echinomycin and Soft-Tissue-Neoplasms

Echinomycin, a cyclic peptide in the family of quinoxaline antibiotics, was evaluated in patient with metastatic, soft tissue sarcoma not previously treated for metastatic disease. The starting dose of echinomycin was 1,200 mcg/m2 administered intravenously, once weekly x 4, followed by a two-week break. The protocol design called for dose escalation on subsequent cycles of therapy, but because of significant toxicity, dose escalation occurred in only 5 of 25 treatment cycles. Severe nausea and vomiting was the most common toxicity. No clinical responses were observed in the 12 evaluable patients. Echinomycin at this dose and schedule is inactive in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation; Drugs, Investigational; Echinomycin; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Sarcoma; Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Thirty-four patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas were entered in a phase II trial of echinomycin. Patients received 1.2 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) weekly times four followed by a two week rest period. There were no objective responses. Dose limiting toxicity was gastrointestinal. Echinomycin given on this weekly schedule is inactive in treating previously treated patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Evaluation; Drugs, Investigational; Echinomycin; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Sarcoma; Soft Tissue Neoplasms