Addition Of Hematopoietic Growth Factors Research Articles

A phase I study with an expanded cohort to assess the feasibility of intraperitoneal carboplatin and intravenous paclitaxel in untreated ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the first-cycle maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of intraperitoneal carboplatin in combination with intravenous paclitaxel and then assess the feasibility of this dose over multiple cycles. MethodsBeginning at an intraperitoneal (IP) carboplatin dose area under the curve (AUC) of 5 and a fixed intravenous dose of 175mg/m2 paclitaxel, patients were entered on a dose-escalating phase evaluating first-cycle dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). After estimating the MTD, cohorts of 20 patients were then entered in an expanded phase to evaluate DLT over four cycles. ResultsTwenty-one patients were entered on the dose-escalating phase. A first-cycle MTD of carboplatin at AUC 8 was tolerated although thrombocytopenia was dose-limiting over multiple cycles. An additional 69 patients were treated in expanded cohorts. Only 5/90 (5.6%) patients discontinued treatment because of a port problem. Four-cycle DLT required de-escalation to a carboplatin AUC of 6, and even at that dose, there were 14 dose-limiting toxic effects in 40 patients (35%). Seven dose-limiting toxicities were due to neutropenia, and 6 were due to grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia. Six cycles of therapy were completed in 75% of eligible patients, but dose adjustments were required. ConclusionsThe first-cycle MTD did not predict the tolerability of this regimen over multiple cycles. Using an IP carboplatin dose of AUC 6 in combination with paclitaxel, the regimen can be administered with a high completion rate over multiple cycles. Because neutropenia is a frequent DLT, the addition of hematopoietic growth factors may permit a high completion rate while maintaining this dose.

Hematopoietic Growth Factors In Aplastic Anemia Patients Treated with Immunosuppressive Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - 2010 Update.

AbstractAbstract 1164 Background:Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) is the treatment for patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) not eligible for transplantation. It is controversial whether there is a role for hematopoietic growth factors (HGF) as an adjunct to IST in these patients. Objectives:A meta-analysis evaluating the role of HGF in this setting was published by our group in 2009. Since then, results of the largest conducted clinical trial by the Aplastic Anemia Working Party of the EBMT have been reported. We therefore updated our meta-analysis in order to evaluate if in 2010 there is still a role for the addition of HGF to IST in patients with SAA. Methods:Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing treatment with IST and HGF to IST alone in patients with SAA. An updated search in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, conference proceedings and references was conducted in July 2010. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the trials and extracted data. Outcomes assessed were: all-cause mortality, overall hematologic response, infections and clonal evolution (transformation to myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukemia). Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated and pooled. Results:Our search yielded 7 trials, randomizing 619 patients, including the 205 patients included in the EBMT trial recently published. Trials were conducted between the years 1991 and 2008. The IST regimen for most trials consisted of anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine and steroids. The HGF in 6 trials was G-SCF and in 1 trial GM-CSF and erythropoietin. The addition of HGF to IST, compared with IST alone yielded no difference in all cause mortality at 100 days (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.56–3.18) and at 5 years (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.64–1.30, Fig.1). There was no difference in overall hematologic response at 12 months between the two arms (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.91–1.47). There was no increase in the incidence of clonal evolution in the HGF arm compared to the control (RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.42–5.07). In addition there was no difference in the number of infections between both arms (RR 0.98, 95%CI 0.82–1.17). Conclusions:The addition of HGF to IST in SAA does not influence all-cause mortality, long term response, or the incidence of infections. The cumulative data in our updated meta-analysis is consistent with the results of our previous report. Therefore, HGFs should not be recommended routinely as an adjunct to IST for patients with SAA. [Display omitted] Disclosures:Shpilberg:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Hematopoietic growth factors in aplastic anemia patients treated with immunosuppressive therapy-systematic review and meta-analysis

Immunosuppressive therapy is the treatment for aplastic anemia patients ineligible for transplantation. The role of hematopoietic growth factors as adjunct to treatment in these patients is unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing treatment with immunosuppressive therapy and hematopoietic growth factors to immunosuppressive therapy alone in patients with aplastic anemia. Two reviewers appraised the quality of trials and extracted data. For each trial, results were expressed as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous data. The addition of hematopoietic growth factors yielded no difference in overall mortality at 100 days, one year and five years [relative risks 1.33 (95% CI 0.56-3.18), relative risks 0.90 (95% CI 0.50-1.63) and relative risks 0.89 (95% CI 0.55-1.46), respectively]. There was no difference in overall hematologic response and in the occurrence of infections. HGF significantly decreased the risk for relapse, relative risks 0.45 (95% CI 0.30-0.68, 3 trials). Hematopoietic growth factors were not associated with higher occurrence of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. The addition of hematopoietic growth factors does not affect mortality, response rate or infections occurrence. Therefore, it should not be recommended routinely as an adjunct to the immunosuppressive therapy for patients with aplastic anemia.

Flt3-L Augments the Engraftment of Donor-Derived Bone Marrow Cells When Combined with Sublethal Irradiation and Costimulatory (CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L) Blockade

T-cell costimulatory blockade as a constituent for recipient conditioning prior to bone marrow transplantation has led to the development of less toxic protocols for the establishment of donor cell chimerism. We therefore hypothesized that the addition of the hematopoietic growth factor, Flt3-ligand (Flt3-L), to the perioperative inhibition of the CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40 ligand costimulatory pathways would enhance the engraftment of allogeneic bone marrow. Recipient BALB/c ByJ (H-2(d), Mls(c), Vbeta6+/Vbeta8+ TCR) received a single sublethal dose of total body irradiation (300 rad) 6 h prior to transplantation IV with unfractionated donor CBA/J (H-2(k), Mls(d), Vbeta6-/Vbeta8+ TCR) bone marrow cells. CTLA4-Ig and/or MRI were administered at 500 microg IP on days 0, 2, 4, and 6 posttransplantation. Flt3-L was administered at 10 microg IP on days 0-6. Donor cell chimerism was determined on days 30-90 by flow cytometric analysis. Donor-specific tolerance was assessed by skin grafting. In vitro TCR cross-linking assays and flow cytometry were utilized to explore the deletion of donor-reactive T cells. Recipients receiving CTLA4-Ig and MRI engrafted allogeneic bone marrow cells in the peripheral blood (3/6; 50%) with chimerism being detected at 2-31%. Addition of Flt3-L to this preconditioning regimen enhanced the incidence of engraftment of donor bone marrow cells (10/13; 3-70%). Long-term survival of donor but not third-party-specific skin grafts demonstrated that donor-specific tolerance had been achieved in the chimeric recipients. Deletion of the donor-reactive T cells within the chimeric recipients was also observed. The addition of hematopoietic growth factors and cytokines to the nonmyeloablative regimen of sublethal irradiation and T-cell costimulatory blockade provides a novel strategy for the establishment of donor cell chimerism and for the induction of stable and robust donor-specific tolerance. The deletion of donor-reactive T cells using this protocol suggests the reliability and feasibility of this protocol for clinical transplantation.

Phase II Study of Sequential Topotecan and Etoposide in Patients with Intermediate Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group Study

Preliminary results indicate that inhibitors of the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase (topo) I, such as topotecan, may be active in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Pre-clinical studies have shown sequential administration of a topo I and II inhibitor has supra-additive anti-tumor effects in some model systems, and that greater cytotoxicity occurs if the topo I inhibitor is given first. We enrolled 22 eligible patients with relapsed or refractory intermediate grade NHL in a phase II study of sequential administration of topotecan 1.25 mg/m 2 days 1-5 and etoposide 50 mg po b.i.d. days 6-12, every 28 days without G-CSF. Most patients had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and all had received only one prior regimen (CHOP, 20 patients, or equivalent, 2 patients). Patients with stable or responding disease were allowed to proceed to high-dose therapy and autologous stem-cell transplant after 2 cycles of therapy. The 22 patients received a total of 62 cycles of topotecan+etoposide (median 2, range 1-6), and 4/22 completed all six planned cycles. Hematologic toxicity was significant and resulted in incomplete etoposide dosing in half of all cycles in 16/22 patients. Nineteen of twenty-two patients had grade 3/4 neutropenia, 12 had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, and 6 grade 3/4 anemia. Eleven patients had at least one episode of febrile neutropenia or had documented infection. Non-hematologic toxicity was mild. Four patients had a partial response (PR) (18.2%), nine had stable disease and seven progressed; three patients with stable disease went on to ABMT. The combination of topotecan and etoposide as given in this study has modest activity in relapsed/refractory aggressive histology NHL, and produces marked myelosuppression. Other doses and schedules combining topo I and II inhibitors, or topo I inhibitors with alkylating agents, should be explored with the addition of hematopoietic growth factors in this patient population.

Hematopoietic growth factors in the pathogenesis and for the treatment of aplastic anemia

The production and release of hematopoietic growth factors from bone marrow stromas established in vitro from patients with aplastic anemia is normal or increased. Addition of hematopoietic growth factors to aplastic anemia bone marrow cells results in only modest increases in colony growth, with the exception of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which corrects their impaired cloning efficiency to normal. Most clinical data on the use of hematopoietic growth factors in aplastic anemia have derived from uncontrolled and smalt single-arm studies or case reports. Sustained trilineage hematologic responses have not been observed when hematopoietic growth factors have been used alone or in combination. Serious side effects have been reported for most of the hematopoietic growth factors in patients with aplastic anemia, with the exception of G-CSF. There is a major concern that they may further increase the risk of clonal disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Hematopoietic growth factors should not be used alone in newly diagnosed patients as specific treatment for aplastic anemia, and their use in combination with immunosuppressive therapy should be confined to multicenter, prospective randomized studies.

932 High dose continuous infusion (CI) ifosfamide without hematopoietic support in heavily pretreated breast cancer (BC) and sarcoma (S) patients

Ifosfamide (IFO) is an oxazophosphorine with a different activity and toxicity profile than cyclophosphamide. Its use together with uroprotective agents has allowed safe administration and dose-escalation. We report the results of a phase II trial of IFO at high doses in heavily pretreated BC and S patients. IFO was administered in a 168 hour CI through a central venous access, for a total dose of 14 g/m2 q3w. MESNA was administered together at equimolar doses. Ondansetron, 8 mg/8 h po was used as antiemetic treatment. No hematopoietic support was used. We included 10 BC and 14 S patients with disease progression during salvage chemotherapy at conventional doses. Mean previous lines of therapy 3 (range 1–5), 20 had received previous treatment with conventional-dose cyclophosphamide or IFO. All had received previous adriamycin. Median age 44 (range 18–62), 12 males and 12 females. Median number of cycle 3 (range 1–8) for a total of 81 cycles of therapy. Worst WHO grade toxic reaction for each patient: grade III–IV leukopenia in 65%, grade III nausea and vomiting in 40%, grade III neurotoxicity in 5%, grade II nephrotoxicity in 5%. Neurologic and renal toxicity were reversible. 9 patients were admitted for neutropenic fever, with two documented septic episodes. Treatment had to be discontinued in 2 patients after 2 cycles (1 renal toxicit); I gastro-intestinal GI-toxicity). 20 patients are evaluable for response (4 did not finish the first cycle of therapy, 3 for early disease progression, 1 for unacceptable GI toxicity). Partial responses in 2/8 (25%) BC, and in 3/12 (25%) S. No complete responses were recorded. 65% had disease stabilization, and 10% had disease progression. 3 with S and 1 BC underwent further high dose chemotherapy with transplantation after assessment of chemotherapy sensitivity with high-dose IFO. Median duration of response was 5 months. Median overall survival was 6 months (range 2–11+). In conclusion, CI of IFO for 168 hours is an active regimen in highly pretreated BC and S. The addition of hematopoietic growth factors and further antiemetic agents could improve the toxicity ofthis regimen. Additionally, this regimen could be combined with non-myelotoxic drugs.

Experience with dose and schedule variations in germ cell tumors.

The majority of patients with metastatic germ cell tumors can be cured with currently available poly-chemotherapy. Based on presenting criteria three prognostic groups can be discerned. In patients with a good prognosis (> 90% probability of 5-year survival) attempts have been made to diminish the dose of the active compounds in the BEP regimen. The omission of bleomycin cannot be recommended on presently available data; and a total dose of at least 240 mg seems appropriate. Platinum at a dose intensity below 75 mg/m2/3 weeks compromised efficacy and the recommended dose is 100 mg/m2. A true comparison between the two most frequently used etoposide doses has not been performed. Based on the available literature etoposide should be given in doses of at least 360 mg/m2/cycle when four courses are given and 500 mg/m2/cycle when three courses are given. For intermediate and high-risk patients alternating, accelerated and high-dose chemotherapy can be considered. None of the alternating and accelerated regimens has a proven advantage in randomized trials and they remain investigational. The addition of hematopoietic growth factors permits a higher dose intensity of BEP/EP and BOP/VIP; although to date there is no proven impact on outcome. The application of high-dose chemotherapy for one to four courses is feasible with the support of both hematopoietic growth factors and autologous bone marrow or peripheral stem cells. In true chemotherapy-resistant disease the value of this approach seems limited. Its role in patients with a first relapse should be further explored. The approach of high-dose chemotherapy in first line for patients with poor prognostic features should preferentially be investigated in a randomized fashion, but this will require extensive international collaboration in view of the low incidence and the expected advantage of the approach.

Ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide: a new regimen with a broad spectrum of activity.

To conduct a phase I/II evaluation of the combination of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) to determine toxicity and activity in a variety of refractory malignancies. Two hundred four patients, 13 to 64 years of age, with a variety of malignancies, including refractory breast cancer and Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, were treated with two cycles of ICE, consisting of intravenous ifosfamide 2 g/m2, carboplatin 400 mg/m2, and continuous infusion etoposide 600 mg/m2 administered in divided doses over 2 days. The regimen was repeated at approximately 28-day intervals. One hundred ninety-one patients (94%) received two cycles at full doses and were assessable for response and toxicity. Complete and partial responses were seen in breast cancer (20%, n = 93), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (30%, n = 37), Hodgkin's disease (60%, n = 10), melanoma (9%, n = 11), a variety of sarcomas (20%, n = 10), and other malignancies (43%, n = 30). Myelosuppression was prominent, with significant neutropenia requiring frequent hospitalization for neutropenic fever, and thrombocytopenia and anemia requiring frequent platelet and RBC transfusions. However, the overall treatment-related mortality rate was only 3%. No other moderate to severe organ toxicity was seen at a frequency of greater than 1%. This regimen is active in a variety of refractory malignancies, with significant but tolerable hematologic toxicity. The addition of hematopoietic growth factors may allow further dose escalation.

In vitro effects of bryostatin 1 on the metabolism and cytotoxicity of 1-β- d-arabinofuranosylcytosine in human leukemia cells

Bryostatin 1 is a macrocyclic lactone protein kinase C (PK-C) activator which has demonstrated promising antileukemic activity in preclinical studies. We have examined the effect of this agent on the metabolism and cytotoxicity of 1-β- d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) in both log phase and high-density human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). Exposure of low-density cells to 12.5 nM bryostatin 1 for 24 hr prior to a 4-hr incubation with 1 or 10 μM ara-C resulted in nearly a 2-fold increase in ara-CTP formation. When cells were maintained under high-cell density conditions (e.g. 5 × 10 6 cells/ mL) for 24 hr prior to ara-C exposure, a 90% reduction in ara-CTP formation and ara-C DNA incorporation was observed. However, coincubation of high-density cells with bryostatin 1 for 24 hr increased ara-CTP formation 6- to 8-fold, yielding levels essentially equivalent to those achieved in low-density cells. Smaller (but still significant) increases in ara-C DNA incorporation were also noted. Enhancement of ara-CTP formation by bryostatin 1 occurred over a broad ara-C concentration range (0.1 to 100 μM), involved a temperature-dependent process, could not be mimicked by addition of hematopoietic growth factors, and was not related to neutralization of toxic or inhibitory substances in high-density medium. Exposure of cells to bryostatin 1 did not lead to morphologic or functional evidence of HL-60 cell maturation or an increase in cell viability, but did produce a decline in cellular proliferative activity as determined by thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and cytofluorometric analysis. Bryostatin 1 did not exert its effects in high-density cells by inhibiting ara-C deamination or by interfering with ara-CTP dephosphorylation, but instead appeared to act by enhancing ara-C phosphorylation. Although cell-free extracts obtained from high-density cells exposed to bryostatin 1 exhibited levels of deoxycytidine kinase activity compared to controls, treated cells did display a significant decline in intracellular dCTP levels (e.g. 0.7 vs 1.3 solpmol 10 6 ), and nearly a 2-fold increase in ATP and UTP concentrations. Ara-CTP formation was also increased substantially by other PK-C activators including phorbol dibutyrate and mezerein (10–100 nM); this process was inhibited more than 70% by the PK-C inhibitor H-7 (50 μM), but not by the PK-C inhibitors staurosporine, tamoxifen, and HA1004. Finally, coadministration of ara-C and bryostatin 1 resulted in greater than expected inhibitory effects toward HL-60 cell clonogenic growth. These findings suggest that the novel agent bryostatin 1 induces biochemical perturbations in leukemic cells that favor ara-C activation, particularly in high-density cells exhibiting impaired ara-C nucleotide formation. They also raise the possibility that pharmacologie agents acting through second messenger pathways may modulate the metabolism of ara-C, and potentially other nucleoside analogs.

Treatment of refractory Hodgkin's disease with high-dose cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone in combination. Results of a clinical phase II study of the German Hodgkin study group

In the present study, the activity and side effects of high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD-Ara-C) in combination with mitoxantrone (mitox) (HAM) was evaluated in 32 heavily pretreated patients with refractory Hodgkin's disease. Therapy consisted of HD-Ara-C 3 g/m2 every 12 hours days 1 and 2 and mitox 10 mg/m2/d days 3 to 5. In subsequent steps, HD-Ara-C was escalated to six and eight doses for 3 and 4 days, respectively, and mitox to four doses on days 2 to 5. Thirty-two patients 17 to 55 years of age entered the study. Twenty-five cases presented with extranodal disease and disseminated organ involvement and 21 revealed systemic (B) symptoms. Eighteen patients (56%) responded with five complete and 13 partial remissions, ten patients (31%) had refractory disease, and four patients died from infections during treatment-induced cytopenia. The predominant toxicity was severe myelosuppression in all patients with major infections occurring during 55% of treatment courses. Ten of the responding 18 patients underwent subsequent autologous (n = 9) or allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT). Seven of these cases are currently alive at 5+ to 22+ months, six of them without evidence of disease. Among the remaining eight patients not receiving BMT, three are alive at 6+ to 19+ months from the initiation of HAM, two of them in ongoing remissions of 2+ and 5+ months' duration. Two patients died from transplant-related complications and six patients succumbed to progressive disease following relapse. The median survival for all treated patients is 6.2 months. These data indicate that HAM has a significant activity in refractory Hodgkin's disease. However, the substantial side effects and the lack of an obvious superiority to alternative, less intensive regimens limits the further application of the two-drug combination in its present form. Modifications in timing and dosage and the addition of hematopoietic growth factors will be evaluated in subsequent trials.