Single-agent pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Caelix®) in chemotherapy pretreated non-small cell lung cancer patients: a pilot trial

• Published in: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 59 - 64
• Main Authors: Numico, Gianmauro, Castiglione, Federico, Granetto, Cristina, Garrone, Ornella, Mariani, Gabriella, Costanzo, Gianna Di, Ciura, Pietro La, Gasco, Milena, Ostellino, Oliviero, Porcile, Gianfranco, Merlano, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Chemotherapy; Doxorubicin - administration & dosage; Doxorubicin - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Liposomal doxorubicin; Liposomes; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non-small-cell lung cancer; Organoplatinum Compounds - therapeutic use; Pilot Projects; Pneumology; Polyethylene Glycols; Radiography, Thoracic; Salvage Therapy; Second-line; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Liposomal doxorubicin; Non-small-cell lung cancer; Chemotherapy; Second-line; Pilot; Solid tumor; Pneumonia; Toxicity; Activity; Metastasis; Properties; Doxorubicin; Profile; Ethylene oxide polymer; Isomerases; Formulation; Small cell carcinoma; Dose; Platinum II Complexes; Human; Lung disease; DNA topoisomerase (ATP-hydrolysing); Respiratory disease; Enzyme; Stomatology; Enzyme inhibitor; Malignant tumor; Cisplatin; Alkylating agent; Stomatitis; Treatment; Low; Carboplatin; Oral cavity disease; Anthracyclins; Metastatic; Pharmacokinetics; Day
• ISSN: 0169-5002; 1872-8332
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-5002(01)00269-0

Polyethylene glycol-coated (pegylated) liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is a new formulation of doxorubicin with peculiar pharmacokinetic and pharmacodinamic properties, a favorable toxic profile and a demonstrated activity in solid tumors. We tested PLD in locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients, progressed after a platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. PLD was administered at the dose of 35 mg/m 2 every 21 days. After the first six patients had been accrued, due to the low toxicity shown in the first six patients, the dose was escalated to 45 mg/m 2. Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study and were considered eligible for evaluation of toxicity and response. Stomatitis, palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia (PPE) and asthenia were the most common toxicities and affected approximately half of the treated patients. Stomatitis occurred in 8/17 patients and was grade 3–4 in three. PPE was seen in 9/17 and was grade 3 in one. In the group treated at the dose of 45 mg/m 2 PPE was more frequent and severe and required treatment delay in some cases. Other toxicities were equally distributed among the two groups. Hematological toxicity was not common and never reached grade 3–4. However, one patient with grade 2 leucopenia had pneumonia and died. Clinically evident heart failure was never recorded. Left ventricular ejection fraction was assessed in three patients after PLD treatment (in one case after the first course, due to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, and in two cases after six courses) and was unchanged compared to pre-treatment assessment. One confirmed partial response was observed (5.8%); five patients (29.4%) had stable disease (including one minor response) and nine (52.9%) had disease progression. Median time to progression was 9.5 weeks, median survival 18.6 weeks. PLD at the doses employed in this study can be safely administered and has shown activity in platinum pretreated NSCLC patients.