echinomycin and Carcinoma

Twenty-one evaluable patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial carcinoma were treated with 1,500 micrograms/m2 of echinomycin every 3 weeks. All patients had received prior chemotherapy. There was one complete response (5%), 95% confidence interval for response is 0.9-22.7%. The major toxicity was nausea and vomiting which was moderate to severe in 42% of patients. Myelosuppression was minimal. Echinomycin, in this dose and schedule, displays minimal activity in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma who have had prior chemotherapy.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Carcinoma; Echinomycin; Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local

Twenty-two patients with recurrent carcinoma of the ovary progressive after initial chemotherapy (21 with cisplatin-based treatment) were entered on a phase II trial utilizing Echinomycin at a dosage of 1,500 micrograms/m2 every 4 weeks. There were two complete responders and no partial responders (9% response, 95% confidence intervals for complete and partial responses of 1-29%). Major toxicity was modest and consisted mainly of nausea and vomiting. Echinomycin displays minimal activity as salvage therapy in women with advanced ovarian cancer at this dose and schedule.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma; Drug Evaluation; Echinomycin; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Ovarian Neoplasms; Quinoxalines; Remission Induction

Echinomycin was administered to patients with advanced carcinoma in escalating doses ranging from 60 to 1500 micrograms/m2 given weekly by 15-minute iv infusions for four doses, with a subsequent 2-week rest period. Dose-limiting nausea, vomiting, and anorexia associated with varying degrees of renal and hepatic dysfunction proved dose-limiting at the 1500-micrograms/m2 level. Thrombocytopenia was noted in 15% of patients receiving greater than or equal to 700 micrograms/m2 and was severe in 11% without an evident dose-response relationship. Leukopenia was rare and mild when encountered. Allergic reactions were observed. Phase II trials are feasible using a dose schedule of 1200 micrograms/m2/week X 4 weeks.

Topics: Carcinoma; Echinomycin; Humans; Intercalating Agents; Quinoxalines