toremifene and Anorexia

In order to determine the usual dose in the first line therapy and a high dose in the second or third line therapy, a dose finding study of a novel antiestrogen NK 622 (toremifene citrate) was performed in patients (pts) with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. NK 622 was orally administered daily once for more than 8 weeks. In pts without previous drug therapy or in pts with cancer relapse after adjuvant therapy, the response rates [(CR + PR)/total] were 24.1% (7/29), 13.8% (4/29), 20.0% (1/5) and 40.0% (2/5) at doses of 40, 60, 120 and 240 mg/day, respectively. A 40 mg/day dose showed an objective response only in postmenopausal pts with estrogen receptor (ER) positive or unknown cancer. At a dose of 60 mg/day, some of the responding cases were premenopausal pts or pts with ER(-) cancer. In pts with cancer relapse during adjuvant therapy or in those with previous therapy and/or radiation, response rates were 25.0% (2/8), 0% (0/4), 13.5% (5/37) and 10.3% (4/39) at doses of 40, 60, 120 and 240 mg/day, respectively. Response was more frequent in pts with ER (+) cancer than with ER (-) cancer. The response rates in pts with previous therapy including tamoxifen (TAM) except medroxyprogesterone (MPA) were 14.3% (4/28) at a 120 mg/day dose and 6.1% (2/33) at a 240 mg/day dose. In pts with previous therapy including TAM, MPA and other antitumor agents, the rate was 18.2% (2/11) at a 120 mg/day dose. Side effects such as elevation of GOT, GPT and serum Ca level, decrease of hemoglobin, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, dizziness and hot flush were observed. These side effects were moderate in grade and reversible. Dose dependency of side effects was not clearly observed in grade and incidence. From these results, NK 622 is expected to be a safe drug with efficacy in first line therapy at a dose of 40 mg/day and in second or third line therapy at a dose of 120 mg/day.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Anorexia; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Nausea; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Toremifene

A phase I study of NK 622 (toremifene citrate), a novel antiestrogen, was conducted in female patients with cancer. Patients received a single oral dosing or daily once oral dosing for five consecutive days. Any adverse effects were not experienced in the single dosing of 40 or 60 mg of NK 622. In the daily administration of 10, 20, 40, 60, 120, 240 and 480 mg/day, one of three patients who received 20 mg/day experienced grade 1 anorexia, three of four patients received 240 mg/day experienced adverse effects: Grade 1 leukopenia in one patient, Grade 1 general hot flush in one patient, and Grade 1 nausea, hot flush in the face and vertigo, Grade 2 anorexia, fatigue, dull headache and general hot flush in another one patient. These symptoms recovered to normal levels after treatment. Serum hormone levels were examined in postmenopausal patients, and a significant increase of the sex hormone binding globulin level was observed in the patients received 120 and 240 mg/day doses. Serum levels of NK 622 determined as free base (TOR) reached the peak levels in 2 to 4 hours after administration on the 1st and 5th day in daily treatment, while a metabolite N-demethyltoremifene (TOR-1) reached the peak level in 4 to 170 hours. Maximum serum levels and area under the concentration versus time curves of TOR and TOR-1 increased dose-dependently. These values also increased by repetition of the treatment. Half-lives of TOR and TOR-1 in serum ranged in 74.5 to 148.9 hours and 154.1 to 653.1 hours, respectively. From these results, it was concluded that safety and efficacy of NK 622 should be assessed by using 240 mg or less doses in clinical phase II studies where breast cancer patients received long term treatment with NK 622.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Anorexia; Breast Neoplasms; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Leukopenia; Middle Aged; Toremifene

A Phase I study of the new antiestrogenic drug toremifene was carried out in 27 Japanese women, using oral doses of 10-480 mg per day for one or five days. Serum concentrations reached a dose-dependent maximum 2-6 hours after each oral administration. Side effects were generally mild.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Anorexia; Antineoplastic Agents; Drug Evaluation; Estrogen Antagonists; Female; Humans; Japan; Middle Aged; Nausea; Neoplasms; Tamoxifen; Toremifene