| Title | A phase I trial of paclitaxel and trastuzumab in combination with interleukin-12 in patients with HER2/neu-expressing malignancies. | | Author(s) | Bekaii-Saab TS, Roda JM, Guenterberg KD, Ramaswamy B, Young DC, Ferketich AK, Lamb TA, Grever MR, Shapiro CL, Carson WE | | Institution | 1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, 2Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Departments of 3Surgery, 4Biostatistics, and 5Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, The Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. | | Source | Mol Cancer Ther 2009 Nov 3. | | Abstract | Our preclinical work showed a dramatic synergy between interleukin-12 (IL-12) and trastuzumab for stimulation of natural killer cell cytokine secretion. We aimed to determine the safety profile of IL-12 when given in combination with trastuzumab and paclitaxel to patients with metastatic HER2-overexpressing cancers. Paclitaxel was given i.v. at 175 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. Trastuzumab was given on day 1 each week (4 mg/kg initially and 2 mg/kg thereafter) in combination with injections of IL-12 on days 2 and 5 starting in cycle 2. This trial accrued 21 patients with metastatic HER2-positive tumors (breast, 7; colon, 6; esophagus, 4; stomach, 2; pancreas, 1; thyroid, 1). The IL-12 component was dose-escalated in cohorts of three patients. The dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 fatigue at the 300 ng/kg dose level in two patients. The recommended phase II dose was 200 ng/kg administered s.c. There was one complete response in a patient with breast cancer, partial responses in 4 patients (breast, 2; esophageal, 2), and stabilization of disease lasting 3 months or greater (SD) in 6 other patients. All but one response occurred in patients with HER2 3+ disease. Two SD patients completed 1 year of therapy. Ten patients had progressive disease. There was increased activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and increased levels of IFN-gamma and several chemokines in patients with clinical benefit (complete response, partial response, or SD), but not in patients with progressive disease. IL-12 in combination with trastuzumab and paclitaxel therefore exhibits an acceptable toxicity profile and has activity in patients with HER2-overexpressing cancers. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(11):2983-91]. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19887543 |
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