A phase II trial of cisplatin, fixed dose-rate gemcitabine and gefitinib for advanced urothelial tract carcinoma: results of the Cancer and Leukaemia Group B 90102.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a phase II trial to determine the efficacy of cisplatin, a fixed dose-rate infusion of gemcitabine and gefitinib (an orally active epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had previously untreated measurable disease, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 and creatinine clearance of >50 mL/min. The treatment regimen consisted of cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) on day 1, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on day 1 and 8, administered at a fixed dose rate of 10 mg/m(2)/min, given every 3 weeks concurrent with gefitinib 500 mg/day orally for a maximum of six cycles. Maintenance gefitinib 500 mg/day was continued for responding or stable disease. RESULTS: In all, 27 patients were accrued before the study was halted because the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) exceeded pre-established stopping rules. The DLT events were two grade 5 (one infection, one cardiovascular accident) and three with grade 4 non-haematological toxicity. In 25 evaluable patients there were nine objective responses, for an overall response rate of 36% (95% confidence interval, CI, 18-57%). The median (95% CI) survival time was 11.1 (5.2-35.3) months. CONCLUSION: The combination of cisplatin, fixed dose-rate gemcitabine and gefitinib is active in advanced TCC, although the relative contribution of gefitinib cannot be determined. However, this regimen was associated with excessive toxicity.
