carzelesin and Breast-Neoplasms

In a phase II trial, the activity of carzelesin, a cyclopropylpyrroloindole prodrug analog, was assessed.. Carzelesin was used as second- or third-line chemotherapy in patients with breast, ovarian, head and neck cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and as first-line chemotherapy in patients with colorectal and gastric cancer and melanoma. The drug was given as a bolus infusion at a 4-weekly dose of 150 microg/m2. A total of 140 patients were entered and a total of 285 courses were administered.. In general, the compound was well tolerated. Myelotoxicity was the most common toxicity. Grade 3 and 4 leukopenia was observed in 18.6% of the courses, neutropenia in 20.3%, thrombocytopenia in 16.2% and anemia in 8.7%. Double nadirs were seen in a total of 41 courses for neutrophils, in 40 for leukocytes and in 3 for platelets. Non-hematological toxicity was very mild. Only one partial response in a patient with melanoma was seen.. At this dose and schedule carzelesin did not yield activity in the types of tumors studied.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzofurans; Breast Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Duocarmycins; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Indoles; Infusions, Intravenous; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Prodrugs; Stomach Neoplasms