Sequential High-dose Methotrexate Research Articles

Sequence-dependent toxicity profile in modified famtx (fluorouracil-adriamycin-methotrexate) chemotherapy with lenograstim support for advanced gastric cancer: a feasibility study

For advanced irresectible gastric cancer, sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (both on day 1) combined with adriamycin on day 15 (FAMTX regimen), cycled every 28 days, is a fairly effective but toxic treatment, with a high incidence of neutropenic fever, dose reductions and dose delays. In order to improve FAMTX toxicity, we studied the feasibility of two modified FAMTX regimens with lenograstim support. Seven advanced gastric cancer patients were treated with all three FAMTX drugs on day 1 followed by lenograstim 150μgm−2 for 10 days, in 21-day cycles (FUMA regimen). The next seven patients were treated with the same drugs at the same doses, but with adriamycin 1 day prior to methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil administration (AFUM regimen). Patients were monitored for toxicity, response, and survival. The total number of courses was 27 for FUMA and 35 for AFUM with a median of four courses per patient in each cohort. In the FUMA regimen, considerable toxicity consisting of mucositis and fatigue as well as grade 4 neutropenia occurred, and forced four out of seven patients to stop treatment. The consecutive AFUM regimen showed only mild toxicity, and all patients could finish treatment without dose reductions or delays. We found unanticipated and probably sequence-dependent toxicity profiles in two investigational, modified FAMTX schedules with lenograstim support, leading to high rates of dose-limiting toxicity in the FUMA regimen as opposed to mild toxicity in the AFUM regimen, even though the same total drug doses and treatment cycle length (dose intensity) were employed.

Final Results of a Randomized Phase III Trial of Sequential High-Dose Methotrexate, Fluorouracil, and Doxorubicin Versus Etoposide, Leucovorin, and Fluorouracil Versus Infusional Fluorouracil and Cisplatin in Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Cooperative Group

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of etoposide, leucovorin, and bolus fluorouracil (ELF) or infusional fluorouracil plus cisplatin (FUP) with that of the reference protocol of fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and methotrexate (FAMTX) in advanced gastric cancer. A total of 399 patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach were randomized and analyzed for toxicity, tumor response, and progression-free and overall survival. Only reviewed and confirmed responses were considered. The analysis of remission was based on assessable patients with documented measurable lesions. The intent-to-treat principle, log-rank test, and Cox regression model were used for the statistical analysis of time-to-event end points. The overall response rate for 245 eligible patients with measurable disease was 9% with ELF, 20% with FUP, and 12% with FAMTX, with no significant differences. One hundred twelve patients were eligible for efficacy in assessable, nonmeasurable disease. No change was observed in 66% of patients treated with ELF, 56% with FUP, and 55% with FAMTX. Two patients achieved a complete tumor regression (one each for ELF and FAMTX). With a median follow-up time of 4.5 years, the median survival times were 7.2 months with ELF, 7.2 months with FUP, and 6.7 months with FAMTX, respectively, with no significant differences. Nonhematologic and hematologic toxicities of ELF, FUP, and FAMTX were acceptable, with neutropenia being the major toxicity for all three regimens. Seven treatment-related deaths occurred (two with FUP and five with FAMTX). All three investigated regimens demonstrate modest clinical efficacy and should not be regarded as standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer. New strategies should be considered to achieve a better clinical efficacy in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Phase II study of sequential high-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 5-fluorouracil (F) alternated with epirubicin (E) and cisplatin (P) [FEMTX-P] in advanced gastric cancer

FAMTX (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, methotrexate) is one of the most effective drug combinations in gastric cancer. Therefore, modifications of FAMTX appear of interest and the FEMTX-P regiment was conceived. Fifty patients with unresectable locally advanced and/or metastatic gastric carcinoma were treated with methotrexate 1500 mg/m2 i.v. and 5-fluorouracil 1500 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1; leucovorin rescue 15 mg/m2 orally every 6 hours for 8 doses on days 2 and 3; epirubicin 60 mg/m2 i.v. and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 i.v. on day 15, q 4 weeks. Of forty-seven patients evaluable for response, five (11%) achieved complete responses and seventeen (36%) partial responses (total response rate 47%). The median duration of response was 8+ months (range: 5-25+ months). Four of 14 patients with locally advanced disease were successfully downstaged and subsequently resected. The median duration of survival of all patients was 10 months (range: 1-25+ months). Leukopenia grade 4 occurred in 18% of patients and thrombocytopenia grade 4 and mucositis grade 4 in 4% and 2%, respectively. Treatment postponement for hematologic toxicity was necessary in 54% of patients. The FEMTX-P regimen is an active regimen in advanced gastric carcinoma, with acceptable toxicity.

Prospective Randomized Trial Using 5-Fluorouracil, Adriamycin and Methotrexate (FAMTX) versus FAM for Treatment of Advanced Gastric Cancer

Background: In 1982, a favorable response rate of 63 % in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma treated by sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil combined with adriamycin (FAMTX) was reported. In order to confirm these data, a prospective randomized comparison with a standard regimen seemed to be necessary.Materials and Methods: 213 patients with advanced measurable or nonmeasurable gastric cancer were randomized for administration of methotrexate (1,500 mg/m2), followed after 1 h by 5-fluorouracil (1,500 mg/m2) on day 1. Leucovorin rescue was started after 24 h (15 mg/m2, orally, every 6 h for 48 h), and adriamycin (30 mg/m2) was given on day 15. The FAM regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2, on days 1, 8, 29 and 36), of adriamycin (30 mg/m2, on days 1 and 29) and of mitomycin C (10 mg/m2, on day 1). The cycles were repeated every 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Results: The results show a significantly superior response rate, 41 versus 9 % (p < 0.0001), and survival, median 44 weeks versus 29 weeks (p = 0.002) for FAMTX. There was a cumulative thrombocytopenia seen in FAM, but not in FAMTX. Conclusion: The FAMTX protocol should be the reference treatment in future clinical trials which seek to improve the therapeutic outcome in advanced gastric cancer.

Sequential high-dose methotrexate and fluorouracil combined with doxorubicin--a step ahead in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer: a trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Gastrointestinal Tract Cooperative Group.

In a prospective phase III multicenter trial, 213 patients with advanced measurable or nonmeasurable gastric cancer were randomized to receive methotrexate (MTX), fluorouracil (5-FU), and Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Farmitalia Carlo Erba, Milan, Italy) (FAMTX) or 5-FU, Adriamycin, and mitomycin (FAM). The results show a significantly superior response rate (41% v 9% [P less than .0001]), and survival (median, 42 weeks v 29 weeks [P = .004]) for FAMTX. There was a cumulative thrombocytopenia in FAM and not in FAMTX. The FAMTX protocol should be the reference treatment in future clinical trials that seek to improve the therapeutic outcome in advanced gastric cancer.

Second-Line Chemotherapy of Advanced Colorectal Cancer with Sequential High-Dose Methotrexate and 5-Fluorouracil

Twenty-five patients with pretreated advanced colorectal carcinoma were subjected to second-line chemotherapy with sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. In 20 evaluable patients 2 (10%) partial responses, 12 (60%) stable disease and 6 (30%) progressions were observed. Partial responses were maintained for 3 and 4 months respectively; stable disease had a median duration of 4 months. The overall median survival after progression was 7 months. From our results sequential high-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil cannot be recommended as second-line chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer.

Sequential high-dose methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin for treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer

A phase II trial of sequential high-dose methotrexate, 1500 mg/m2, and 5-fluorouracil, 1500 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, plus doxorubicin, 30 mg/m2 i.v. on day 14, has been undertaken in patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Of 25 evaluable patients there were 1 complete response and 3 partial responses for an overall response rate of 16% (95% confidence interval 5%-36%). The median survival of all patients was 6.7 months (range 1-17 months). There was one treatment-related death due to pancytopenia and sepsis. In all other patients therapy was generally well-tolerated. We conclude that this combination protocol has only modest activity in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Sequential high dose methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid does not improve response rates in advanced colorectal cancer.

27 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated in a phase-II trial with high dose sequential methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and folinic acid (FA). Following a 4 h infusion of 800 mg/m2 MTX and a 4 h interval, 1,500 mg/m2 5-FU and 200 mg/m2 FA were given as a 24 h infusion. Out of 23 evaluable patients we observed one partial remission and 9 disease stabilizations. Median survival time of all patients was 10.4 months. Overall toxicity was low. In comparison to a previous trial we did not observe better treatment results by adding high dose FA to a sequential MTX/5-FU schedule.

An EORTC Gastrointestinal Group evaluation of the combination of sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil, combined with adriamycin in advanced measurable gastric cancer.

In a phase II multicenter trial, 71 patients with advanced measurable gastric cancer were registered to receive sequential high-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with Adriamycin (A [Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH]). The response rate was 33% (22 of 67), including all eligible patients. There were nine complete responders (CRs). The median survival for all patients was 6 months. There has been one toxic death; however, three other patients died from toxicity associated with major protocol violations. It is concluded that this protocol is active in gastric cancer. Toxicity, partly because of nonprotocol adherence, is considerable and is now under further investigation in a randomized trial comparing this schedule with a combination of 5-FU, Adriamycin, and mitomycin C (FAM).