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Phase I study of oral menogaril administered daily for 14 consecutive days

D J Stewart1, S E Aitken, S Verma

  • 1Ontario Cancer Treatment & Research Foundation Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Canada.

Insights

Oral menogaril at 50 mg/m2 daily for 14 days showed efficacy in bladder cancer. This dosing schedule resulted in manageable toxicity, with gastrointestinal side effects reduced but a potential increase in thrombocytopenia.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Menogaril is an anthracycline antibiotic investigated for cancer treatment.
  • Previous administration schedules of oral menogaril have been associated with varying toxicity profiles.
  • Understanding optimal dosing and scheduling is crucial for maximizing therapeutic benefit and minimizing adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral menogaril administered daily for 14 days every 4 weeks.
  • To determine the dose-limiting toxicities and recommend a dose for Phase II studies.
  • To explore the activity of this menogaril schedule in patients with advanced solid tumors, particularly bladder and colorectal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-eight patients with advanced solid tumors received oral menogaril.
  • Treatment involved daily administration for 14 days, with cycles repeated every 4 weeks.
  • Dose escalation was employed to identify dose-limiting toxicities, with granulocytopenia noted at 50-60 mg/m2/day.
  • Tumor response was assessed in patients with bladder and colorectal cancer.

Main Results:

  • Granulocytopenia was identified as the dose-limiting toxicity at 50-60 mg/m2/day.
  • Thrombocytopenia occurred in 3 of 6 patients at the 60 mg/m2/day dose.
  • Mild nausea and vomiting were common, but overall gastrointestinal toxicity was less severe than with other schedules.
  • One partial remission and three minor responses were observed in 11 patients with bladder cancer.
  • One minor response was noted in 3 patients with colorectal cancer.

Conclusions:

  • The recommended dose for Phase II studies of oral menogaril is 50 mg/m2/day for 14 days.
  • Phase II studies are warranted, particularly in patients with carcinoma of the bladder.
  • This schedule demonstrates reduced gastrointestinal toxicity compared to weekly or q4wk schedules, though thrombocytopenia may be more frequent.

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