Phase I trial of daily triapine in combination with cisplatin chemotherapy for advanced-stage malignancies

Advanced-stage malignancies have increased deoxyribonucleotide demands in DNA replication and repair, making deoxyribonucleotide supply a potential exploitable target for therapy based on ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) inhibition.

A dose-finding phase I trial was conducted of intravenous (i.v.) triapine, a small-molecule RNR inhibitor, and cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced-stage solid tumor malignancies. Patients received dose-finding levels of i.v. triapine (48-96 mg/m²) and i.v. cisplatin (20-75 mg/m²) on 1 of 3 different schedules. The primary endpoint was to identify the maximum tolerated dose of a triapine-cisplatin combination. Secondary endpoints included the rate of triapine-cisplatin objective response and the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a single oral triapine dose. (Clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT00024323).

The MTD was 96 mg/m² triapine daily days 1-4 and 75 mg/m² cisplatin split over day 2 and day 3. Frequent grade 3 or 4 adverse events included fatigue, dyspnea, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and electrolyte abnormalities. No objective responses were observed; 5 (50%) of 10 patients treated at the MTD had stable disease. Pharmacokinetics indicated an oral triapine bioavailability of 88%.

The triapine-cisplatin combination may be given safely in patients with advanced-stage solid tumor malignancies. On the basis of these results, a phase I trial adequately powered to evaluate oral triapine bioavailability in women with advanced-stage uterine cervix or vulvar cancers is underway.