A phase II trial of edatrexate in previously treated squamous cell cervical cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Taxanes: their impact on gynecologic malignancy

The use of taxanes in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies has expanded tremendously over the past 30 years. Both paclitaxel and docetaxel have unique microtubule stabilizing, antiangiogenic and radiation sensitizing properties that endow them with remarkable activity as chemotherapeutic agents. As research into the appropriate dose, timing, treatment interval, and response rates have been studied, they have emerged as one of the most active agents available in the treatment of gynecologic cancer. The body of research on taxanes continues to expand especially with regard to the use of taxanes in alternative formulations and in combination with newer treatments or routes of treatment. This review focuses on the development of taxanes as an effective therapy in the treatment of gynecologic cancers and data currently available in the literature regarding their efficacy. Future directions of taxane-based chemotherapy with regards to ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers are also addressed. There is little doubt that taxane-based chemotherapy will remain an integral part of the treatment of gynecologic cancer for the foreseeable future.

Supportive cryotherapy: a review from head to toe

CONTEXT

Conventional chemotherapy leads to multiple adverse mucocutaneous complications such as oral mucositis, alopecia, ocular toxicity, and onycholysis. Limited pharmacologic interventions are available for preventing these clinical problems.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to critically review the role of cryotherapy (regional hypothermia) for alleviating these adverse symptoms.

METHODS

A narrative review was performed, with an emphasis on randomized controlled trials. A comprehensive search using PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and MEDLINE(®) was completed. References of all cited articles also were reviewed. Data from the review were composed of articles published between 1970 and May 2013.

RESULTS

Available evidence suggests that regional hypothermia decreases the burden of chemotherapy-related oral mucositis, alopecia, ocular toxicity, and onycholysis. The major limitations of studies include the absence of blinded control groups and variable clinical end points.

CONCLUSION

Regional hypothermia decreases the burden of these four chemotherapy-induced complications and is well tolerated. More research is needed to determine what subgroups of cancer patients are most likely to respond to different types of regional hypothermia, the ideal duration of cooling needed, and further improve the ease of use of the cooling devices.

Management of metastatic cervical cancer: review of the literature

This article reviews the English-language literature concerning chemotherapy for advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cervix carcinoma. Specifically, it reviews the available literature for active single agents, doublets, triplets, and multiple drug combination chemotherapy. Until recently, single-agent cisplatin was the drug of choice in metastatic cervix cancer. Various doublets, triplets, and quartlets have been reported to have higher objective response rates than single-agent cisplatin when compared in phase III clinical trials. Some have demonstrated improvements in progression-free survival, but only topotecan plus cisplatin has demonstrated an improvement in overall survival. This benefit is most apparent in patients who have a long disease-free interval from primary therapy and who have not received prior cisplatin as a radiosensitizer.

Impact of intensity-modulated radiotherapy on acute hematologic toxicity in women with gynecologic malignancies

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of intensity-modulated whole pelvic radiotherapy (IM-WPRT) on acute hematologic toxicity (HT) in gynecology patients.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between February 2000 and June 2001, 36 patients (24 cervix, 12 uterus) received IM-WPRT. The target consisted of the upper vagina, parametria, uterus, and presacral and pelvic lymph nodes. Using commercially available software, seven or nine coplanar IM-WPRT plans were generated. The planning goals were to irradiate the target while minimizing the dose to the small bowel, bladder, and rectum. Pelvic bone marrow (BM) was not a constraint in the planning process. The variables analyzed included white blood count (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelets, and hemoglobin (Hgb) obtained before and weekly during RT. As a comparison, the HT in 88 patients (44 cervix, 44 uterus) treated to the same target volume and total dose (45 Gy) with conventional four-field WPRT was analyzed. In addition, the medullary spaces within the pelvic bones in 10 women were contoured and the average dose-volume histograms representing the pelvic BM were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

IM-WPRT patients had a lower median age (p = 0.008), higher percentage of squamous histologic features (p = 0.04), and were more likely to receive chemotherapy (CTX) (p = 0.02) than were the WPRT patients. No differences were seen in the baseline WBC, ANC, platelet, or Hgb levels between the two groups. Grade 2 or greater WBC, ANC, and Hgb toxicity was seen in 19.4%, 9.1%, and 8.6% of the IM-WPRT patients, respectively. Comparable rates were seen in the WPRT patients (WBC 21.6%, p = 0.79; ANC 8.3%, p = 0.91; Hgb 9.2%, p = 0.94). No Grade 2 or greater platelet toxicity was seen in either group. Significant HT was infrequent in women treated with RT alone and was comparable in the two groups. In contrast, WPRT + CTX patients experienced more Grade 2 or greater WBC toxicity (60% vs. 31.2%, p = 0.08) and developed lower median WBC (2.8 vs. 3.6 microg/dL, p = 0.05) and ANC (1874 vs. 2669, p = 0.04) nadirs than did IM-WPRT + CTX patients. Moreover, CTX was held more often in the WPRT group secondary to HT (40% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.06). Although Grade 2 or greater ANC (23.5% vs. 15.3%) and Hgb (35.2% vs. 15.2%) toxicity were lower in the IM-WPRT + CTX group, these differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.58 and p = 0.22, respectively). The comparison of pelvic BM dose-volume histograms revealed that IM-WPRT planning resulted in significantly less BM volume being irradiated compared with WPRT planning, particularly within the iliac crests.

CONCLUSION

IM-WPRT has a favorable impact on the risk of acute HT in gynecology patients, particularly in those receiving CTX. Future work is needed to optimize BM sparing in these patients to reduce the risk of significant HT further.

Phase II trial of edatrexate in relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors: a Southwest Oncology Group study (SWOG 9124)

Up to 30% of patients with advanced germ cell tumors will fail induction chemotherapy or will relapse. New agents with activity in this still potentially curable subgroup of patients are needed. Edatrexate (10-ethyl, 10-deaza-aminopterin) is a methotrexate analogue that has preclinical and clinical activity in breast, lung, and head and neck cancers, as well as in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. A phase II trial of edatrexate in relapsed or refractory malignant germ cell tumors was conducted by the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). Twenty-five patients were enrolled in the trial. Edatrexate was administered intravenously at a dose of 80 mg/m2 weekly for four weeks followed by a one-week rest period. The treatment course was repeated every five weeks. Among the 23 patients evaluable for response, there were no objective responses with all patients developing progressive disease. Thirteen patients (56%) developed Grade 3-4 toxicities, predominantly stomatitis and malaise/fatigue/lethargy. One patient developed Grade 4 anemia while another developed grade 4 anemia and thrombocytopenia. No patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity nor were there any toxic deaths. Edatrexate administered in this dose and schedule has no antitumor activity and has substantial toxicity in patients with relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors.