Treatment > Paclitaxel

Abstract

Phase II study of paclitaxel in patients with recurrent malignant glioma

Prados MD, Schold SC, Spence AM, Berger MS, McAllister LD, Mehta MP, Gilbert MR, Fulton D, Kuhn J, Lamborn K, Rector DJ, Chang SM

Purpose. To assess the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel administered as a 3-hour infusion to patients with recurrent malignant glioma. 

Patients and Methods. Adult patients with recurrent malignant glioma following radiation therapy, who had received no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen and who had a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > or = 60, were treated with a 3-hour infusion of paclitaxel every 3 weeks. 
The initial dose was 210 mg/m2; dose escalation to 240 mg/m2 was allowed. 
Tumor response was assessed at 6-week intervals using radiographic and clinical criteria. 
Treatment was continued until documented tumor progression or a total of 12 paclitaxel infusions. 

Results. Of 41 eligible patients, all were assessable for treatment toxicity and 40 (98%) were assessable for response. 
The response rate (disease stabilization or better) was 35%. 
Twenty-nine patients (71%) underwent dose escalation to 240 mg/m2 without the use of growth factors. 
Toxicities included alopecia (98%), nausea (22%), arthralgias (32%), CNS toxicity (24%), peripheral neuropathy (15%), cardiac toxicity (7%), and myelosuppression (10% grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity). 
No patient developed febrile neutropenia. 
There was one allergic reaction (2%). 

Conclusion. Paclitaxel is well tolerated at this dose schedule in patients with recurrent malignant glioma, and affords a modest response rate. 
Because minimal myelotoxicity was encountered in our patients, a dose-escalating phase I/II study of paclitaxel is planned to determine the maximal-tolerated dose (MTD).

PMID: 8708723 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]