Biomedical subjects

Heinz Josef Lenz

Publications and source records attributed to Heinz Josef Lenz.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Phase II clinical trial of capecitabine in the treatment of advanced, persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with translational research: a gynecologic oncology group study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anti-tumor activity and adverse events of capecitabine in advanced, persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, and to explore biomarkers with the potential to predict capecitabine response and toxicity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Eligible, consenting patients were treated with a starting dose of 2500 mg/m(2)/day or 1800 mg/m(2)/day (divided into two doses given every 12 h) for 14 days of each 21-day cycle. Prior chemotherapy was allowed only in the context of radiation "sensitization". Genotyping in the 5' and 3' ends of thymidylate synthase (TS) was performed in DNA from pretreatment blood. Relative gene expression of TS, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) was quantified in RNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tumor. RESULTS: All patients had prior radiotherapy and 22 received a radiation sensitizer. A partial response was observed in 4 of 26 (15%) evaluable patients. An additional 35% of patients achieved stable disease while 42% experienced increasing disease. The most common serious non-hematological toxicities were gastrointestinal and dermatologic. Exploratory analyses suggested that: a germline polymorphism in the 3' or the 5' end of TS was not associated with TS gene expression, relative tumor expression of TS, DPD and TP were not correlated, and relative tumor expression of TP may predict severe anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the modest response rate, this trial was closed without a second stage of accrual; single agent capecitabine was not selected for further study in advanced persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix previously treated with radiation or chemoradiation.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

A randomized phase II trial of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor BMS-275291 in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients with bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: BMS-275291 is a selective matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI) that does not inhibit sheddases implicated in the dose-limiting arthritis of older MMPIs. We conducted a randomized phase II trial of two doses of BMS-275291 (1,200 versus 2,400 mg) in hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients with bone metastases to probe for a dose-response relationship and to assess differential toxicities. Serial serum and urine specimens were collected to assess for markers of bone metabolism. METHODS: The primary end point was 4-month progression-free survival (PFS). Eligibility criteria included documentation of androgen-independent disease (including anti-androgen withdrawal), skeletal metastasis, adequate end-organ function and performance status, and no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen. Patients were randomized to 1,200 mg orally once daily (arm A) or 1,200 mg orally twice daily (arm B). Response was assessed every 56 days. RESULTS: Eighty patients were enrolled: 39 in arm A and 41 in arm B. There were no responders by prostate-specific antigen or measurable disease to treatment. Stable disease was noted at 8 weeks in 39% of patients in arm A and in 17% of patients in arm B. Progression of disease at 8 weeks was seen in 61% of patients in arm A versus 83% of patients in arm B. Median survival time was 21.6 months (95% confidence interval, 17.5; not reached), whereas median PFS time was 1.8 months (95% confidence interval 1.74; 2) for all patients. Patients in arm A had a median survival time that was not reached, whereas patients on arm B has a median survival time of 21 months (P = 0.2). PFS at 4 months favored arm A: 22% versus 10% (log-rank, P = 0.008). Grade 3 toxicities occurred in 5 (13%) patients in arm A and in 9 (22%) patients in arm B. Grade 4 toxicities were uncommon (only 4% of patients): one each of thrombosis, fatigue, and motor neuropathy was seen in the arm B. Bone marker studies showed that baseline serum levels of N-telopeptide, osteocalcin, procollagen I NH2-terminal propeptide, and PICP had prognostic significance for PFS and/or overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of dose schedule, BMS-275291 was well tolerated in HRPC patients and had no dose-limiting arthritis. Toxicities differed modestly according to the dose schedule employed. As overall survival and PFS favored the once daily schedule, this dose schedule is recommended for future studies. Baseline markers of bone metabolism may have prognostic value in HRPC patients with bone metastases.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Phase I clinical trial of weekly docetaxel and exisulind, a novel inducer of apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this phase I study was to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination of weekly docetaxel and exisulind in patients with advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors were treated with intravenous weekly docetaxel with daily oral exisulind. The following dose levels (docetaxel/exisulind) were explored: 30-mg/m2/200 mg po bid, 35/200, 35/250 and 40/250. Docetaxel was administered weekly for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks off, and exisulind was taken twice daily. Each cycle was 8 weeks. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were enrolled in the study. All of them had received prior systemic therapy. Most patients had either melanoma or carcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract. A total of 31 cycles of therapy were administered. DLTs were grade 3 diarrhea, anorexia and fatigue and grade 3 cutaneous toxicity at dose level 4 (40/250). Myelosuppression was mild. Fatigue and gastrointestinal toxicity (anorexia, dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea) represented the most common toxicities. However, grade 3 and grade 4 toxicities were uncommon. There were no treatment related deaths. No objective responses were observed and five patients achieved stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended dose for phase II studies is weekly docetaxel 35 mg/m2 for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks off in combination with oral exisulind 250 mg po bid. This combination is feasible and well-tolerated at these doses.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Intermittent dosing of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor tipifarnib (R115777) in advanced malignant solid tumors: a phase I California Cancer Consortium Trial.

Tipifarnib (R115777) inhibits farnesylation of key proteins that modulate signaling pathways implicated in cell growth and proliferation, including members of the Ras and Rho families. It has broad-spectrum antiproliferative activity in vitro and in vivo. Clinical trials employing a continuous administration schedule have demonstrated dose-limiting neurotoxicity and myelosuppression. Preclinical studies have shown that intermittent oral administration can suppress tumor growth comparable to continuous administration. We conducted a National Cancer Institute-sponsored phase I trial to determine the feasibility of an intermittent dosing schedule of R115777 given orally twice daily on weeks 1 and 3 of a 28-day cycle in patients with malignant solid tumors. Starting dose was 300 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) with escalation by 300 mg b.i.d. increments over six dose levels to a maximum of 1800 mg b.i.d. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as any grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic toxicity, grade 4 thrombocytopenia, grade 4 neutropenia (ANC) with fever (38.3 degrees C or above) or a documented infection. Twenty-one patients with advanced solid tumors, all of whom had prior systemic therapy, were accrued. Grade 3 fatigue was dose limiting for two of three patients at the 900 mg b.i.d. dose level. Although no responses were seen, four of six patients with stable disease remained on study for at least a year (16, 17, 13 and 12 months) before developing progressive disease. Three of these prolonged stable disease patients had non-small cell lung cancer. We conclude that intermittent dosing of R115777 is feasible and tolerable. The recommended phase II dose is 600 mg orally b.i.d. on alternate weeks.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

SU5416 plus interferon alpha in advanced renal cell carcinoma: a phase II California Cancer Consortium Study with biological and imaging correlates of angiogenesis inhibition.

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in up to 70% of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and is a rational therapeutic target. SU5416 is a small molecule inhibitor of VEGF-mediated signaling through Flk-1, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase. IFN-alpha also possesses dose- and schedule-dependent antiangiogenic effects at doses lower than those used for RCC therapy. We hypothesized that SU5416 plus low dose IFN-alpha 2B (Intron-A) would result in a 1-year event-free survival (EFS), exceeding 20% in patients with metastatic RCC using the results of a randomized immunotherapy trial as historical control. Efficacy was correlated with serial plasma VEGF and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels and with positron emission tomography scans. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Thirty patients were treated with SU5416 145 mg/m(2) i.v. twice weekly plus Intron-A 1 million units s.c. twice daily, cycled every 6 weeks. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (50%) had stable disease (SD) at 12 weeks, including 1 minor response and 8 with progressive disease (27%). Median survival time was 10 months, and 1-year EFS was 6% (95% confidence interval, 1-35). The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicities included fatigue and lymphopenia, among others. There were 3 on-study deaths, 2 of which were infection-related. Significant declines in median plasma levels of VEGF pre- and posttherapy were observed. In 5 patients with paired FDG and O-15 positron emission tomography scans, tumor metabolism and perfusion were unchanged in 3 patients with SD, increased in 1 patient with progression, and decreased in 1 patient with SD. CONCLUSIONS: Although SU5146 plus low-dose IFN exhibits biological activity in RCC as evidenced by significant declines in serial VEGF and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 plasma levels, the 1-year EFS of 6% and adverse toxicity profile diminishes enthusiasm for additional studies with this combination in advanced RCC.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Tirapazamine plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in advanced malignant solid tumors: a california cancer consortium phase I and molecular correlative study.

PURPOSE: Tumor hypoxia confers chemotherapy resistance. Tirapazamine is a cytotoxin that selectively targets hypoxic cells and has supra-additive toxicity with platinums and taxanes in preclinical studies. We conducted a Phase I study of tirapazamine, carboplatin, and paclitaxel and assessed potential plasma markers of hypoxia as surrogates for response. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Forty-two patients with advanced solid tumors were treated at four dose levels; parallel dose escalations were carried out in chemotherapy-naive and previously treated subjects. Pre and post-therapy plasma levels of the hypoxia-induced proteins plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured. RESULTS: Three of four chemotherapy-naïve patients developed dose-limiting toxicities at dose level 4 (grade 3 stomatitis/infection, grade 3 emesis, and grade 4 febrile neutropenia). Four of seven previously treated patients developed dose-limiting toxicities at dose level 3, including one death [grade 3 myalgia, grade 3 infection/grade 4 neutropenia, grade 3 infection/grade 4 neutropenia, and grade 5 infection (death)/grade 4 neutropenia]. Of 38 patients assessable for response, 3 had a complete response, 1 a partial response, 1 an unconfirmed partial response, and 23 had stable disease in at least one evaluation; 10 quickly progressed. One complete responder had normalization of vascular endothelial growth factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels. CONCLUSION: Dose levels 3 (carboplatin AUC of 6, 225 mg/m(2) paclitaxel, and 330 mg/m(2) tirapazamine) and 2 (carboplatin AUC 6, 225 mg/m(2) paclitaxel, and 260 mg/m(2) tirapazamine) are the maximum tolerated doses for chemotherapy naive and patients treated previously, respectively. Dose level 3 is the experimental arm of a Phase III Southwest Oncology Group trial (S0003) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Potential markers of tumor hypoxia may be useful correlates in studies of hypoxic cytotoxins and are being prospectively investigated in S0003.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Targeted therapy and pharmacogenomic programs.

The goal in administering chemotherapeutics is to develop the ability to predict the outcome of therapy in terms of response and toxicity. Technology has been developed to allow tumor profiling with measurement of protein expression, gene expression levels of markers, and even genetic polymorphisms, which may predict response to particular chemotherapeutics. The chemotherapeutics for which particular markers have been shown to predict outcome include the fluoropyrimidines and platinums. The next step is to develop clinical trials that will assess prospectively the benefits of profiling a patient's particular tumor, which should translate into an improvement in response and toxicity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2003

Pharmacology of oxaliplatin in solid tumor patients with hepatic dysfunction: a preliminary report of the National Cancer Institute Organ Dysfunction Working Group.

Oxaliplatin, which was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, is often administered to patients with altered liver function caused by hepatic metastases. Because of the absence of data on the clearance of oxaliplatin in patients with liver dysfunction, and to develop dosing recommendations for the safe use of oxaliplatin in this clinical setting, the Organ Dysfunction Working Group of the National Cancer Institute performed a phase I and pharmacokinetic trial of this drug in patients displaying a wide range of liver function abnormalities. Sixty patients grouped into five classes of liver function were enrolled in this study, including a 12-patient control group with normal liver function, 15 patients with "mild," 16 patients with "moderate," and 16 with "severe" liver dysfunction, as well as one patient who had undergone liver transplantation. The patients had a median age of 62 years and a Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0. All patients had received prior systemic chemotherapy, and 70% had a diagnosis of a gastrointestinal malignancy. The control patients were treated with 130 mg/m(2) oxaliplatin intravenously every 21 days; the starting doses for patients with mild, moderate, or severe liver dysfunction or post-liver transplantation were 105, 80, or 60 mg/m(2), respectively. Cohorts of three or more patients were escalated from these starting doses to 130 mg/m(2) if dose-limiting toxicities were not observed, and pharmacokinetic evaluations were performed at each dose level for every category of liver dysfunction. We found that oxaliplatin was well tolerated at its recommended dose and schedule of 130 mg/m(2) every 21 days in patients with all levels of liver dysfunction, and that there was no apparent alteration in the clearance of either total or ultrafilterable platinum species from plasma, even in patients with severe hepatic functional abnormalities.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2003

Pharmacogenomics in colorectal cancer.

The goal in administering chemotherapeutics is to develop the ability to predict the outcome of therapy in terms of response and toxicity. Technology has been developed to allow tumor profiling with the measurement of protein expression and gene expression levels of markers and even genetic polymorphisms that may predict response to particular chemotherapeutics. The chemotherapeutics for which particular markers have been shown to predict outcome include the fluoropyrimidines and platinums. The next step is to develop clinical trials that will prospectively assess the benefits of profiling a patient's particular tumor, which should translate into an improvement in response and toxicity.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2003

Clinical update: proteasome inhibitors in solid tumors.

The proteasome plays a critical role in regulating the cell cycle, neoplastic growth, and metastasis. Bortezomib (VELCADE; formerly PS-341, LDP-341, MLN341) is a novel dipeptide boronic acid that is the first proteasome inhibitor to have progressed to clinical trials. Preclinical research has shown that through the prevention of IkappaB degradation, bortezomib may block chemotherapy-induced NF-kappaB activation and augment the apoptotic response to chemotherapeutic agents. Bortezomib also appeared to increase the stabilization of p21 and p27, as well as transcription factor p53. In preclinical models of breast, lung, pancreatic, and ovarian tumor types, bortezomib inhibited tumor growth and demonstrated anti-angiogenic properties. Bortezomib exhibited the greatest activity when combined with standard chemotherapeutic agents, such as irinotecan, gemcitabine, and docetaxel, suggesting its potential additive/syngeristic role in overcoming resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Preliminary data from early clinical trials suggest that bortezomib can be given at pharmacologically active doses in combination with standard doses of chemotherapy with manageable toxicities. Responses have been seen and no evidence of additive toxicity has been exhibited in combination agent trials.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed2003

Pharmacogenetic aspects in treatment of colorectal cancer--an update.

Pharmacogenomic analyses will become crucial to predict patients' toxicity to treatment and will also help to predict the tumor response. Processes of drug metabolism, drug efflux, DNA-repair and characteristics of drug targets are critical checkpoints of drug efficacy. These crucial pathways for drug action have been part of pharmacogenomic studies evaluating the impact of genomic variants on transcription, translation, protein structure and substrate binding of the genes involved. Promising candidates have been identified with predictive value for response and toxicity to chemotherapy in colorectal cancers. These candidates need to be incorporated into large, prospective clinical trials to confirm their impact for response and survival to chemotherapy that has been reported in retrospective analyses. Confirmed predictive markers, together with additional yet to be identified pharmacogenomic key players, will provide the basis for tailoring chemotherapy in the future.

Animals↗