A phase 2 trial of trabectedin in children with recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

Eur J Cancer. 2012 Mar;48(4):579-85. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2011.09.027. Epub 2011 Nov 14.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the toxicity, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of trabectedin given over 24h every 3 weeks to children with recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, or non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas.

Patients and methods: Trabectedin was administered as a 24-h intravenous infusion every 21 days. Two dose levels were evaluated (1.3 and 1.5mg/m(2)) for safety; efficacy was then evaluated using a traditional 2-stage design (10+10) at the 1.5mg/m(2) dose level. Pharmacokinetics (day 1 and steady state) were performed during cycle 1.

Results: Fifty patients were enrolled, eight patients at 1.3mg/m(2) and 42 at 1.5mg/m(2). Dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) in the dose finding component included fatigue and reversible GGT elevation in 1/6 evaluable patients at 1.3mg/m(2) and 0/5 at 1.5mg/m(2). Efficacy was evaluated in 42 patients enrolled at the 1.5mg/m(2) dose of whom 22% experienced reversible grade 3 or 4 toxicities that included AST, ALT, or GGT elevations, myelosuppression and deep venous thrombosis. One patient with rhabdomyosarcoma had a partial response and one patient each with rhabdomyosarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma and Ewing sarcoma had stable disease for 2, 3 and 15 cycles, respectively.

Conclusion: Trabectedin is safe when administered over 24h at 1.5mg/m(2). Trabectedin did not demonstrate sufficient activity as a single agent for children with relapsed paediatric sarcomas.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • Bone Neoplasms / blood
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dioxoles / adverse effects
  • Dioxoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Dioxoles / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Oncology / organization & administration
  • Pediatrics / organization & administration
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / blood
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / metabolism
  • Sarcoma / blood
  • Sarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Sarcoma / metabolism
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / blood
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / drug therapy*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / metabolism
  • Societies, Medical
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines / adverse effects
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines / pharmacokinetics
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines / therapeutic use*
  • Trabectedin
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Dioxoles
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines
  • Trabectedin