High-Dose edatrexate with oral leucovorin rescue: A phase I and clinical pharmacological study in adults with advanced cancer

Katherine M.W. Pisters, Leslie B. Tyson, William Tong, Martin Fleisher, Vincent A. Miller, Stefan C. Grant, David G. Pfister, James R. Rigas, Christine L. Densmore, George Krol, Robert T. Heelan, Francis M. Sirotnak, Joseph R. Bertino, Mark G. Kris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose and toxicity of i.v. edatrexate with p.o. leucovorin. Thirty-one adults with advanced solid tumors received edatrexate as a 2-h infusion, once a week for 3 weeks, recycled every 28 days. p.o. leucovorin (10 mg/m2, every 6 h for 10 doses) began 24 h later. All had urinary alkalinization and p.o. hydration. Nine dosage levels ranging from 120 to 3750 mg/m2 were explored. Fatigue, epistaxis, nausea/emesis, mucositis, rash, myalgias, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and transient elevations of serum aspartate transferase were observed. Leukoencephalopathy with clinical manifestations occurred in two patients (one had prior cranial irradiation). Pharmacokinetic studies carried out at the 120- and 1080-mg/m2 dose levels revealed no significant difference in the elimination half-life at the two dose levels studied and no significant intrapatient variability between day 1 and day 8 edatrexate administration. Serum edatrexate levels measured using a dihydrofolate reductase inhibition assay correlated with those by high-performance liquid chromatography. Three major and two minor antitumor responses occurred. The maximum tolerated dose was 3750 mg/m2, with grade 3 or 4 leukopenia (one patient), stomatitis (one patient), and leukoencephalopathy (one patient). Because of the occurrence of leukoencephalopathy, further study of high-dose edatrexate with leucovorin rescue is not recommended.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1819-1824
Number of pages6
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume2
Issue number11
StatePublished - Nov 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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