A phase I study of paclitaxel for mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells

Mobilization and collection of CD34(+) cells for autologous transplantation of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells in children: analysis of two different granulocyte-colony stimulating factor doses

INTRODUCTION

The use of peripheral hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) is the cell choice in autologous transplantation. The classic dose of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization is a single daily dose of 10μg/kg of patient body weight. There is a theory that higher doses of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor applied twice daily could increase the number of CD34(+) cells collected in fewer leukapheresis procedures.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare a fractionated dose of 15μg G-CSF/kg of body weight and the conventional dose of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in respect to the number of leukapheresis procedures required to achieve a minimum collection of 3×10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg body weight.

METHODS

Patients were divided into two groups: Group 10 - patients who received a single daily dose of 10μg G-CSF/kg body weight and Group 15 - patients who received a fractioned dose of 15μg G-CSF/kg body weight daily. The leukapheresis procedure was carried out in an automated cell separator. The autologous transplantation was carried out when a minimum number of 3×10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg body weight was achieved.

RESULTS

Group 10 comprised 39 patients and Group 15 comprised 26 patients. A total of 146 apheresis procedures were performed: 110 (75.3%) for Group 10 and 36 (24.7%) for Group 15. For Group 10, a median of three (range: 1-7) leukapheresis procedures and a mean of 8.89×10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg body weight (±9.59) were collected whereas for Group 15 the corresponding values were one (range: 1-3) and 5.29×10(6) cells/kg body weight (±4.95). A statistically significant difference was found in relation to the number of apheresis procedures (p-value <0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

To collect a minimum target of 3×10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg body weight, the administration of a fractionated dose of 15μg G-CSF/kg body weight significantly decreased the number of leukapheresis procedures performed.

Anti-EGFL7 antibodies enhance stress-induced endothelial cell death and anti-VEGF efficacy

Many oncology drugs are administered at their maximally tolerated dose without the knowledge of their optimal efficacious dose range. In this study, we describe a multifaceted approach that integrated preclinical and clinical data to identify the optimal dose for an antiangiogenesis agent, anti-EGFL7. EGFL7 is an extracellular matrix-associated protein expressed in activated endothelium. Recombinant EGFL7 protein supported EC adhesion and protected ECs from stress-induced apoptosis. Anti-EGFL7 antibodies inhibited both of these key processes and augmented anti-VEGF-mediated vascular damage in various murine tumor models. In a genetically engineered mouse model of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, we found that anti-EGFL7 enhanced both the progression-free and overall survival benefits derived from anti-VEGF therapy in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, we identified a circulating progenitor cell type that was regulated by EGFL7 and evaluated the response of these cells to anti-EGFL7 treatment in both tumor-bearing mice and cancer patients from a phase I clinical trial. Importantly, these preclinical efficacy and clinical biomarker results enabled rational selection of the anti-EGFL7 dose currently being tested in phase II clinical trials.

Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Using Regimen Combining Docetaxel with Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor in Breast Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the mobilization of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells by combining docetaxel with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

A total of 57 breast cancer patients were treated with docetaxel 120 mg/m(2). When the white blood cell (WBC) count decreased to 1.0×10(9)/L, patients were given G-CSF 5 μg/kg daily by subcutaneous injection until the end of apheresis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated by Cobe Spectra Apheresis System. The percentage of CD34(+) cell was assayed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

At a median 6 of days (range 3-8) after the administration of docetaxel, the median WBC count decreased to 1.08×10(9)/L (range 0.20-2.31). The median duration of G-CSF mobilization was 3 days (range 2-7). The MNC collection was conducted 8-12 days (median 10 days) after docetaxel treatment. The median MNC was 5.35×10(8)/kg (range 0.59-14.07), the median CD34(+) cell count was 2.43×10(6)/kg (range 0.16-16.69). The CD34(+) cell count was higher than 1.00×10(6)/kg in 47 of 57 cases (82.46%) and higher than 2.00×10(6)/kg in 36 cases (63.16%). The CD34(+) cell count was higher than 2.00×10(6)/kg in 27 collections (23.68%). The MNC count and the CD34(+) cell count were correlated with the bottom of WBC after docetaxel chemotherapy (r=0.364, 0.502, P=0.005, 0.000). The CD34(+) cell count was correlated with the MNC count (r=0.597, P=0.000). The mobilization and apheresis were well tolerated in all patients. Mild perioral numbness and numbness of hand or feet were observed in 3 cases. No serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

Mobilization of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell by combining docetaxel with G-CSF was effective and safety in breast cancer patients.

Results of a clinical phase I dose-escalation study of cytarabine in combination with fixed-dose vinorelbine, paclitaxel, etoposide and cisplatin for the treatment of relapsed/refractory lymphoma

Management of relapsed lymphoma depends upon the variables of chemosensitive disease and successful stem cell mobilization. The microtubule specific agents, paclitaxel and vinorelbine, have efficacy in relapsed lymphoma and can enhance stem cell mobilization. We performed a phase I dose-escalation study of cytarabine combined with fixed doses of vinorelbine, paclitaxel, etoposide and cisplatin (VTEPA) for patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma. The regimen consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 and vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 on day 1; cisplatin 20 mg/m2 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 over 4 h on days 2 - 5. Cytarabine 2 g m/m2 over 4 h, in successive cohorts on 1, 2, or 3 consecutive days: cohort A day 5; cohort B days 4 - 5; and cohort C days 3 - 5. Sixteen patients (Hodgkin's disease, n = 6; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, n = 10) were enrolled. Fourteen of 16 patients (88%) had refractory and seven patients (44%) had primary refractory disease. Major toxicities included hematologic toxicity, mucositis and infectious complications. Infectious complications (10/16 patients) included neutropenic fever, sepsis and fungal pneumonia. Dose-limiting toxicity was achieved in cohort C, which received three doses of cytarabine. There were 33% partial responses, 27% stable disease and 40% progressive disease following a single cycle of VTEPA. Two of 16 patients suffered treatment-related mortality. Five patients went on to receive autologous (n = 4) or allogeneic transplant (n = 1), and five out of seven patients in this heavily pretreated group who received VTEPA for mobilization of an autologous graft were successfully collected. The recommended dose of cytarabine for further evaluation in a phase II study is 2 g m/m2 for 2 consecutive days in combination with VTEPA. Treatment of subjects with relapsed/refractory lymphoma using VTEPA as second- or third-line salvage therapy produced remissions in some patients and permitted collection of grafts and subsequent autologous transplantation, supporting a planned phase II trial.

High-dose epirubicin, preceded by dexrazoxane, given in combination with paclitaxel plus filgrastim provides an effective mobilizing regimen to support three courses of high-dose dense chemotherapy in patients with high-risk stage II-IIIA breast cancer

SUMMARY

We verified the possibility of collecting large amounts of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) to support three courses of adjuvant high-dose dense chemotherapy (HDDC) with high-dose epirubicin, preceded by dexrazoxane, and high-dose paclitaxel, in patients with high-risk breast cancer (>/=9 positive nodes). The mobilizing regimen consisted of high-dose epirubicin 150 mg/m(2), preceded by dexrazoxane 1000 mg/m(2) (day 1), given in combination with paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) (day 2), plus filgrastim. Of the 25 patients enrolled, one went off study due to a severe hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel, another did not undergo leukapheresis due to fever persistent after hematological recovery, while in 23 patients an adequate number of PBSCs was collected by a single leukapheresis. The median number of CD34+, CD34+/CD33-, and CD34+/CD38- cells collected per patient was 17 x 10(6)/kg, 13.4 x 10(6)/kg, and 1.5 x 10(6)/kg, respectively. Neutropenia was the only grade 4 toxicity and lasted a median of 3 days. High-dose epirubicin, preceded by dexrazoxane for the first time used in mobilizing regimen, and paclitaxel plus filgrastim are effective in releasing large amounts of PBSCs, which can then be safely employed to support multiple courses of HDDC.

Mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells with paclitaxel and rhG-CSF in high-risk breast cancer patients

Preclinical studies have demonstrated the rapid and efficient mobilization of hematopoietic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in a mouse model using the combination of paclitaxel with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). On the basis of these results, a clinical trial was initiated using rhG-CSF with paclitaxel for PBSC mobilization in high-risk breast cancer patients. The mobilized PBSC were evaluated for CD34(+) cell number, mononuclear cell content, and clonogenic potential. One-hundred and seventeen breast cancer patients received paclitaxel (300 mg/m(2)) administered as a 24-h continuous intravenous infusion. Forty-eight hours after completing paclitaxel, rhG-CSF (5 microg/kg) was initiated and continued until completion of PBSC collection. Leukapheresis was initiated once the white blood cell count reached 1.0 x 10(9)/L. Each collection was evaluated for the numbers of mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34(+) cells. Clonogenic potential was enumerated using colony-forming units-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E). Patients receiving paclitaxel with rhG-CSF mobilized a large number of mononuclear cells/apheresis (mean, 3.7 x 10(8); range, 3.3-4.1) and CD34(+) cells/apheresis (mean, 7.2 x 10(6); range, 6.1-8.4). The average number of leukophereses needed was 1.8 (mean, range 1.6-2.0). Colony growth was normal with 178.9 x 10(5) and 214.8 x 10(5) colonies counted in CFU-GM and BFU-E assays, respectively. Patients engrafted platelets and neutrophils on day 10 following transplantation. In conclusion, PBSC mobilization with paclitaxel and rhG-CSF results in a large number of mononuclear cells and CD34(+) cells with normal clonogenic potential. The cells engraft normally following high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in high-risk breast cancer patients. These results demonstrate that paclitaxel with rhG-CSF is an efficient mobilizing agent in high-risk breast cancer patients.

A phase II trial of docetaxel for peripheral blood stem cell mobilization for patients with breast cancer and ovarian cancer

As docetaxel is known to have significant antineoplastic activity against breast and ovarian cancer, we explored its application as a peripheral blood stem cell mobilizing agent in 33 women with stage lll-IV ovarian carcinoma (n = 10) or stage ll-lV breast cancer (n = 23) who were in preparation for high-dose chemotherapy. Eleven patients had bone and/or bone marrow involvement with their disease. The median number of prior regimens received before mobilization was two (range 1-3). The three dose levels administered were 100 mg/m(2), 110 mg/m(2) and 120 mg/m(2). Patients received one dose of docetaxel in the outpatient setting followed by G-CSF (10 microg/kg/day) starting 4 days after docetaxel administration. Leukapheresis commenced when WBC >1.0 x 10(9)/l or when the WBC began to rise after reaching a nadir. Ninety-seven percent of patients began leukapheresis within 7-9 days after receiving docetaxel (range 7-10 days). The collection goal was >/=2 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg. Twenty-seven (82%) patients reached this goal in a median of 2 leukapheresis days (range 1-3). No grade 2-4 nonhematologic toxicities were noted. Thirteen patients (55%) showed a WBC nadir >1.0 x 10(9)/l. None of the patients experienced neutropenic fever or required blood or platelet transfusion support. In conclusion, docetaxel + G-CSF is an effective, well-tolerated regimen for PBPC mobilization which can be safely administered in the outpatient setting with minimal toxicity.

Use of paclitaxel in patients with pre-existing cardiomyopathy: a review of our experience

Cardiac toxicity is frequently the indication for discontinuation of an anthracycline in patients with tumors which remain anthracycline-sensitive. During the 1990s, the most frequently used second-line agents at the Yale Cancer Center (YCC) were the taxanes. The goal of this retrospective analysis was to determine the effect of paclitaxel on cardiac function in patients with cardiomyopathy. YCC outpatient clinic pharmacy order forms were used to identify all patients who had received paclitaxel between December 1995 and November 1997. The clinic records of those patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of < or = 50% were reviewed to determine the temporal relation between the decreased LVEF and paclitaxel therapy. In addition, clinic records were examined for evidence of prior doxorubicin therapy and history of prior cardiac disease. Between December 1995 and November 1997, 225 patients were treated with paclitaxel in the YCC outpatient clinic. Nine patients had LVEF < or = 50% (mean 37%) prior to initiation of paclitaxel therapy. Six of these patients had equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiographic (ERNA) scans following completion of paclitaxel. In these 6 patients, the mean change in LVEF was +6% (range -3% to +29%). Four patients had improved LVEF following paclitaxel (mean 11%, range 2% to 29%), while 2 patients experienced a decrease in LVEF following paclitaxel treatment (mean 2.5%). The 3 patients who did not have ERNA scans following paclitaxel therapy had no clinical evidence of congestive heart failure. Our experience confirms the results of prior studies that paclitaxel can be safely administered in patients with underlying cardiac dysfunction.

Kinetics of PBPC mobilization by cyclophosphamide, as compared with that by epirubicin/paclitaxel followed by G-CSF support: implications for optimal timing of PBPC harvest

BACKGROUND

Limited information is available on the mobilization kinetics of autologous PBPCs after induction with various chemotherapy regimens. With PBPC mobilization in patients with breast cancer used as a model for chemotherapy-induced PBPC recruitment, the kinetics of progenitor cells mobilized either with cyclophosphamide (CY) or epirubicin/paclitaxel (EPI-TAX) followed by the administration of G-CSF was compared.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The study included a total of 86 patients with breast cancer (stage II-IV) receiving either CY (n = 39) or EPI-TAX (n = 47), both followed by G-CSF support. The progenitor cell content in peripheral blood and apheresis components was monitored by flow cytometric enumeration of CD34+ cells. PBPC collection was started when the threshold of >20 x 10(6) CD34+ cells per L of peripheral blood was reached.

RESULTS

The PBPC collection was begun a median of 9 days after the administration of EPI-TAX followed by G-CSF support, as compared to a median of 13 days after mobilization with CY plus G-CSF. After treatment with CY, the total numbers of PBPCs peaked on Day 1 of apheresis, and they rapidly declined thereafter. In contrast, treatment with EPI-TAX followed by G-CSF administration led to a steady mobilization of CD34+ cells during leukapheresis. The difference in the mobilization patterns with CY and EPI-TAX resulted in a greater yield of CD34+ cells per L of processed blood volume. Compared to EPI-TAX, mobilization with CY required the overall processing of 30 percent less whole-blood volume to reach the target yield of > or = 10 x 10(6) CD34+ cells per kg of body weight. After a median of three apheresis procedures, however, both CY+G-CSF and EPI-TAX+G-CSF were equally effective in obtaining this target yield.

CONCLUSION

These results imply that specific PBPC mobilization as part of a given chemotherapy regimen should be taken into consideration before the planning of a PBPC harvest.

Mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been extensively exploited as a therapeutic and research modality and has revolutionized current patient care. At present, more and more medical centers use peripheral blood progenitor cells for transplantation by mobilizing hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood because of potential advantages of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation over bone-marrow transplantation. Different effective mobilization regimens have been developed recently with chemotherapeutic agents, hematopoietic growth factors or their combination. This article reviews current developments related to hematopoietic stem cell mobilization including the biology of hematopoietic stem cells, strategies for mobilization, management for mobilization failure, mechanisms of mobilization, and side effects during mobilization. Finally, the Initiation-Amplification-Emigration-Adaptation Model is proposed to help aid understanding of the mechanisms of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization and to stimulate development of novel and optimal mobilization strategies for patient care.

Paclitaxel in combination with cisplatin is less effective for peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of paclitaxel in combination with cisplatin and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). Twenty-seven patients with gynecological cancer received paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP, n = 9) or other platinum-based chemotherapy (n = 18) (etoposide and cisplatin [n = 5]; cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and cisplatin [n = 8]; or pepleomycin, etoposide, and cysplatin [n = 5]). Each combination was followed by G-CSF. The mean number of colony-forming unit granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM)/kg and CD34+ cells/kg collected per cycle was 1.2 x 105 and 0.8 x 106 after the TP regimen, compared with 2.6 x 105 (P < 0.05) and 2.0 x 106 for patients who received other platinum-based chemotherapy. The CFU-GM target yield (>/=1.0 x 105/kg) was achieved in 56% and 83% patients in the TP and comparison group, respectively. With the TP regimen, a younger age (</=50 years of age) and fewer prior chemotherapy cycles (</=2) were associated with the CFU-GM targeted yield (<0.05). In conclusion, TP mobilized PBPC less effectively than other platinum-based chemotherapy. Therefore, the TP regimen may need to be changed to another appropriate regimen when PBPC mobilization is planned for high-dose chemotherapy in gynecological cancer patients.

The feasibility of high-dose chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with impaired left ventricular function

Breast cancer patients with cardiac disease are usually excluded from clinical trials of high-dose chemotherapy. We treated 52 patients with inflammatory and/or metastatic disease with sequential high-dose melphalan and stem cell rescue followed by high-dose thiotepa and stem cell rescue. Stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and/or paclitaxel and filgrastim. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) at baseline, after each course of chemotherapy and 4 weeks after completing both transplants. The mean absolute decrease in LVEF after the two transplants was 3.6% (P = 0. 008 for the comparison with baseline LVEF), and most of this drop (-2.5%, P = 0.007) occurred after mobilization. Unexpectedly, paclitaxel was associated with a mean absolute decrease in LVEF of 3. 4% (P = 0.032, n = 19), cyclophosphamide alone was not associated with a significant change in LVEF (-1.3%, P = 0.23), but mobilization with sequential paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide resulted in a mean absolute drop of 4.9% in LVEF (P = 0.009). Twelve patients were found to have a reduced LVEF (<50%) at least once during treatment and had a mean absolute decrease in LVEF of 10% (P = 0.008) from baseline, compared with a drop of only 1.8% (P = 0. 176) in the patients without impaired LV function. Although two of these 12 patients developed symptomatic heart failure, their cardiac symptoms were easily treated and there were no cardiac deaths. We conclude that our protocol has acceptable cardiac toxicity and breast cancer patients with impaired LV function should not be denied high-dose chemotherapy if otherwise indicated.

Mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells with paclitaxel (taxol) as a single chemotheraupetic agent, associated with rhG-CSF

We assessed the mobilization capacity of taxol with rhG-CSF, both as a single chemotherapeutic agent and in the presence of cyclophosphamide (CY), and compared the effect with yields achieved when mobilization was performed solely with rhG-CSF. Fifteen patients with breast cancer received taxol 170 mg/m2 (continuous infusion, day 1) and rhG-CSF (8 microg/kg/day, from day 2 until the end of apheresis) (T-G group), while seven breast cancer patients were additionally treated with CY (4 g/m2) on day 2, followed by rhG-CSF starting at similar doses on day 3 (T-CY-G group). The PBSC collections after taxol with/without CY were compared with those of 30 breast cancer patients who had received rhG-CSF (8 microg/kg/day) for mobilization. No differences were found in the characteristics of patients included in any of the three mobilization groups. The median yield of CD34+ cells from all patients included in taxol containing schedules was 9 x 106/kg (range 2-26) collected with a median of one apheresis procedure (range 1-4). Leukaphereses began earlier in the T-G group (median day 8, range 7-10) than in the T-CY-G group (median day 13, range 11-17). In most patients (20 out of 22) who received taxol containing regimens, more than 2.5 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg, a threshold considered to be sufficient for hematopoietic reconstitution, were collected with a single apheresis. Those patients in the T-G group experienced less neutropenic and thrombocytopenic days, with all neutropenic fever episodes developing in patients treated with the T-CY-G schedule (43%). When considering priming with rhG-CSF alone in our historical cohort of 30 breast cancer patients, a significant detrimental effect was observed in comparison with taxol mobilizing schedules, in the number of aphereses performed, in the total yield CD34+cells and in the number of patients who achieved the target dose of 2.5 x 106/kg CD34+ cells within the first collection procedure. We conclude that taxol containing schedules are effective in mobilizing PBSC and facilitate the collection of high yields of CD34+ cells (usually more than 5 x 106/kg recipient body weight) with a reduced number of apheresis procedures. Taxol, as a single agent with rhG-CSF, exhibits less hematological toxicity than the combination chemotherapy mobilization regimen including CY. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 231-235.