Phase I/II study of weekly irinotecan and paclitaxel in patients with SCLC

This phase I/II nonrandomized, open-label study was designed to assess the safety and benefit of sequencing irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11) plus paclitaxel (Taxol) immediately after cisplatin (Platinol)/etoposide (VePesid, VP-16) or carboplatin (Paraplatin)/etoposide in patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Ten patients were evaluable in phase I; all had previously been treated with cisplatin and etoposide, and five of the 10 had also previously received carboplatin and paclitaxel. All 10 patients were given a fixed dose of irinotecan (60 mg/m2) and escalating doses of paclitaxel weekly for 3 weeks. Three patients had grade 4 toxicities, one at the lowest dose level of paclitaxel (15 mg/m2). Two patients had grade 3 toxicities. The dose-limiting toxicity occurred at the 60 mg/m2 paclitaxel dose level, when the performance status of both patients in that group decreased to 60 (Karnofsky scale). Two patients had progressive disease after 1 month of treatment and did not receive cycle 2. Three of seven patients evaluable for response had complete remissions. A fourth patient had resolution of lymphangitic metastases and resolution of a partial small bowel obstruction but did not have measurable disease. The fifth patient had a partial remission. The ongoing phase II portion of the study is restricted to previously untreated patients who will receive at least one cycle of either cisplatin or carboplatin in combination with etoposide followed by irinotecan at 60 mg/m2 and paclitaxel at 50 mg/m2 dosed once weekly for 3 weeks.