Antimyeloma activity of two novel N-substituted and tetraflourinated thalidomide analogs

Thalidomide alone or in combination with steroids has significant activity in multiple myeloma (MM). However, given its teratogenic potential, analogs have been synthesized, retaining the anti-MM activity without these side effects. We examined the anti-MM activity of two thalidomide analogs, CPS11 and CPS49. Direct cytotoxicity of the drugs on myeloma cell lines and patient myeloma cells was examined using thymidine uptake. Tumor cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry as well as Western blotting for caspase and PARP cleavage. Cellular signaling events were examined by immunoblotting for phosphorylated proteins. Both drugs inhibit proliferation of several MM cell lines sensitive and resistant to conventional therapies. They decrease secretion of IL-6, IGF, and VEGF by marrow stromal cells. Importantly, they inhibit proliferation of MM cells adherent to stromal cells. These drugs induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in MM cell lines, as well as patient MM cells. They inhibit the PI3K/Akt and JAK/STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) pathways in MM cells and are antiangiogenic in matrigel-based assays. CPS11 and CPS49 have potent antimyeloma activity and can overcome protective effects of the tumor microenvironment. They have potent antiangiogenic activity and direct effect on bone marrow stroma. These encouraging preclinical data provide the basis for further evaluation in the clinic.

Microarray gene expression profiling of angiogenesis inhibitors using the rat aortic ring assay

The rat aortic ring assay has been previously described as a useful ex vivo model for analyzing the biological activity of various inhibitors of angiogenesis. Rat aortic rings are exposed to antiangiogenic agents for a five-day incubation period. Then, the degree of microvessel outgrowth from the rings is analyzed and quantified. In contrast to most in vitro angiogenesis assays, the rat aortic ring model provides a unique microenvironment to evaluate the interaction of various cell types and biological factors for their influence on angiogenesis. Microarray analysis is an accepted method for the evaluation of gene expression profiles and can be used to better understand changes in gene expression that occur when rat aortic rings are exposed to a particular biological agent. Here we describe a method of using microarray technology to evaluate the modulation of gene expression in angiogenesis using the rat aortic ring assay.

Thalidomide, an antiangiogenic agent with clinical activity in cancer

Despite the teratogenic past of thalidomide, there is recent evidence indicating the drug's efficacy in the management of various diseases from immune disorders to cancers. The history, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of thalidomide in the clinic are discussed in this review article.

Approaches to preclinical screening of antiangiogenic agents

Angiogenesis, or new blood vessel growth, is essential for the growth, invasion, and metastasis of solid tumors. The inhibition of this process, or antiangiogenesis, is a promising new therapeutic anticancer strategy. Several antiangiogenic compounds are currently in preclinical or clinical development for the treatment of cancer. However, the challenge for the discovery and characterization of antiangiogenic targets remains in developing efficient in vitro or in vivo preclinical angiogenesis screening assays to assess and compare antiangiogenic activity. Several semiquantitative or quantitative angiogenesis assays exist, including in vitro endothelial cell systems and ex vivo or in vivo neovascularization models utilizing mouse, rat, or human tissues. We describe the more common and cost-effective angiogenesis assays currently in use, summarizing their unique advantages and disadvantages. Since angiogenesis inhibition is a novel therapeutic modality towards controlling solid tumors, antiangiogenic drug development underlines the importance in describing, standardizing, and developing quantitative screening assays for the next generation of antiangiogenic agents.

The Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin selectively sensitizes Bcr-Abl-expressing leukemia cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy

The Bcr-Abl fusion protein drives leukemogenesis and can render leukemia cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Geldanamycin (GA), a drug which destabilizes Hsp90-associated proteins, depletes cells of Bcr-Abl, an Hsp90 client, but not of Abl. Both HL60 cells transfected with Bcr-Abl and naturally Ph1-positive K562 leukemia cells are resistant to most cytotoxic drugs, but were found to be sensitive to GA. Furthermore, GA sensitized Bcr-Abl-expressing cells to doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX). In contrast, in parental HL60 cells, 90 nM GA inhibited PARP cleavage, nuclear fragmentation, and cell death caused by 500 ng/ml DOX. Like GA, STI 571 (an inhibitor of the Abl kinase) sensitized Bcr-Abl-expressing cells to DOX. Unlike GA, STI 571 did not antagonize the cytotoxic effects of DOX in parental HL60 cells. These results indicate that sensitization of Bcr-Abl-expressing cells, but not desensitization of HL60 cells, depends on inhibition of Bcr-Abl. Thus, GA differentially affects leukemia cells depending on their Bcr-Abl expression and selectively increases apoptosis in Bcr-Abl-expressing cells.

A Phase I study of infusional vinblastine in combination with the P-glycoprotein antagonist PSC 833 (valspodar)

BACKGROUND

PSC 833 is a second-generation P-glycoprotein (Pgp) antagonist developed to reverse multidrug resistance (MDR). The authors conducted a Phase I study of orally administered PSC 833 in combination with vinblastine administered as a 5-day continuous infusion.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients with advanced malignant disease were enrolled in the trial and treated with escalating doses of PSC 833. Pharmacokinetic interactions between PSC 833 and vinblastine were anticipated. Accordingly, when dose limiting toxicities were observed, the dose of vinblastine was reduced as PSC 833 was escalated. Three schedules and two formulations of PSC 833 were used in the study.

RESULTS

The maximum tolerated doses of PSC 833 were 12.5 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 8 days for the liquid formulation in combination with 0.9 mg/m(2) per day vinblastine as a continuous intravenous infusion (CIV) for 5 days; and 4 mg/kg orally every 6 hours for 8 days for the microemulsion formulation in combination with 0.6 mg/m(2) per day vinblastine CIV for 5 days. The principal toxicities for PSC 833 were ataxia and paresthesias and for the combination, constipation, fever. and neutropenia. Increased oral bioavailability and increased peak and trough concentrations were observed with the microemulsion formulation. Significant interpatient variability in pharmacokinetic parameters was observed. Ten patients studied at the MTD for PSC 833 (4 mg/kg orally every 6 hours for 8 days) had inhibition of rhodamine efflux from CD56 positive peripheral lymphocytes as a surrogate for Pgp antagonism. Among 43 evaluable patients with clear cell carcinoma of the kidney, 3 patients had complete responses, and 1 patient had a partial response.

CONCLUSIONS

PSC 833 in combination with vinblastine can be administered safely to patients provided the vinblastine dose is adjusted for pharmacokinetic interactions. The high interpatient variability is a significant confounding factor. Surrogate studies with CD56 positive cells suggest that Pgp inhibition in the clinical setting is achievable. Improved methods for predicting pharmacokinetic interactions should improve future studies.

The androgen receptor gene and its influence on the development and progression of prostate cancer

Prostate adenocarcinoma has the highest incidence of any malignancy and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in industrialized countries. The development and progression of prostate cancer are dependent on testosterone and dihydrotestosterone; the androgen receptor is the vehicle through which these androgens exert their regulation on prostate cellular proliferation and differentiation. As a result, much effort has been devoted to elucidating the role of the androgen receptor in prostate cancer. The CAG and GGN trinucleotide repeats in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene have been linked to prostate cancer risk and progression in some studies. Also, androgen receptor gene amplification may be a mechanism of prostate cancer cell adaptation to hormonal therapy. In addition, androgen receptor somatic mutations can result in receptors that have altered binding specificity when compared with wild-type receptors and heightened affinity for hormones other than testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Gene amplification and somatic mutations, coupled with the fact that various growth factors have been shown to stimulate androgen receptor activity independently of androgens, may enable prostate cancer cells to grow despite testicular-androgen ablation. Unfortunately, current medical therapy for metastatic prostate cancer is deficient, hormone-refractory prostate cancer is a major obstacle in treatment, and, as a result, prostate cancer mortality is still significant. Further study of the function of the androgen receptor will offer a better understanding of prostate cancer pathogenesis and progression, aiding the development of more effective treatments for this disease.

Alendronate does not interfere with 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate bone scanning

Several studies have found that administration of etidronate results in competitive interference with 99mTc-labeled bone scanning reagents. In contrast, in other studies this problem was not encountered with other bisphosphonates.

METHODS

We prospectively studied 9 patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scanning was performed before they received alendronate, and scanning was repeated a mean of 16.6 d afterward, when the patients had been receiving 40 mg alendronate daily for a mean of 6 d. In addition, 7 patients who underwent delayed scanning when they had been receiving alendronate for a mean of 111 d were also restudied. Quantitative whole-body bone scanning was performed, and radioactivity deposited in the bone metastasis was determined using region-of-interest analysis.

RESULTS

A <6% increase in whole-body retention of 99mTc-MDP was seen on the initial postalendronate scan compared with the baseline scan. No significant differences in activity were seen in the bone lesion evaluated on the baseline and initial postalendronate studies. The delayed postalendronate scan generally showed similar or higher tracer accumulation compared with the baseline scan.

CONCLUSION

Alendronate did not competitively inhibit uptake of 99mTc-MDP in the skeleton or tumor metastasis. Use of alendronate before bone scanning is unlikely to result in decreased detection of lesions or falsely decreased 99mTc-MDP activity at metastatic bone tumor sites.

Quantitative determination of perifosine, a novel alkylphosphocholine anticancer agent, in human plasma by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective reversed-phase LC-ESI-MS method to quantitate perifosine in human plasma was developed and validated. Sample preparation utilized simple acetonitrile precipitation without an evaporation step. With a Develosil UG-30 column (10 x 4 mm I.D.), perifosine and the internal standard hexadecylphosphocholine were baseline separated at retention times of 2.2 and 1.1 min, respectively. The mobile phase consisted of eluent A, 95% 9 mM ammonium formate (pH 8) in acetonitrile-eluent B, 95% acetonitrile in 9 mM ammonium formate (pH 8) (A-B, 40:60, v/v), and the flow-rate was 0.5 ml/min. The detection utilized selected ion monitoring in the positive-mode at m/z 462.4 and 408.4 for the protonated molecular ions of perifosine and the internal standard, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation of perifosine was 4 ng/ml in human plasma, and good linearity was observed in the 4-2,000 ng/ml range fitted by linear regression with 1/x weight. The total LC-MS run time was 5 min. The validated LC-MS assay was applied to measure perifosine plasma concentrations from patients enrolled on a phase I clinical trial for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analyses.

A phase I dose escalation and bioavailability study of oral sodium phenylbutyrate in patients with refractory solid tumor malignancies

PURPOSE

Phenylbutyrate (PB) is an aromatic fatty acid with multiple mechanisms of action including histone deacetylase inhibition. Preclinically, PB demonstrates both cytotoxic and differentiating effects at a concentration of 0.5 mM. We conducted a Phase I trial of p.o. PB patients with refractory solid tumor malignancies to evaluate toxicity, pharmacokinetic parameters, and feasibility of p.o. administration.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Twenty-eight patients with refractory solid tumor malignancies were enrolled on this dose-escalation to maximally tolerated dose trial. Five dose levels of PB were studied: 9 g/day (n = 4), 18 g/day (n = 4), 27 g/day (n = 4), 36 g/day (n = 12), and 45 g/day (n = 4). Pharmacokinetic studies were performed and included an p.o. bioavailability determination. Compliance data were also collected.

RESULTS

The recommended Phase II dose is 27 g/day. Overall the drug was well tolerated with the most common toxicities being grade 1-2 dyspepsia and fatigue. Nonoverlapping dose-limiting toxicities of nausea/vomiting and hypocalcemia were seen at 36 g/day. The p.o. bioavailability of PB was 78% for all dose levels, and the biologically active concentration of 0.5 mM was achieved at all dose levels. Compliance was excellent with 93.5% of all possible doses taken. No partial remission or complete remission was seen, but 7 patients had stable disease for more than 6 months while on the drug.

CONCLUSIONS

PB (p.o.) is well tolerated and achieves the concentration in vivo that has been shown to have biological activity in vitro. PB may have a role as a cytostatic agent and should be additionally explored in combination with cytotoxics and other novel drugs.

A randomized phase II trial of docetaxel (taxotere) plus thalidomide in androgen-independent prostate cancer

New therapeutic alternatives are needed to improve outcomes in patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC). For several years, researchers at the National Cancer Institute have been interested in elucidating the importance of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer and in identifying inhibitors of this process. Thalidomide has been shown to inhibit the ability of tumors to recruit new blood vessels. In a recent phase II trial of thalidomide in AIPC, 28% of patients achieved a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decrease of >40%. The taxane docetaxel also produces PSA and measurable disease responses when used as monotherapy or as a component of combination chemotherapy for AIPC. Thus, based on the single-agent activity of thalidomide and docetaxel, we initiated a randomized phase II study of weekly docetaxel with or without thalidomide, 200 mg at bedtime, in patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic AIPC. Docetaxel, 30 mg/m(2) intravenously, was administered every 7 days for 3 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest period. Both regimens have been well tolerated among the first 59 treated patients, with a near absence of grade (3/4) myelosuppression. Fatigue, hyperglycemia, and pulmonary toxicity were seen in both groups. Thrombotic events have been seen in the combination arm. Thirty-five percent (6 of 17) of the patients receiving docetaxel alone and 53% (19 of 36) of those receiving docetaxel and thalidomide have had a PSA decrease of at least 50%. Combining a cytotoxic agent with an angiogenesis inhibitor is a promising area of investigation for prostate cancer management.

Thalidomide neuropathy in patients treated for metastatic prostate cancer

We prospectively evaluated thalidomide-induced neuropathy using electrodiagnostic studies. Sixty-seven men with metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer in an open-label trial of oral thalidomide underwent neurologic examinations and nerve conduction studies (NCS) prior to and at 3-month intervals during treatment. NCS included recording of sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) from median, radial, ulnar, and sural nerves. SNAP amplitudes for each nerve were expressed as the percentage of its baseline, and the mean of the four was termed the SNAP index. A 40% decline in the SNAP index was considered clinically significant. Thalidomide was discontinued in 55 patients for lack of therapeutic response. Of 67 patients initially enrolled, 24 remained on thalidomide for 3 months, 8 remained at 6 months, and 3 remained at 9 months. Six patients developed neuropathy. Clinical symptoms and a decline in the SNAP index occurred concurrently. Older age and cumulative dose were possible contributing factors. Neuropathy may thus be a common complication of thalidomide in older patients. The SNAP index can be used to monitor peripheral neuropathy, but not for early detection.

Impact of the putative differentiating agent sodium phenylbutyrate on myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia

Sodium phenylbutyrate (PB) is an aromatic fatty acid with cytostatic and differentiating activity against malignant myeloid cells (ID(50), 1-2 mM). Higher doses induce apoptosis. Patients with myelodysplasia (n = 11) and acute myeloid leukemia (n = 16) were treated with PB as a 7-day continuous infusion repeated every 28 days in a Phase I dose escalation study. The maximum tolerated dose was 375 mg/kg/day; higher doses led to dose-limiting reversible neurocortical toxicity. At the maximum tolerated dose, PB was extremely well tolerated, with no significant toxicities; median steady-state plasma concentration at this dose was 0.29 +/- 0.16 mM. Although no patients achieved complete or partial remission, four patients achieved hematological improvement (neutrophils in three, platelet transfusion-independence in one). Other patients developed transient increases in neutrophils or platelets and decrements in circulating blasts. Monitoring of the percentage of clonal cells using centromere fluorescence in situ hybridization over the course of PB administration showed that hematopoiesis remained clonal. Hematological response was often associated with increases in both colony-forming units-granulocyte-macrophage and leukemic colony-forming units. PB administration was also associated with increases in fetal erythrocytes. These data document the safety of continuous infusion PB and provide preliminary evidence of clinical activity in patients with myeloid malignancies.

A randomized phase II trial of thalidomide, an angiogenesis inhibitor, in patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Thalidomide is a potent teratogen that causes dysmelia in humans. Recently, in vitro data suggested that it inhibits angiogenesis. Prostate cancer is dependent on the recruitment of new blood vessels to grow and metastasize. Based on those data, we initiated a Phase II trial of thalidomide in patients with metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

This was an open-label, randomized Phase II study. Thalidomide was administered either at a dose of 200 mg/day (low-dose arm) or at an initial dose of 200 mg/day that escalated to 1200 mg/day (high-dose arm).

RESULTS

A total of 63 patients were enrolled onto the study (50 patients on the low-dose arm and 13 patients on the high-dose arm). Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline of > or = 50% was noted in 18% of patients on the low-dose arm and in none of the patients on the high-dose arm. Four patients were maintained for > 150 days. The most prevalent complications were constipation, fatigue, neurocortical, and neurosensory.

CONCLUSION

Thalidomide, an antiangiogenesis agent, has some activity in patients with metastatic prostate cancer who have failed multiple therapies. A total of 27% of all patients had a decline in PSA of > or = 40%, often associated with an improvement of clinical symptoms. Because our preclinical studies had shown that thalidomide increases PSA secretion, we believe that the magnitude of PSA decline seen in our trial justifies further study.

Protein binding alters the activity of suramin, carboxyamidotriazole, and UCN-01 in an ex vivo rat aortic ring angiogenesis assay

Angiogenesis inhibitors are currently in clinical development for cancer. These agents pose unique developmental challenges: (a) determining maximum biological doses versus maximum tolerated doses; (b) defining response criteria other than objective tumor responses; and (c) defining safe regimens for prolonged, chronic administration. The current in vitro angiogenesis assays used in the screening and preclinical development of antiangiogenic agents each have their own advantages and disadvantages, yet all seem to underestimate the importance and impact of in vivo protein-drug interactions. We have developed a human serum rat aortic ring angiogenesis bioassay that highlights protein binding concerns using three anticancer agents that have documented antiangiogenic activity: suramin, carboxyamidotriazole, and 7-hydroxystaurosporine. We have determined that the bioassay concentrations of suramin (100 microg/ml) and 7-hydroxystaurosporine (> 1 microg/ml), but not carboxyamidotriazole (> or = 60 microg/ml), that inhibit microvessel formation are consistent with target plasma levels achievable in the clinic. We conclude that assays such as the human serum rat aortic ring bioassay may prove useful in predicting the concentrations of protein-bound antiangiogenic agents required for free fraction biological activity.

A phase I trial of carboxyamido-triazole and paclitaxel for relapsed solid tumors: potential efficacy of the combination and demonstration of pharmacokinetic interaction

PURPOSE

Preclinical and clinical investigation of the combination of the antiangiogenesis/anti-invasion agent carboxyamido-triazole (CAI) administered with the cytotoxic agent paclitaxel (PAX).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Colony-forming assays were used to test the activity of CAI plus PAX on A2780 human ovarian cancer. The sequence of CAI followed by PAX (CAI>Pax) was modeled in nude mice to test for potential additive toxicity. The Phase I clinical dose escalation schema tested p.o. administered CAI in PEG-400 (50-100 mg/m(2)) or micronized CAI (250 mg/m(2)) for 8 days followed by a 3-h infusion of PAX (110-250 mg/m(2)) every 21 days. Patients were assessed for toxicity, pharmacokinetics of CAI and PAX, and disease outcome.

RESULTS

In preclinical studies, CAI>Pax was additive in A2780 human ovarian cancer cell lines when CAI (1 or 5 microM) preceded subtherapeutic doses of PAX. CAI did not reverse PAX resistance and collateral resistance to CAI was documented in PAX-resistant cells. CAI>PAX administration had no overt additive toxicity in nude mice. Thirty-nine patients were treated on a dose-escalation Phase I trial using daily oral CAI for 8 days followed by the PAX infusion. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that PAX caused an acute increase in circulating CAI concentrations in a dose-dependent fashion. No additive or cumulative toxicity was observed, and grade 3 nonhematological toxicity was rare. Three partial responses and two minor responses were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The sequential combination of CAI and PAX is well tolerated, and the activity observed suggests that further study of the combination is warranted.

The P-glycoprotein antagonist PSC 833 increases the plasma concentrations of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel, a major metabolite of paclitaxel

PURPOSE

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is one mechanism of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. A Phase I trial was conducted using PSC 833, a Pgp antagonist, in combination with paclitaxel in patients with refractory cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of PSC 833 on the metabolism of paclitaxel and characterize the differences in 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel pharmacokinetics. In addition, we examined the possibility of enhanced cytotoxicity of paclitaxel by the coexistence of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Patients received paclitaxel 35 mg/m(2)/day by continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) x 4 days without PSC 833 in cycle 1 and escalating doses of paclitaxel (13.1, 17.5, or 21.3 mg/m(2)/day CIVI x 4 days) with 5 mg/kg PSC 833 by mouth every 6 h x 7 days in cycle 2. Plasma samples were analyzed for both paclitaxel and its major metabolite with high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Using human liver microsomes, we studied the effect of PSC 833 on the metabolism of paclitaxel. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel alone and in combination with paclitaxel was evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-one of 22 patients had a metabolite peak (6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel) observed in the chromatogram of plasma samples from cycle 2 when they received paclitaxel in combination with PSC 833. This metabolite was not detectable in plasma obtained during the first cycle when they received paclitaxel without PSC 833. During cycle 2, the mean concentrations of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel and paclitaxel were 0.10 +/- 0.074 and 0.079 +/- 0.041 microg/ml, respectively. A moderate association was observed between total bilirubin and 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel concentrations (P = 0.015, r = 0.52; n = 21). Human liver microsome experiments showed that a PSC 833 concentration as high as 10 microM did not affect the production of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel. Paclitaxel cytotoxicity in HL60 and K562 human leukemia cells was increased in the presence of noncytotoxic concentrations of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel.

CONCLUSIONS

PSC 833 increases the plasma concentration of 6alpha-hydroxypaclitaxel during paclitaxel therapy. Inhibition of cytochrome P-450 3A4 by PSC 833 may explain this in part, although other mechanisms cannot be excluded.

Reversible sideroblastic anemia associated with the tetracycline analogue COL-3

Eight of 35 patients with cancer receiving COL-3, a tetracycline derivative with antiangiogenic properties, developed anemia while on treatment. All of these patients were enrolled on an approved Phase I clinical trial at the National Cancer Institute. Three of these patients had bone marrow examinations that revealed ringed sideroblasts. This paper describes these cases. Am. J. Hematol. 67:51-53, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Phase I trial of 72-hour continuous infusion UCN-01 in patients with refractory neoplasms

PURPOSE

To define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of the novel protein kinase inhibitor, UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine), administered as a 72-hour continuous intravenous infusion (CIV).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-seven patients with refractory neoplasms received UCN-01 during this phase I trial. Total, free plasma, and salivary concentrations were determined; the latter were used to address the influence of plasma protein binding on peripheral tissue distribution. The phosphorylation state of the protein kinase C (PKC) substrate alpha-adducin and the abrogation of DNA damage checkpoint also were assessed.

RESULTS

The recommended phase II dose of UCN-01 as a 72-hour CIV is 42.5 mg/m(2)/d for 3 days. Avid plasma protein binding of UCN-01, as measured during the trial, dictated a change in dose escalation and administration schedules. Therefore, nine patients received drug on the initial 2-week schedule, and 38 received drug on the recommended 4-week schedule. DLTs at 53 mg/m(2)/d for 3 days included hyperglycemia with resultant metabolic acidosis, pulmonary dysfunction, nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. Pharmacokinetic determinations at the recommended dose of 42.5 mg/m(2)/d for 3 days included mean total plasma concentration of 36.4 microM (terminal elimination half-life range, 447 to 1176 hours), steady-state volume of distribution of 9.3 to 14.2 L, and clearances of 0.005 to 0.033 L/h. The mean total salivary concentration was 111 nmol/L of UCN-01. One partial response was observed in a patient with melanoma, and one protracted period ( > 2.5 years) of disease stability was observed in a patient with alk-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. Preliminary evidence suggests UCN-01 modulation of both PKC substrate phosphorylation and the DNA damage-related G(2) checkpoint.

CONCLUSION

UCN-01 can be administered safely as an initial 72-hour CIV with subsequent monthly doses administered as 36-hour infusions.