Distribution of mouse interferon-beta in normal and brain tumour-bearing mice

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of peginterferon beta-1a in subjects with normal or impaired renal function

Peginterferon beta-1a was efficacious in a Phase 3 relapsing multiple sclerosis trial, and its safety profile was consistent with other beta interferons. This study evaluated the impact of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (neopterin elevation; a biomarker of pharmacological activity induced by interferon beta-1a) of peginterferon beta-1a following a single subcutaneous dose at 63 μg (n = 5) or 125 μg (n = 30). The results showed a fractional increase in area-under-the-concentration-time curve (AUC [30–53%]) and peak serum concentration (C_max [26–42%]) in subjects with mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment, versus healthy subjects; AUC and C_max were similar for healthy subjects and end-stage-renal-disease patients receiving hemodialysis. Pharmacokinetic simulation showed that the steady state concentration overlapped in the majority of healthy subjects and subjects with severe renal impairment. Neopterin baseline, peak concentration, and AUC increased as renal function decreased. Peginterferon beta-1a was well tolerated in all groups. These results do not warrant peginterferon beta-1a dose adjustment in subjects with renal impairment.

Phase II trial with BCNU plus alpha-interferon in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas

A Phase II study with a combination of BCNU and alpha-interferon (IFN) was conducted in patients with high-grade glioma recurrent after surgery and radiation treatment in order to investigate tumor control and toxicity. Twenty-one non-chemotherapy pretreated patients were administered 6 MU alpha-IFN in a 2-h infusion followed by 150 mg/m2 BCNU i.v. on day 1. Three MU alpha-IFN were subsequently administered subcutaneously on alternating days three times a week, until recycling of the whole procedure on day 42. Among 21 patients, partial remission was obtained in 7 (33%; 95% CI = 15-57) and stable disease in 6 (29%; CI = 11-52); overall Kaplan-Meier median time to progression (TTP) was 4.5 months (CI = 4-9) and the overall median survival time (MST) was 7 months (CI = 5-13). In patients who underwent surgical redebulking prior to chemotherapy, TTP and MST were 9 (CI = 7-14) and 15 months (CI = 11.0-39.0); in patients who were not operated on again before chemotherapy, these values were 4 (CI = 2-5; log rank test, p = 0.0026) and 5.5 months (CI = 4-7; log rank test, p = 0.0012) respectively. The results of this regimen in relapsing patients, especially following surgical redebulking, are encouraging; toxicity is acceptable, and further studies on combined alpha-IFN and multiple-agent chemotherapy are warranted.

The role of chemotherapy in recurrent malignant gliomas: an overview

First-line treatment of malignant gliomas invariably includes surgery when feasible, and often adjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy; at progression or recurrence, the only remaining possibility is chemotherapy. While the role of first-line treatment has been established by many randomized studies, second-line treatment is not as well defined. To analyze the difficulties encountered with cytotoxic drugs in relation to both the blood-brain barrier and drug resistance, we examined the results obtained by single-agent chemotherapy, drug combinations, and biological response modifiers. Our findings confirmed that the nitrosoureas are the most active substances at the time of recurrence; these agents give an approximately 30% global response rate, with about 20 weeks' survival. Although no comparative randomized studies regarding single- versus multiple-agent chemotherapy are available, the latter approach, including nitrosourea, can obtain an up to 40% rate of response, with survival ranging from 30 to 50 weeks. The role of interferons has been very controversial; individually, alpha- and beta-interferons seem to give a 20% response rate, with 20 weeks' survival. To date, they have never been used in combination with cytotoxic drugs, but they may prove synergistic without increasing toxicity. Studies addressing the quality of life of these patients are not available, and it is clear that we need more basic research in this field.