A phase I clinical trial assessing the safety and tolerability of combretastatin A4 phosphate injections

Anticancer Drugs. 2014 Apr;25(4):462-71. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000070.

Abstract

Combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) is a prodrug that selectively destroys tumor blood vessels, and has shown efficacy as a targeted anticancer drug in both animal models and clinical trials. The aims of this single-center, open label, phase I clinical trial were to investigate the safety and tolerability of CA4P administered intravenously to patients aged 18-65 years with advanced solid tumors. Using a dose-escalation protocol, patients were assigned to five groups that received injections with 20 (n=3), 33 (n=3), 50 (n=11), 65 (n=6), or 85 (n=2) mg/m² CA4P. Patients in the 20 and 85 mg/m² groups received a single dose and the other groups received multiple doses. Adverse events (AE), cardiovascular parameters, and biochemical investigations were studied, and the maximum tolerated dose was determined. Of twenty-five patients enrolled, eight were withdrawn/excluded (not because of AE). There were no deaths. A total of 394 AE occurred in the 25 patients, with 89.3% considered related/possibly related to the drug. AE included headache and dizziness (19.8%), tumor-induced pain (14.2%), vascular vagal excitation (10.7%), and vomiting (9.4%). Ninety-five percent of AE were mild (grades 0-II), with only 5% being grade III-IV. Drug administration was associated with biphasic changes in heart rate and blood pressure, and only limited abnormalities in the laboratory investigations performed. The maximum tolerated dose was 65 mg/m². We conclude that CA4P is generally well tolerated, with the vast majority of AE that occurred being of mild severity. Further studies will establish the role of CA4P in cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Maximum Tolerated Dose
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prodrugs / administration & dosage*
  • Prodrugs / adverse effects
  • Prodrugs / therapeutic use
  • Stilbenes / administration & dosage*
  • Stilbenes / adverse effects
  • Stilbenes / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Prodrugs
  • Stilbenes
  • fosbretabulin