be effective in patients with heavily treated advanced ovarian cancer, particularly in platinum-sensitive patients.

Clinical effects of vinorelbine administration in the management of various malignant tumor types in dogs: 58 cases (1997-2012)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of vinorelbine in the management of various malignant tumor types in dogs.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS

58 dogs with malignant tumors, including pulmonary carcinoma (n = 31), histiocytic sarcoma (9), mast cell tumor (5), lymphoma (4), melanoma (2), and 7 other tumor types (1 each).

PROCEDURES

Medical records of dogs treated with vinorelbine from December 1997 to December 2012 were reviewed for data regarding signalment, clinical signs, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic test results, diagnostic imaging results, vinorelbine doses and dose frequency, surgery and radiotherapy details when applicable, other chemotherapeutics administered, and outcomes. Descriptive, comparative, and survival statistics were computed for all dogs and for dogs by histologic subgroup of tumors.

RESULTS

Vinorelbine was administered palliatively to 44 (76%) dogs. One (2%) dog had a complete response for 162 days, 5 (11%) dogs had a partial response for a median duration of 91 days, 19 (43%) dogs had stable disease for a median duration of 68 days, and 19 (43%) dogs developed progressive disease after a median duration of 21 days. Clinical benefit was more difficult to assess in the remaining 14 (24%) dogs that received vinorelbine as an adjuvant treatment. Overall median time to tumor progression was 103 days (range, 5 to 1,533 days).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Vinorelbine appeared to be effective in the treatment of several tumor types in dogs. Follow-up prospective studies of the clinical benefit of the drug in specific clinical scenarios will be necessary to support this conclusion.

Low-dose-intensity bevacizumab with weekly irinotecan for platinum- and taxanes-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose-intensity bevacizumab and weekly irinotecan as salvage treatment for patients with platinum- and taxanes-resistant advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Fifty-two patients with platinum- and taxanes-resistant advanced epithelial ovarian cancer received bevacizumab 5 mg/Kg days 1 and 15; irinotecan 60 mg/m(2) days 1, 8 and 15. The combined therapy was repeated every 28 days, up to six cycles.

RESULTS

A total of 230 cycles of bevacizumab combined with irinotecan were administrated to 52 patients. Among the 52 patients, 22 patients achieved partial response (42.3 %); 12 patients had stable disease (23.1 %) and 18 patients experienced disease progression (34.6 %). The median progression-free survival and the median overall survival were 8.0 months (95 % confidence interval: 6.74-9.26 months) and 13.8 months (95 % confidence interval: 11.97-15.63 months), respectively. The most frequent grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia (11.5 %) and thrombocytopenia (3.8 %). The non-hematologic toxicities included grade 3 diarrhea (3.8 %) and hypertension (3.8 %). Two patients (3.8 %) were confirmed with deep vein thrombosis. Febrile neutropenia, symptomatic cardiac dysfunction and gastrointestinal perforation were not observed in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of low-dose-intensity bevacizumab and weekly irinotecan was an effective and safe regimen for patients with platinum- and taxanes-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.

Phase II study of gemcitabine and vinorelbine as second- or third-line therapy in patients with primary refractory or platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer by the Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG)_KCSG GY10-10

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity and safety of vinorelbine and gemcitabine combination chemotherapy in patients with primary refractory or recurrent platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers.

METHODS

Patients with platinum-resistant or primary refractory disease were eligible. Patients were allowed one prior chemotherapy for the treatment of platinum-resistant or refractory disease. Vinorelbine 25mg/m(2), followed by gemcitabine 1000mg/m(2), was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 3weeks. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.0 and cancer antigen 125 test (CA-125 criteria) were adopted to classify responses.

RESULTS

44 patients received the median of 4 (range, 1-24) treatments with fifteen (34.1%) receiving six or more cycles. The overall objective response rate was 22.7%. One patient (2.3%) had complete while 9 patients (20.4%) had partial responses with median duration of response of 5.9months. 17 patients (38.6%) had stable disease for a median of 3.3months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4months and overall survival (OS) was 14.5months. Four (9.1%) patients were not assessable. Neutropenia was the most frequently encountered toxicity, with grade 3 or 4 observed in 22 patients (50.0%). Fifteen patients (34.1%) needed immediate dose reduction. No treatment related death was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine achieved the primary end point of our clinical trial in management of platinum resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. However, further sophisticated dosing and scheduling of combination chemotherapy are needed because of a significant proportion of dose reduction.

Rational combination therapy of vintafolide (EC145) with commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs

PURPOSE

When evaluated in patients with ovarian and other cancer, vintafolide (EC145), a potent folate-targeted vinca alkaloid conjugate, displayed a toxicity profile that seemed to be nonoverlapping with many standard-of-care cancer therapeutics. It was, therefore, hypothesized that combining vintafolide with certain approved anticancer drugs may afford greater therapeutic efficacy compared with single-agent therapy. To explore this concept, vintafolide was evaluated in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD; DOXIL), cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, topotecan, and irinotecan against folate receptor (FR)-positive models.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

FR-expressing KB, M109, IGROV, and L1210 cells were first exposed to graded concentrations of vintafolide, either alone or in combination with doxorubicin (active ingredient in PLD), and isobologram plots and combination index values generated. The vintafolide combinations were also studied in mice bearing various FR-expressing tumors.

RESULTS

Vintafolide displayed strong synergistic activity against KB cells when combined with doxorubicin, and no less-than-additive effects resulted when tested against M109, IGROV, and L1210 cells. In contrast, when either desacetylvinblastine hydrazide (DAVLBH; the vinca alkaloid moiety in vintafolide) or vindesine (the vinca alkaloid most structurally similar to DAVLBH) were tested in combination with doxorubicin, less-than-additive antitumor effects were observed. In vivo, all vintafolide drug combinations produced far greater antitumor effect (complete responses and cures) compared with the single agents alone, without significant increase in overall toxicity. Importantly, these benefits were not observed with combinations of PLD and DAVLBH or vindesine.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of these encouraging preclinical results, clinical studies to evaluate vintafolide drug combination therapies are now under way.

Advanced ovarian cancer: what should be the standard of care?

The standard treatment of advanced ovarian cancer is rapidly changing. As we begin to understand that epithelial ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease, our treatment strategies are evolving to include novel biologic drugs that specifically exploit altered pathways. Surgery remains an essential component in the treatment of ovarian cancer; however, the importance of surgical specialization and defining "optimal cytoreduction" as no visible residual disease has been further validated. Ongoing studies are defining the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the upfront treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. In addition, clinical trials are evaluating intraperitoneal, dose dense, antiangiogenic drugs as well as targeted maintenance therapies which will establish new standards of care in the near future.

Association between Rash and a Positive Drug Response Associated with Vinorelbine in a Patient with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

Vinorelbine (Navelbine, VRL) is commonly used for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and has been shown to be effective in patients with recurrent primary peritoneal carcinoma. Of VRL's major side effects, skin rash is uncommon, and, if it does occur, it is usually localized to site of injection. In this case report, a 71-year-old Hispanic female with primary peritoneal carcinoma received single agent VRL as fourth-line regimen, which she tolerated very well except for a skin rash related to VRL. The rash continued to progress throughout 6 cycles of VRL, and follow-up CT/PET scan demonstrated complete metabolic and radiological responses. We, therefore, believe that this rash was linked to VRL administration and correlated with response to therapy. Rash has been recognized as a useful surrogate marker with targeted agents such as cetuximab and erlotinib; to the best of our knowledge, this case report describes the first patient with a possible drug rash and its association with a positive outcome. This case report incites interest in further investigation of similar cases to support this observation, since there is a lack of reports of skin rash with VRL therapy.

Targeted treatment of recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: current and emerging therapies

With advances in surgical techniques and chemotherapeutic agents, mortality rates from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) have slightly decreased over the last 30 years. However, EOC still ranks as the most deadly gynecologic cancer with an overall 5-year survival rate of 45%. Prognosis is especially disappointing for women with platinum-resistant disease, where 80% of patients will fail to respond to available therapies. Emerging treatment strategies have sub-sequently focused on targets which are integral to tumor growth and metastasis. In this review, we will focus on those innovative agents currently under investigation in clinical trials.

The efficacy and toxicity of belotecan (CKD-602), a camptothericin analogue topoisomerase I inhibitor, in patients with recurrent or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer

This study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of belotecan (CKD-602), a new camptothecin analogue topoisomerase i inhibitor, in patients with recurrent or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Data from 63 patients who had been treated with intravenous belotecan (0.5 mg/m(2)/day), administered for 5 days every 3 weeks at a single institute in Seoul, Korea, were collected retrospectively. The overall response rate was 30.2% including 9 patients with complete remission (CR) and the progression free survival was a median of 6.5 (0.7 - 29.7) months. The platinumsensitive group had a significantly higher response rate and longer progression-free survival more than the platinum-resistant group. The most common adverse effect of belotecan was hematologic toxicity which was tolerable. As a single chemotherapy agent, belotecan was effective in treating recurrent or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer, and had acceptable toxicity. Further studies of the efficacy of belotecan in combination with platinum or the other agents are warranted.

Gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

Most patients with ovarian cancer are candidates for second-line or salvage treatments often for prolonged periods. Patients with platinum-sensitive disease can benefit from a platinum retreatment with a likelihood of response dependents on the treatment-free interval. Alternative agents and combination chemotherapy are potential therapeutic approaches. At our institution, we carried out a phase II trial to evaluate feasibility, efficacy, and toxicity of gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination in recurrent ovarian carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of this combination in patients with platinum-sensitive disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with platinum-sensitive disease recurring after 1 or more lines of platinum-based chemotherapy were included. Vinorelbine at 25 mg/m followed by gemcitabine at 1000 mg/m was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and cancer antigen 125 test (CA-125 Kinetics [Rustin criteria]) were adopted to classify responses. Toxicity was assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients were eligible. Platinum-free interval (PFI) was 6 to 12 months in 13 patients (33.3%; PFI 6-12) and more than 12 months in 26 patients (66.7%; PFI > 12). The overall response rate was 48.7%, with 6 complete responses. Median response duration was 38 weeks. The response rate was 23% in PFI 6-12 and 62% in PFI >12. The most frequently observed toxicity was hematological, with 23% of the patients having grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Gemcitabine and vinorelbine combination is effective and well tolerated in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. It may represent an option in the management of these patients because the chronic nature of the disease.

Phase 2 trial of docetaxel, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy in platinum- and paclitaxel-pretreated epithelial ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

This phase 2 trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of docetaxel, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin for platinum- and paclitaxel-pretreated epithelial ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Heavily pretreated patients (N = 30; median age, 61 years) received docetaxel, 55 mg/m2; gemcitabine, 500 mg/m2 (day 1); and oxaliplatin, 70 mg/m2 (day 2) biweekly. Twelve patients had platinum-sensitive disease, and 18 patients had platinum-resistant disease.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 18.6 months. No differences in patient characteristics were observed between patients with carboplatinum-sensitive and carboplatinum-resistant disease. In patients with carboplatin-sensitive disease, an overall response (OR) of 83.3%, a progression-free survival of 10.6 months, and an overall survival of 18.9 months were observed. In patients with carboplatinum-resistant disease, an OR was seen in 38.9% with a progression-free survival of 5.3 months and an overall survival of 16.3 months. Patients with platinum-refractory disease (progression under previous carboplatinum therapy, n = 13) had an OR of 23%, whereas patients with objective response but relapse less than 6 months after carboplatinum therapy had an OR of 80.0%. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were only observed for anemia (6.7%), neutropenia (20.0%), thrombopenia, peripheral neuropathy, and diarrhea (16.7%). No neutropenic fever or treatment-related death occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with current standard protocols, a combination of docetaxel, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin showed considerably higher efficacy without remarkable increased toxicity; particularly for patients with early relapse after a platinum-containing therapy.

Management of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: current status and future directions

The majority of patients who present with epithelial ovarian cancer respond well to the initial treatment, but will ultimately experience a recurrence of their disease. Chemotherapy can palliate symptoms of disease recurrence, and there is some evidence that it also can improve survival. Recurrent ovarian carcinoma is divided into two subsets of patients: those with platinum-sensitive disease and those with platinum-resistant disease. Management for these two groups has diverged in the last few years, as evidence accrues that the response to treatment and duration of treatment-free interval after completion of front-line therapy impacts the prognosis and the treatment choice for these patients. Recent randomized trials have demonstrated a benefit for platinum combination re-treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive disease. Additionally, there are multiple single-agent trials evaluating novel agents for patients with platinum-resistant as well as platinum-sensitive disease. This review will discuss the role of chemotherapy in recurrent disease, describe the various agents used in this setting, and touch on the role of biologic agents in recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Management of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with the combination of pemetrexed and gemcitabine

INTRODUCTION

Platinum resistant ovarian cancer is a current challenge in Oncology. Current approved therapies offer no more of a 20% of response. New therapeutic options are urgently needed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were treated with the combination of Pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) d1 and Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) d1,8 in a 21 days basis.

RESULTS

10 platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients were treated under compassionate use. Mean previous chemotherapy lines were 3.3. Mean administered cycles were 4. Mean CA 125 decrease was on average of 47%, with one patient experiencing a 95% decrease in her CA 125 level. 1 patient had a complete clinical remission, and 2, had partial radiological responses. Mean Progression free survival was 16.5 weeks, and Overall Survival was 21.2 weeks. Treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Deemd to the observed activity, the combination of Pemetrexed and Gemcitabine deserves deeper investigation in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients.

Recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: pharmacotherapy and novel therapeutics

Epithelial ovarian cancer will strike between 1 - 2% of women in developed countries and, unfortunately, it largely remains a lethal disease due to late-stage at diagnosis and the eventual development of chemotherapy resistance. Ovarian cancer is initially treated with surgical resection and chemotherapy (primarily platinum/taxane combinations) and remission can be attained for the majority of patients. Despite this, most women will recur and require multiple further therapies. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing treatment options, including surgery, traditional chemotherapy as well as upcoming novel and targeted therapies that may one day improve outcomes in this disease.

Current management strategies for ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer originates in the layer of cells that covers the surface of the ovaries. The disease spreads readily throughout the peritoneal cavity and to the lymphatics, often before causing symptoms. Of the cancers unique to women, ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate. Most women are diagnosed as having advanced stage disease, and efforts to develop new screening approaches for ovarian cancer are a high priority. Optimal treatment of ovarian cancer begins with optimal cytoreductive surgery followed by combination chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer, even in advanced stages, is sensitive to a variety of chemotherapeutics. Although improved chemotherapy has increased 5-year survival rates, overall survival gains have been limited because of our inability to eradicate all disease. Technologic advances that allow us to examine the molecular machinery that drives ovarian cancer cells have helped to identify numerous therapeutic targets within these cells. In this review, we provide an overview of ovarian cancer with particular emphasis on recent advances in operative management and systemic therapies.

New, Expanded, and Modified Use of Approved Antineoplastic Agents in Ovarian Cancer

Over the past several years, clinical research efforts in ovarian cancer employing a number of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antineoplastic agents have permitted the development of approaches that both improve the effectiveness and decrease the toxicities of systemic therapy of ovarian cancer. These initiatives, including prospective trials and retrospective examinations of large clinical experience, have involved agents previously approved by the FDA for use in ovarian cancer (e.g., cisplatin, paclitaxel, topotecan, and liposomal doxorubicin) and the development of new strategies for drugs approved for other malignant conditions (e.g., gemcitabine, docetaxel, etoposide, irinotecan, vinorelbine, and bevacizumab). It can be anticipated that future studies involving novel approved agents will further expand the oncologist's weapons against ovarian cancer.

A Phase II trial of oral capecitabine in patients with platinum – and taxane – refractory ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy, toxicity, and quality of life of capecitabine (Xeloda), an oral 5-fluorouracil derivative, in patients with chemorefractory recurrent mullerian cancers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with chemorefractory persistent or recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer with measurable disease were enrolled. Capecitabine was administered beginning at 2000 mg/m2/day orally in two divided doses with meals on a 21-day cycle: 14 days of capecitabine followed by a 7-day rest period. One dose escalation or reduction was allowed. Response was assessed after cycle 2 and cycle 4 and every third cycle thereafter. Standard evaluation included two-dimensional measurement of evaluable disease. Standard criteria for response were used. Therapy was discontinued if progression occurred after at least two cycles of therapy. Quality of life and symptoms were assessed.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were enrolled. Ninety-two percent of patients had >2 previous chemotherapy regimens. All patients had platinum- and taxane-resistant disease. Thirty-six patients were evaluable for response. Three patients had a partial response, with a median response duration of five cycles. Twenty-two patients had stable disease for 3 to 11 cycles (median, 6 cycles). Eleven had progressive disease. The only grade 4 toxicity was abdominal pain (n = 2). The most common grade 3 toxicities were fatigue (n = 19), hand-foot syndrome (n = 11), abdominal pain (n = 7), and diarrhea (n = 4). One patient had a grade 3 hematologic toxicity (anemia).

CONCLUSION

Capecitabine at the dosages used in this study is well tolerated and has minimal hematologic toxicity.

The role of gemcitabine in first-line treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma

The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin is now established as the standard first-line chemotherapy regimen for advanced ovarian cancer. Ways in which this standard therapy can be further improved are being investigated, and several approaches have been taken. One approach is to integrate a different cytotoxic agent into the standard combination. Gemcitabine is one such cytotoxic agent that is of particular interest because it has activity in disease resistant to treatment with paclitaxel plus carboplatin, and also has a different mechanism of action to that of the two agents in the standard combination. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin has shown activity in phase II trials and results are awaited from a phase III trial comparing paclitaxel plus carboplatin with gemcitabine plus carboplatin doublets. Using agents sequentially has been shown to be as effective as using them in combination; therefore, using a gemcitabine plus platinum doublet sequentially with paclitaxel plus carboplatin has also been studied. A phase III trial has closed and results are expected shortly. Triplet combinations have also been shown to be effective in early stage trials, although dose-limiting myelosuppression occurs with gemcitabine plus paclitaxel plus carboplatin. Two phase III trials of this triplet have finished and are awaiting data maturation. Lastly, a sequential triplet of gemcitabine plus paclitaxel plus carboplatin has been investigated, but high pulmonary toxicity led to the study being halted. The role of gemcitabine in first-line advanced ovarian cancer will become much clearer once the results from the various phase III trials are published.

Emerging drugs for ovarian cancer

Because most patients presenting with advanced ovarian cancer are not curable by surgery alone, chemotherapy represents an essential component of treatment. The disease may be considered as chemosensitive, as in around three-quarters of patients major (complete) responses are seen to initial treatment with the platinum-containing drugs cisplatin and carboplatin either used alone or in combination with the taxane, paclitaxel. However, only 15-20% of patients experience long-term remission as tumours often become resistant. The probability of achieving a second response depends on the duration of remission after first-line therapy: if this is < 6 months (considered as platinum resistant) second responses are uncommon and usually short-lived; if this is > 6, and especially if > 12 months (platinum sensitive), responses may be seen in about a quarter of patients, to the same drugs as used first line or to drugs such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, topotecan and hexamethylmelamine (all three are approved in this setting by the FDA). Gemcitabine, oral etoposide, docetaxel and oxaliplatin also show some activity either in sequential addition to existing approved of first-line therapy (as with gemcitabine) or as second-line therapy. However, there is an urgent unmet clinical need for new drugs capable of prolonging survival either by increasing long-term remission rates and/or duration as first-line treatment or to improve on outcomes of second-line treatment. Strategies currently being exploited in clinical trials include attempts to deliver more killing selectively to tumours (e.g., intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies), agents designed to target drug resistance mechanisms (e.g., TLK-286 activated by glutathione transferase), agents targeting proteins/receptors shown to be selectively expressed in the disease (e.g., monoclonal antibodies recognising CA-125 or HER1; small molecules targeting HER1 such as gefitinib) and disrupting established tumour vasculature (e.g., 5,6-dimethyl xanthenone 4-acetic acid). At the pre-clinical level, agents being developed to target the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway, and K-Ras inhibitors, may offer efficacy in the future.

Combination chemotherapy with carboplatin, capecitabine and epirubicin (ECarboX) as second- or third-line treatment in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer: a phase I/II trial

Platinum-based combination chemotherapy has been proven to be superior to single-agent platinum in the treatment of relapsed ovarian cancer after a treatment-free interval of more than 6 months. A response rate of 41% was previously reported by our group using a combination of epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-FU in patients who relapsed within 12 months, we therefore assessed a similar, but more convenient combination of epirubicin, carboplatin and capecitabine in this phase-I/II trial. In total, 18 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma, who had not received more than two lines of chemotherapy and the treatment-free interval exceeded 6 months were treated with carboplatin AUC5, epirubicin 50 mg m(-2) and capecitabine at several dose levels on continuous 21 day cycles and 14 of 21 day cycles. Patients were assessed for toxicity and by CT and CA-125 for response. The overall response rate was 61.1%, with three complete and eight partial responses. Grade 3/4 haematological toxicity was seen in 10 out of 18 patients and caused dose reductions and treatment delays. The combination of epirubicin, carboplatin and capecitabine showed good activity but caused excessive toxicity. A phase-II trial using carboplatin and capecitabine is underway.

The safety and efficacy of the weekly dosing of irinotecan for platinum- and taxanes-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Irinotecan is one of the drugs that might be effective against platinum- and taxanes-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. We investigated efficacy and safety of the weekly dosing schedule of irinotecan.

METHODS

From September 2001 to March 2003, 28 eligible patients who have histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer, which was resistant or refractory to both platinum and taxanes, were consecutively treated at the National Cancer Center Hospital. Irinotecan (100 mg/m(2)) was administered intravenously over 90 min on days 1, 8, and 15. The chemotherapy was repeated every 4 weeks, up to 6 cycles.

RESULTS

A total of 107 treatment cycles of irinotecan were administered to 28 patients. The median number of prior chemotherapy regimen was 3. Among 28 patients, 8 (29%) responded to irinotecan (2 complete responses and 6 partial responses). The median time to progression was 17 weeks. Three patients experienced hematological toxicities of Grade 4. Five patients experienced non-hematological toxicities Grade 3 or 4. No treatment-related death occurred.

CONCLUSION

The weekly dosing schedule of irinotecan seems to be effective and safe salvage chemotherapy regimen for platinum- and taxanes-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer. Gastrointestinal toxicities, especially diarrhea, were moderate and manageable in an outpatient setting.

Clinical and pharmacokinetic phase II study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine in heavily pretreated recurrent ovarian carcinoma

BACKGROUND

This multicenter phase II study evaluated feasibility, clinical efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of the combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and vinorelbine (VNR) in patients with platinum-paclitaxel pretreated recurrent ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients received prior treatment with platinum and paclitaxel. Thirty-two heavily pretreated (median number of chemotherapy regimens two, range one to six) ovarian cancer patients received treatment with PLD 30 mg/m(2) and VNR 30 mg/m(2) every three weeks for six cycles. Ten patients entered the pharmacokinetic study, five receiving the PLD-VNR and five the VNR-PLD sequence.

RESULTS

In 30 patients evaluated for response and toxicity, the overall response rate was 37% and 10% of patients achieved stable disease. Median time to progression and overall survival were 5.5 months (range 1-10) and 9 months (range 2-16), respectively. Toxicity was generally mild and reversible. VNR AUC(tot) and plasma levels were considerably higher in the PLD-VNR sequence.

CONCLUSIONS

The PLD-VNR regimen exhibits significant activity in heavily pretreated patients, is well tolerated and is associated with encouraging survival. Preliminary pharmacokinetic results suggest the PLD-VNR sequence for further clinical applications. This regimen should be considered as a treatment option in patients with chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer.

The absolute bioavailability of oral vinorelbine in patients with solid tumors

Due to advances in the methods used to quantitate vinorelbine, this study was conducted to characterize fully the bioavailability of an oral dosage form of vinorelbine. Twenty-seven eligible patients with solid tumors were enrolled onto this study and were treated in a randomized crossover design to receive either 70 mg/m2 orally or 30 mg/m2 intravenously followed by the alternative treatment one week later. Vinorelbine was administered orally as a soft-gelatin capsule. Pharmacokinetic sampling was carried out for 7 days following each dose. Whole blood vinorelbine concentrations were measured using a sensitive LC/MS/MS method. The data from patients were excluded if they vomited within 3 h after the oral dose.

RESULTS

Three subjects were removed from study following the first dose due to safety reasons. Of the remaining 24 subjects, five experienced vomiting within 3 h of oral dosing. Total body clearance calculated from the intravenous dose was 43.65 L/h (+/-10.9) and the terminal half-life was estimated to be 49 h. Using complete data from the remaining 19 subjects, the mean absolute bioavailability of the oral dosage formulation of vinorelbine was calculated to be 33% (+/-18%). In conclusion we have characterized the pharmacokinetics of both orally administered and intravenous vinorelbine over 7 days after administration and have determined the mean oral bioavailability of this oral formulation to be 33%.

Phase II trial of vinorelbine for relapsed ovarian cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the activity of vinorelbine in women with recurrent or resistant epithelial ovarian cancer following treatment with platinum and paclitaxel in terms of survival rate at 6 months, objective response rate (in the subset of patients with bidimensionally measurable disease), and health-related quality of life.

METHODS

Seventy-nine evaluable patients with progressive ovarian cancer following platinum and taxane therapy received vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) days 1 and 8 of a 21-day treatment cycle.

RESULTS

Six-month survival rate for the entire group was 65% (95% CI: 54-75%) and median survival was 10.1 months (95% CI: 7.7-13.6 months). In the 71 women with measurable disease, 0 complete and 2 partial responses were observed (RR = 3%) (95% CI: 0.3-10%). Patients reported substantial symptom-related distress at baseline, which persisted, but did not worsen, during treatment. Patients also had impaired physical functioning at baseline and this continued to decline during treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6-month survival rate achieved with salvage vinorelbine is comparable to the results obtained with other salvage therapies in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer. During the initial 10 weeks of treatment, vinorelbine did not appear to be effective in alleviating the symptom-related distress or progressive impairment of physical functioning associated with this disease.

Chemotherapy for newly diagnosed and relapsed advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

To review chemotherapy options for patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed advanced ovarian cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Published literature.

CONCLUSION

Primary chemotherapy for newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer consisting of a platinum compound and a taxane is commonly associated with myelosuppression, nausea/vomiting, alopecia, and sensory/motor neuropathy. For recurrent disease, numerous chemotherapy agents are effective, including rechallenging the patient with a platinum and/or a taxane or using newer agents such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, topotecan, and gemcitabine. In platinum-resistant disease, selection is based mainly on the toxicity profile, because palliation and quality of life are important.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Oncology nurses play a valuable role in ovarian cancer care by proactively meeting patient information needs.

An escalating dose finding study of liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine for the treatment of refractory or resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of liposomal doxorubicin (LD)-vinorelbine (V) in patients with refractory or resistant ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty patients were eligible. Seven levels were studied [LD 25-V20 (three patients enrolled); LD 30-V20 (three); LD 35-V20 (three); LD 20-V25 (three); LD 25-V25 (three); LD 30-V25 (10); LD 35-V25 (five)]. LD was given on day 1, while V was given on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Cohorts of three patients were enrolled at each level, and another three patients were planned, if one dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was registered.

RESULTS

DLT was observed in four patients: two febrile neutropenia, one grade 4 thrombocytopenia and one grade 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) at level 7 (LD 35-V25). Thus, liposomal doxorubicin 30 mg/m(2) plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) was the MTD. The most frequent toxicity was neutropenia. Fifteen patients (50%) experienced grade 3 neutropenia and 10 (33.3%) grade 4 neutropenia. Non-hematological toxicity was mild. Mucositis and PPE were the most frequent toxicities, but in most cases were grade 1. Out of 29 assessable patients, six (20.7%; 95% confidence interval 10%-39%) experienced an objective response, with one complete response.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with refractory or resistant ovarian cancer, the recommended doses for the combination studied are liposomal doxorubicin 30 mg/m(2) (day 1) plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) (day 1 and 8). Neutropenia is the most frequent toxicity, while non-hematological toxicity is mild. Substantial activity was recorded and a phase II study is justified.

Chemotherapeutic management of advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To review current treatment strategies for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Factors for treatment selection are discussed.

DATA SOURCES

Research articles and textbooks.

CONCLUSION

Research efforts continue to identify novel agents and/or combination therapies that can effect a cure or prolong survival. Several agents offer similar efficacy outcomes but vary in safety aspects and administration requirements.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Numerous clinical trials have defined the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer. Oncology nurses can prepare patients to make treatment decisions; educate them about treatment-related side effects; and develop an ongoing relationship as patient advocates to ensure quality of life.

Altretamine (hexamethylmelamine) in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: a phase II study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the activity of oral Altretamine in women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma who responded (PR or CR) to first line chemotherapy but relapsed within 6 months. The protocol was later amended to include patients with relapse within 12 months.

METHODS

A multicentric phase II trial. The patients had to have measurable disease. No more than one prior chemotherapy regiment was allowed. The patients were treated with 260 mg/m(2)/day of Altretamine in four divided doses for 2 weeks, repeated every 4 weeks. The response was evaluated after every two courses.

RESULTS

Thirty-one eligible patients were treated with a median of 3 courses of Altretamine (range 1-12). Hematological toxicity was minimal. Gastrointestinal toxicity was common. Response evaluation was possible for 26 patients. Three patients (9.7% intent-to-treat) achieved a partial response. Eight patients had stable disease, and 15 patients had progressive disease after two treatment courses. The median time to progression was 10 weeks (range, 5-51 weeks). Medial survival was 34 weeks (range, 7-112+).

CONCLUSION

Altretamine should not be chosen as standard treatment in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. However, Altretamine represents a useful alternative in patients who prefer oral treatment or when socioeconomic considerations are an important issue.

Ovarian cancer: progress and continuing controversies in management

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of the gynaecological cancers, affecting approximately 1 in 75 women in the developed world. In most cases (>75%), the disease is disseminated beyond the ovary at diagnosis. For patients with stage III-IV disease, many clinicians agree that standard treatment should comprise six cycles of paclitaxel-carboplatin. Randomised trials over the past 10 years have indicated the superiority of paclitaxel-based treatment and that carboplatin is equivalent to cisplatin, but better tolerated. A recent trial has suggested that docetaxel may be a better option than paclitaxel, with reduced neurotoxicity and comparable efficacy. Overall treatment results remain unsatisfactory, since the median survival for these patients is 2-3 years. Future progress may be made by addressing the following issues: Would sequential regimes be more effective? Intriguing results from two large randomised trials (ICON-3 and GOG-132) indicate that single agent platinum might well be incorporated into such regimes. Additionally, a range of other agents could be tested as part of first-line regimes, having demonstrated activity in relapsed patients; these include topotecan, gemcitabine and liposomal doxorubicin. Newer agents, such as cell signalling inhibitors have shown potential as single agents, but may be particularly effective in combination with current drugs. Real progress can be expected when a better understanding is achieved of the mechanisms underlying clinical drug resistance in ovarian cancer, and a close laboratory-clinical interaction is crucial.

Part II: chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer-treatment of recurrent disease

For women with advanced ovarian cancer, rates of response to first-line chemotherapy are high but most patients have relapses and become candidates for further chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for recurrence can palliate symptoms, and there is some evidence that it can also improve survival in this clinical situation. Patients who relapse quickly after first-line therapy should not be given the same drugs as were used initially. However, for patients who have longer intervals from treatment to relapse, the rates of response to a rechallenge with platinum are clinically significant. Several cytotoxic drugs have shown activity in patients whose disease has relapsed after therapy with platinum and a taxane; these drugs include topotecan, etoposide, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, epirubicin, gemcitabine, altretamine, oxali platin, and vinorelbine. Recurrent ovarian cancer is also an important setting in which to test investigational agents with promising activity, such as new platinum compounds, new taxanes, and other cytotoxic agents, as well as non-cytotoxic compounds with novel mechanisms of action.

Second-line and subsequent therapy for ovarian carcinoma

Ovarian carcinoma continues to be the leading cause of death among gynecologic malignancies. Paclitaxel and platinum chemotherapy is still the treatment of choice after primary debulking surgery. Salvage chemotherapy with several single agents has only modest activity and does not prolong survival of patients with relapsed ovarian carcinoma. An intense search has been made for novel approaches to treatment of ovarian cancer, and several new treatments, such as immunotherapy and gene therapy, show promise. Newer combination chemotherapy regimens and molecularly targeted therapy need to be developed. High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation appears to benefit selected groups of patients and is still investigational. Whole abdominal radiotherapy for relapsed microscopic disease should be studied in prospective randomized trials. Women with advanced ovarian carcinoma should continue to be encouraged to participate in well-designed clinical trials.