Phase II Study of All-lraris-retinoic Acid and α-Interferon in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Ilias Athanasiadis, Merrill S. Kies, Margaret Miller, Natalia Ganzenko, William J. Gradishar*, Axel Joob, Mary Anne Marymont, Alfred Rademaker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Between April 1993 and June 1994, 29 patients (pts) with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer were treated with a combination of p.o. fra/is-retinoic acid (TRA), 150 mg/m2/day, in three divided doses and s.c. IFN-a, 3 x 106 units/day. The age range was 41-80 years (median, 63 years). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0-1 (24 pts) and 2 (5 pts). Pts had advanced disease, refractory to conventional therapy (5 stage IIIB and 24 stage IV). Twenty-one pts had adenocarcinoma, six had squamous cell carcinoma, and two had large cell carcinoma. Only 3 pts completed 8 weeks of treatment, requiring neither interruption nor dose modification. Fatigue occurred in 88% of pts. A syndrome complex consisting of dry oral and nasal mucosa, recurrent sinus infections, and epistaxis occurred in 64% of pts. Grade II/III dermatitis was seen in 52%. Severe scrotal dermatitis was seen in 7 pts (47% of 15 males). Hypertriglyceridemia was moderate/severe in 11 pts, and 3 pts required gemfibrozil for levels up to 1660 mg/dl. Hematological toxicity was not encountered, and none of the pts had leukocytosis. One pt died with complications of myocardial infarction while on TRA/IFN-a. Twenty-five pts had more than 2 weeks of treatment and are evaluable for response; two pts died early with complications of cancer, and two pts declined to continue after only 3 and 5 days of treatment Final assessment of response was by accepted clinical and radiological criteria at 8 weeks. There have been four objective responses: complete response, 2 (18+ and 17 months) and partial response, 2 (7 and 14 months). Responses were observed in all histologies. Combined differentiation treatment with TRA/IFN-a has modest but objective activity in non-small cell lung cancer. Toxicity is considerable. Additional studies to elucidate the biological basis of TRA/IFN-a and to define prognostic parameters predicting response are needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)973-979
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume1
Issue number9
StatePublished - Sep 1 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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