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Biomedical subjects

L Janisch

Publications and source records attributed to L Janisch.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A phase I study of subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 and interferon alfa-2a.

BACKGROUND: Both recombinant interferon alfa and interleukin-2 (IL-2) have been shown to have some activity as single agents in metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC), although their activity is minimal in more common solid tumors. Recent preclinical studies have suggested that the combination of these two agents is especially promising. METHODS: Subcutaneous recombinant interferon alfa-2a and IL-2 were administered at one of five dose levels to 33 patients with refractory solid tumors, including 21 patients with RCC. A constant ratio of 5:1 of interferon alfa-2a to IL-2 was used. Interferon alfa-2a and IL-2 were administered three and five times weekly, respectively, for a total of 4 weeks, followed by a rest of 1-3 weeks between cycles. RESULTS: The dose-limiting toxic effects included hypotension, nephrotoxicity, and fatigue. At the recommended Phase II dose of 7.5 million units (MU)/m2 of interferon alfa-2a and 1.5 MU/m2 of IL-2, 12 patients were treated. Ten of 12 completed the 4-week cycle without modification. Four patients at that dose level had Grade 3-4 toxic effects. Partial responses were observed in 4 of 16 assessable patients with RCC. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous interferon alfa-2a and IL-2 can be self-administered safely on an outpatient basis. At tolerable doses, responses can be achieved in metastatic RCC.

Adult↗

Phase I clinical and pharmacological study of iododeoxyuridine and bleomycin in patients with advanced cancer.

Studies previously performed in our laboratory demonstrated synergistic cytotoxicity and DNA strand break formation in human tumor cells following exposure to a combination of bromodeoxyuridine and bleomycin. Synergy was evident when bromodeoxyuridine was administered prior to or simultaneously with bleomycin and occurred over a wide range of concentration ratios. We therefore undertook a phase I clinical trial of the combination of iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) and bleomycin to determine the maximally tolerated dose of IdUrd that could be administered with a standard dose of bleomycin and to determine the toxicities of the combination. Eligible patients were those with advanced cancer refractory to standard therapy who had a performance status of 0-2, measurable or evaluable disease, and adequate organ function. IdUrd was administered as a 5-day continuous i.v. infusion beginning at a dose of 250 mg/m2/day with escalation in cohorts of 3-6 patients according to a modified Fibonacci scheme. Bleomycin was administered at a dose of 15 mg/m2/day as a continuous i.v. infusion during the last 3 days of the IdUrd infusion. Cycles of therapy were repeated every 28 days. Plasma levels of IdUrd and iodouracil were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Thirty patients received a total of 79 cycles of IdUrd/bleomycin. Dose-limiting toxicity was bone marrow suppression. At the maximally tolerated IdUrd dose of 2780 mg/m2/day, the median neutrophil nadir after the first cycle of therapy was 805/microliters and the median platelet nadir was 48,000/microliters. Other toxic effects included mucositis, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and skin toxicity. Plasma steady-state concentrations of IdUrd increased proportionally to administered IdUrd dose. IdUrd clearance varied from 0.253 liters/min/m2 to 0.503 liters/min/m2 and did not correlate with IdUrd dose. IdUrd dose and concentration correlated significantly with granulocyte and platelet nadirs, and a pharmacodynamic model for white blood cell count nadir could be defined by pretreatment white blood cell count, IdUrd dose, and gender. The recommended IdUrd dose for phase II testing of this combination is 2140 mg/m2/day. Phase II studies will be of particular interest in those diseases, such as carcinomas of the head, neck, and esophagus, where bleomycin has documented activity as a single agent.

Adult↗

Phase I clinical and pharmacology study of 502U83 given as a 24-h continuous intravenous infusion.

502U83 is an arylmethylaminopropanediol that displays significant antitumor activity in a number of murine and human tumor-model systems. In the present phase I study, a 24-h continuous intravenous infusion of this agent was given every 28 days to patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors. In all, 46 patients received a total of 96 cycles of 502U83 at doses ranging from 25 to 8,000 mg/m2. No significant hematologic, gastrointestinal, or neurologic toxicity was observed. At doses of 2,000 mg/m2 and higher, prolongation of the corrected QT interval on ECG was evident in most patients but was completely reversible, was not associated with arrhythmias, and was not dose-limiting. Dose-limiting pulmonary toxicity characterized by acute onset of dyspnea, severe hypoxemia, interstitial pulmonary edema, and death occurred in three patients treated at the highest dose levels. Plasma concentrations of 502U83 and its metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The 502U83 maximal concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were proportional to the delivered dose; however, substantial interpatient variability in total body clearance was noted at all dose levels. Significant conversion of 502U83 to two glucuronide metabolites was detected. Metabolite concentrations were highest in the three patients who succumbed to pulmonary toxicity, although the precise contribution of these metabolites to the observed toxic effects is unknown. In view of the unfavorable clinical profile of QTc prolongation and pulmonary toxicity produced by 502U83, further clinical development of this agent has been suspended.

Adult↗

Double-blind, randomized crossover study of metoclopramide and batanopride for prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis.

We conducted a double-blind, randomized crossover study to compare the toxicity and antiemetic efficacy of the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor antagonist batanopride with that of metoclopramide in 21 chemotherapy-naive patients receiving at least 70 mg/m2 cisplatin. The study was terminated when hypotension was observed following the infusion of batanopride at other institutions testing similar drug schedules. Although we observed no hypotension following treatment with batanopride in this trial, we did note asymptomatic prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc), PR interval, and QRS complex on the EKG in the batanopride arm. Of 15 evaluable patients, 8 experienced less than or equal to 2 episodes of emesis within 24 h of the first batanopride infusion, whereas 9/15 subjects experienced less than or equal to 2 emetic episodes following the administration of metoclopramide. Overall, the evidence suggests that this dosing schedule for batanopride may be too toxic for clinical use.

Antiemetics↗

Paradoxical relationship between acetylator phenotype and amonafide toxicity.

Patients receiving the investigational antineoplastic agent amonafide underwent prospective determination of acetylator phenotype with use of caffeine as a test drug. Fast acetylators of caffeine had significantly greater toxicity (myelosuppression) after amonafide treatment than slow acetylators, presumably because of greater conversion of amonafide to the active acetylated metabolite. Furthermore, the estimated area under the plasma concentration-time curve of amonafide was significantly greater in the fast acetylators, indicating that the total plasma clearance was paradoxically lower in this group. It is hypothesized that this paradox is attributable to competition for oxidation of amonafide by its acetylated metabolite (parallel pathway interaction). Pretreatment white blood count and patient age were also independent predictors of leukopenia. In addition, it was noted that the ratio of actual to ideal body weight was significantly higher in the fast acetylators. Studies are in progress to determine the optimal amonafide dose in both acetylator subgroups.

Acetylation↗