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A phase II trial of taxol in metastatic melanoma
Author(s) -
Legha Sewa S.,
Ring Sigrid,
Papadopoulos Nicholas,
Raber Martin,
Benjamin Robert S.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19900601)65:11<2478::aid-cncr2820651114>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , neutropenia , dexamethasone , toxicity , melanoma , diphenhydramine , phases of clinical research , chemotherapy , diphenhydramine hydrochloride , complete response , gastroenterology , surgery , drug , dermatology , oncology , anesthesia , pharmacology , histamine , cancer research
Taxol is an investigational new drug which is currently undergoing Phase II evaluation in various tumors. It is a plant alkaloid extracted from the western Yew, Taxus brevifolia . In this study, patients with metastatic melanoma who were previously untreated, received Taxol at a starting dose of 250 mg/m 2 delivered as a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion over 24 hours, at 3‐week intervals. All patients were premedicated with oral dexamethasone and IV diphenhydramine hydrochloride as prophylaxis against allergic reactions. Three of 25 patients had a partial response (PR) for a response rate of 12% (CI, 3%‐31%). In addition four patients had objective regression of tumor that failed to qualify for a PR but these responses were as durable, lasting 6 to 17 months. No patient experienced acute allergic reactions. The major toxicity of Taxol was neutropenia requiring dose reduction to 200 mg/m 2 in a majority of the patients. Our data confirm that Taxol has definite although limited activity against metastatic melanoma.