maytansine and Leukopenia

Twenty-nine patients with advanced or recurrent adenocarcinoma of the ovary no longer responsive to standard treatment measures were given maytansine 1.2 mg/m2 I.V. every 3 weeks. None of the 29 patients demonstrated an objective regression of disease. Eighteen (62%) demonstrated stable disease for 1 or more months, while 11 (38%) developed rapid progression of disease. Adverse effects consisted primarily of leukopenia (7/29), thrombocytopenia (9/29), and nausea and vomiting (14/29). Only one patient developed life-threatening toxicity (platelets less than 25,000 microliters), and no drug-related deaths were observed. Maytansine thus appears inactive in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the ovary at the dose and schedule tested.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Leukopenia; Maytansine; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Ovarian Neoplasms; Oxazines; Thrombocytopenia; Vomiting

Twenty-nine patients with advanced or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix who had failed standard therapy were treated with maytansine 1.2 mg/m2 intravenously once every 3 weeks. Only one partial remission was observed among the 29 patients (3%). There were no complete remissions. Stable disease was observed in 18 (62%) and progressive disease in 10 (35%). Adverse effects were infrequent and mild to moderate and consisted primarily of myelosuppression, weakness, and nausea and vomiting. This study shows that maytansine at the dose and schedule tested is essentially inactive in the treatment of advanced or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Leukopenia; Maytansine; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Oxazines; Thrombocytopenia; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms