Abstract
A total of 32 evaluable patients with measurable advanced colorectal carcinoma were treated with continuous-infusion alpha-difluoromethylomithine (DFMO) at a median daily dose of 8 g/m2 (range, 6-14 g/m2). DFMO was infused over 24 h daily for 28 days, followed by a rest period of 7 days. Of the 32 patients, 14 had received no prior chemotherapy. A total of 65 courses was given, with the median being 2 (range, 1-9 courses). None of the patients achieved a partial or complete response; however, 3 patients achieved a minor response and 14 had stable disease. The frequent toxic effects of DFMO included thrombocytopenia (which was dose-limiting), malaise, nausea, vomiting, reversible hearing loss, and diarrhea. Our data suggest that continuous-infusion DFMO therapy is feasible and results in only mild gastrointestinal toxicity. Although DFMO proved to be ineffective as a single agent in this trial, it could probably best be used in combination with cytotoxic agents known to enhance its antitumor activity in a preclinical setting.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 223-226 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1990 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Cancer Research
- Pharmacology (medical)