Taxanes as first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and practice guideline

Determination of carboplatin dose by area under the curve in combination chemotherapy for senile non-small cell lung cancer

To preliminarily determine the appropriate dosage of carboplatin (CBP) at AUC of 5 mg.Ml(-1).min(-1) in the combination chemotherapy for Chinese senile patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thirty-five Chinese senile patients with NSCLC in advanced stage (III/IV) were given 96 cycles of combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy schedules included Taxol+CBP, Gemzar+CBP and NVB+CBP. The dose of CBP was at 5 mg.mL(-1).min(-1) of area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). Side effects and quality of life were observed before and after the chemotherapy. Myelosuppression was severe and commonly observed. Grade 3/4 of granulocytopenia was found in 47.9% (46/96) of the patients and grade 3/4 of thrombocytopenia was noted in 28.1% (27/96) of the subjects. However, other side effects were slight. The mean score of quality of life (QOL), according to the criteria of QOL for Chinese cancer patients had reduced 6.8. At 5 mg.mL(-1).min(-1) by AUC, the hematological toxicity of CBP was severe and it had some negative effects on the QOL. The administration of CBP at 5 mg.mL(-1).min(-1) by AUC may be too high for Chinese senile patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

AMG 102, a fully human anti-hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor neutralizing antibody, enhances the efficacy of temozolomide or docetaxel in U-87 MG cells and xenografts

PURPOSE

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor c-Met have previously been shown to be up-regulated in multiple human cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme. To better understand if AMG 102, a fully human, anti-HGF/SF-neutralizing antibody, could be incorporated into current clinical practice, AMG 102 was tested preclinically in combination with temozolomide or docetaxel to determine if enhanced efficacy was observed compared with AMG 102 alone.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The effects of AMG 102 were tested for antiproliferative activity in combination with temozolomide or docetaxel on U-87 MG cells in vitro and for antitumor activity in a U-87 MG xenograft model in vivo. Apoptotic activity was also measured for AMG 102 and docetaxel combined in vitro.

RESULTS

Treatment with temozolomide combined with AMG 102 resulted in increased inhibition of cell growth in vitro compared with treatment with either single agent alone. In U-87 MG xenografts in vivo, AMG 102 combined with temozolomide or docetaxel significantly increased the inhibitory effect on tumor growth when compared with treatment with either agent alone (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.015, respectively). In vitro, docetaxel alone induced both caspase-3/7 activity as well as poly(ADP)ribose polymerase and caspase-7 cleavage in U-87 MG cells; these events were enhanced when used in combination with AMG 102. Importantly, there was no evidence of interference between AMG 102 and either temozolomide or docetaxel in vitro or in vivo.

CONCLUSION

These studies support testing of AMG 102 in combination with temozolomide or docetaxel. Such combinations may represent promising, novel clinical therapeutic strategies for cancers that are dependent on the HGF/SF/SF:c-Met pathway in the oncology setting.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of two different docetaxel dose levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with docetaxel as monotherapy or with concurrent radiotherapy

Background

Previous pharmacokinetic studies with docetaxel have mostly used 3-weekly (75 mg/m² and 100 mg/m²) or weekly regimens (35–40 mg/m²). The pharmacokinetics and radiosensitizing efficacy of weekly 20 mg/m² docetaxel, has however not been well characterized. We examined the pharmacokinetics of weekly docetaxel when administered with concurrent radiotherapy and compared the results with a 3-weekly 100 mg/m² regimen.

Methods

Thirty-four patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included in this study, 19 receiving 100 mg/m² docetaxel 3-weekly as single therapy, and 15 receiving 20 mg/m² docetaxel weekly with concurrent radiotherapy. A newly developed HPLC method was used for measuring docetaxel levels, capable of quantifying docetaxel in plasma down to the nanomolar level.

Results

The HPLC method showed detectable concentrations of docetaxel in plasma even after 72 hours. In the present study we have demonstrated that median docetaxel plasma levels of 3 nM can be obtained 72 hours after a dose of 20 mg/m².

Conclusion

The pharmacokinetics of docetaxel is characterized by great inter-individual variability and at some time points plasma concentrations for 20 mg/m² and 100 mg/m² docetaxel were overlapping. Extrapolation of these results indicates that radio sensitizing docetaxel concentrations may be present for as long as 1 week, thus supporting the use of 20 mg/m² weekly docetaxel.

Induction chemoradiotherapy (carboplatin-taxane and concurrent 50-Gy radiation) for bulky cN2, N3 non–small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To improve the prognosis of cN2, N3 non-small cell lung cancer, we performed induction chemoradiotherapy (carboplatin-taxane chemotherapy and concurrent 50-Gy radiation) followed by surgery.

METHODS

Patients with pathologically proven non-small cell lung cancer with bulky cN2, N3 disease were enrolled. Forty-one patients underwent an operation after chemoradiotherapy from January 2000 to April 2006. Either carboplatin-paclitaxel (n = 19) or carboplatin-docetaxel (n = 22) chemotherapy was randomly used. Two cycles of chemotherapy were performed with concurrent radiation (50 Gy). In all cases, conventional radiological reevaluations were performed; in the latest 21 cases, reevaluations with positron-emission tomography with fludeoxyglucose F 18 were also performed.

RESULTS

In all 41 cases, complete resections were performed, with no operative mortality. The histologically complete response rate, major response rate, and minor response rate were 17.1% (7/41), 56.1% (23/41), and 26.8% (11/41), respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 52.7%. There were no differences in survival between taxane groups. Both the complete response and the major response groups revealed a significantly better 5-year survivals than the minor response group (85.7%, P = .044, 52.4%, P = .01). Even with persistent N2 disease, the 5-year survival in the major response group (66%) was promising. With the combination of conventional computed tomography and positron-emission tomography with fludeoxyglucose F 18 for reevaluation, eligible patients could be selected for this protocol.

CONCLUSION

Surgery after chemoradiotherapy (carboplatin-taxane and 50-Gy radiation) for bulky cN2, N3 non-small cell lung cancer can be safely performed with promising results. Even with persistent N2 disease, the survival in the major response group was promising.

Nitroglycerin treatment may enhance chemosensitivity to docetaxel and carboplatin in patients with lung adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Nitroglycerin may improve the response to chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The effects and mechanisms of nitroglycerin on the enhancement of chemosensitivity to docetaxel and carboplatin regimen (DCb) in patients with lung adenocarcinoma have not been reported.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Seventeen patients with operable lung adenocarcinoma and stable angina pectoris were selected to investigate the effects of nitroglycerin on immunoreactivity for hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), the production of which is regulated by HIF-1, and p53 proteins in their resected tumor by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analyses. Eight of 17 patients were treated with nitroglycerin patches before operation, but 9 of 17 patients were not. Furthermore, to study the relationship between changes in plasma VEGF levels by nitroglycerin treatment and response to DCb, 29 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma were treated with nitroglycerin for 3 days before chemotherapy using DCb.

RESULTS

The rates of immunoreactive cells for HIF-1alpha, VEGF, and P-gp in tumor tissues treated with nitroglycerin were lower than those without nitroglycerin, but those for p53 were not different between those treated with and without nitroglycerin. Furthermore, the rates of immunoreactive cells for VEGF and P-gp proteins were significantly associated with those for HIF-1alpha in tumor tissue. The magnitude of decrease in plasma VEGF levels after treatment with nitroglycerin was significantly associated with response to DCb in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Nitroglycerin treatment may improve response to DCb in patients with lung adenocarcinoma, partly through decreasing VEGF and P-gp production via reduction of HIF-1alpha.

Influence of chemiotherapeutic protocol and neuroendocrine differentiation on metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treatment results

Background/Aim. In 40-50% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the time of making a diagnosis, the disease is yet at IIIb and IV stage. Standard in the treatment of these patient is the application of systemic chemiotherapy based on CIS/Carboplatin preparations. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of two different chemiotherapeutic protocols and neuroendocrine differentiation on treatment response and survival in patients with metastatic NSCLC. Methods. We examined 85 patients with metastatic NSCLC, of which 51 with stage IIIb, and 34 with stage IV of the disease. The histologic diagnosis of NSCLC was determined by tissue assays using hematoxylin eosin method. Neuroendocrine differentiation was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of neuron- specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, and synapthophysin expression using monoclonal mouse anti- human bodies (DAKO, Denmark). According to chemiotherapeutic protocol, the patients were randomly assigned into combined Taxol + Cisplatin group (Tax + Cis, n = 35), and Cyclophosphamide + Etoposide + Carboplatin group (CEP, n = 50). The treatment was conducted within 4-6 chemiotherapeutic cycles. The efficacy was assessed after the therapy regimen and median survival time was assessed after the randomization. Results. A total of 31 (36.47%) patients had a favourable therapeutic response, both partial and complete response (54.2% in the Tax + Cis group and 24% in CEP group of patients, respectively, p < 0.001). The median survival time in both groups was 13.1 months (15.3 months in the Tax + Cis group and 10.6 months in the CEP group, respectively, p < 0.001). A one-year follow-up survival period was confirmed in 40% of patients (60% only in the Tax + Cis group). A total of 23 (27.05%) patients with metastatic NSCLC had neuroendocrine differentiation. The disease progression or stable disease was noted only in patient with NSCLC without neuroendocrine differentiation (n = 42, 67.7%, p < 0.001). The median survival time in patients with NSCLC and neuroendocrine differentiation was 14.8 months, without neuroendocrine differentiation 10.7 months (p < 0.001). The patients with NSCLC and neuroendocrine differentiation in the CEP group had a longer one-year follow-up survival period than patients in Tax + Cis group (p < 0.001). In Tax-Cis group of patients, there was no significant difference in one-year follow-up survival period with neuroendocrine differentiation. Conclusion. Better therapeutic response and longer median survival time in metastatic NSCLC was obtained using Tax + Cis as compared to CEP protocol. Similar effect was noted using CEP protocol in patients with NSCLC and neuroendocrine differentiation. .

Gemcitabine and vinorelbine followed by weekly docetaxel in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase II trial of sequential chemotherapy

Objective. We conducted this phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the sequential nonplatinum combination chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine (GEM) and vinorelbine (VNR) followed by weekly docetaxel (DOC) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

stage IV NSCLC, Performance status =/< 2, adequate renal, hepatic and bone marrow function. Treatment consisted on: VNR 25 mg/m(2) plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2), on days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle, followed by docetaxel 36 mg/m(2) weekly until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results. 21 stage IV patients were enrolled. All patients are evaluable for treatment response and toxicity profile. The mean age of the patients was 63 years (range: 51 to 72) with 18 (86%) males and 3 (14%) females. Histology types were: adenocarcinoma in 8 patients (38%), large cell carcinoma in 1 patients (5%) and squamous cell carcinoma in 12 patients (57%). The majority of the patients had and ECOG PS of 1. Eight patients (38%) did not complete six cycles of gemcitabine-navelbine. The median number of cycles of gemcitabine-navelbine was 4 (range 2-6) Of the 13 patients (61%) who completed six cycles of gemcitabine-navelbine, all of them went on to receive weekly docetaxel and received at least 3 cycles, with a median number of 8 cycles (range 3- 16). The overall response rate was 33%. Respect survival, the minimum follow-up was 6 months (range, 6-25 months). The median survival time (MST) was 7.9 months, and the 1-year survival was 30%, and the median progression-free survival was 4.7 months. Toxicity was mild, well tolerated and mostly hematologic. In the GEM/VNR cycle, grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 14%, two patients with febrile neutropenia. Grade 3 anaemia in 1 patients (5%) and grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 1 patient (5%). Nonhematologic toxicity was also mild: 1 patient with Grade 3 skin toxicity with docetaxel, 1 patient with grade 3 infection, 2 patients with grade 3 astenia and 1 patient with a mild allergic reaction postchemotherapy treatment with docetaxel. Conclusion. The sequential triplet nonplatinum chemotherapy consisted of GEM/VNR followed by weekly DOC is active and can be administered safely in advanced NSCLC. Our results are similar with other sequential regimens and did not represent a significant improvement in the treatment of this disease.

Development of a piezoelectric immunosensor for the measurement of paclitaxel

This paper describes the development of a piezoelectric immunosensor for the measurement of paclitaxel (taxol), a natural anti-cancer agent. An antibody specific for taxanes was immobilized onto the surface of quartz crystals by means of the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The immobilization was achieved using electrostatic interactions between a precursor layer and the antibody molecules. The assembly process was monitored by a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and the topography of the modified quartz crystals was investigated by means of atomic force microscopy. The specific interaction of the immobilized antibody with paclitaxel in solution at different concentrations was monitored as a change in resonant frequency of the modified crystal. Moreover, the influence of non-specific adsorption was also characterized. The results show that the proposed immunosensor offers a promising alternative to classical analytical methods for a fast and easy determination of paclitaxel.

Taxanes in paediatric oncology: And now?

Taxanes are a group of anticancer agents that target microtubules, promote their assembly, and stabilize them. The resulting effects are mitotic blockage and induction of apoptosis, whose mechanism of initiation remains to be fully determined. Among adults, taxanes are one of the most powerful and most commonly used anticancer drugs. They show a wide range of activity in malignancies such as breast, ovarian, and lung cancers. In paediatric oncology, pre-clinical and clinical data are quite limited. Six phase I studies, two phase II, and rare case reports have been published. This review will focus on the paediatric pre-clinical and clinical findings with taxanes. Based on data from the literature, we will try to explain the results and foresee the possible use of taxanes in paediatric oncology. Indeed, three main advances have been made regarding taxanes: (1) Increased efficacy when used in multidrug-based chemotherapy regimen. (2) New administration schedules based on anti-angiogenic properties when given at daily very low doses. (3) Development of new taxanes with decreased recognition by Pgp, the product of the MDR1 gene. Thus, although the initial experience with taxanes in paediatric oncology has been disappointing, it may be too early to leave out taxanes and we should further investigate their use among children with cancer.

Taxane pharmacogenetics

The taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel exert their anticancer activity by stabilizing microtubules during cell division. There is significant interindividual variability in response and toxicity between paclitaxel and docetaxel. Interpatient variability also exists for response and toxicity from each drug. Variability within genes involved in paclitaxel and/or docetaxel metabolism and transport exists. However, to date there is little evidence to suggest useful markers for the selection of individualized therapy. Epigenetic regulation of taxane pathway genes may play a large role in explaining the variability in toxicity and response.