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A phase IB clinical and pharmacokinetic study of the angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 and paclitaxel in recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck

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Abstract

Purpose

SU5416 is a novel small organic molecule that non-competitively inhibits the phosphorylation of the VEGF tyrosine kinase receptor, Flk-1. This phase IB study was performed to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of the combination of SU5416 and paclitaxel in recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods

Enrolled in the study were 12 patients with biopsy-proven recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck. Six patients received intravenous SU5416 110 mg/m2 on days 1, 15, 18, 22 and 25, and paclitaxel 70 mg/m2 on days 8, 15 and 22. Since two patients experienced a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in cohort 1, the next six patients received identical treatment as above except the paclitaxel dose was reduced to 55 mg/m2 per week.

Results

A total of 42 cycles at two different dose levels were given. In cohort 1 there were two deep venous thromboses that were DLTs. In the second cohort there was a DLT consisting of a transient ischemic attack after receiving SU5416. Most of the other toxicities seen were grade 1 or 2 in nature and consisted of headache, facial flushing, and fatigue. Two patients developed extensive ulcerative cavities at sites of prior radiation. There were no significant changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of SU5416 given with paclitaxel. Four patients had prolonged freedom from progression of 18, 28, 42, and 60 weeks duration.

Conclusions

The combination of SU5416 with paclitaxel had a higher than expected incidence of thromboembolic events and prophylactic anticoagulation should be considered for future trials that combine an angiogenesis inhibitor with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Although the future development of SU5416 as a chemotherapeutic agent is unclear, there was a clinical benefit seen with this combination in 36% of the patients. This trial supports the use of developing antiangiogenic combinations, using molecular targeted agents, in head and neck carcinoma.

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Acknowledgements

This study was carried out in the General Clinical Research Center. Supported by NIH grants U01 CA62502, M01 RR-00080-36, and P30 CA 43703.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Therapeutics Program, CASE Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 211100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Matthew M. Cooney, Vinit Makar, Afshin Dowlati, Beth Overmoyer, Keith McCrae, Pamela Ksenich & Scot Remick

  2. Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Kou-Yi Tserng, R. Jeff McPeak, Stephen T. Ingalls & Charles L. Hoppel

  3. Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Kou-Yi Tserng, R. Jeff McPeak, Stephen T. Ingalls & Charles L. Hoppel

  4. Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Kou-Yi Tserng, R. Jeff McPeak, Stephen T. Ingalls & Charles L. Hoppel

  5. Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Kou-Yi Tserng, R. Jeff McPeak, Stephen T. Ingalls & Charles L. Hoppel

  6. Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, USA

    Pierre Lavertu

  7. Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Percy Ivy

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  1. Matthew M. Cooney
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  12. Charles L. Hoppel
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  13. Scot Remick
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Correspondence to Matthew M. Cooney.

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Cooney, M.M., Tserng, KY., Makar, V. et al. A phase IB clinical and pharmacokinetic study of the angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 and paclitaxel in recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 55, 295–300 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-004-0871-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-004-0871-5

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