To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

Title: Adjunctive RSR13 Improves Outcomes In Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Presented at ASCO

"Adjunctive RSR13 Improves Outcomes In Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Presented at ASCO"

By Charles Bankhead Special to DG News SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- May 14, 2001 -- Adjunctive use of a radiation-sensitizing agent led to an unexpectedly high response rate to induction chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. Almost 89 percent of patients had measurable responses to treatment that included RSR13, an agent that decreases hemoglobin binding affinity an increases tumor oxygenation. At a median follow-up of 11 months, one-year survival was 64.7 percent, and projected two-year survival was 50.8 percent, according to a report at the American Society of Clinical Oncology. "These results are much better than we would have expected for patients with inoperable lung cancer," said Hak Choy, MD, a radiation oncologist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. "The results are very encouraging and clearly warrant investigation in a randomized clinical trial." The findings came from a study involving 47 patients with locally advanced, inoperable stage IIIA-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. All patients received two cycles of induction chemotherapy that consisted of paclitaxel 225 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC 6, followed by thoracic radiation therapy at a total dose of 64 Gy delivered in 32 fractions and concurrent daily infusion of RSR13 at a dose of 50-100 mg/kg. More than 90 percent of patients received a full dose of the first cycle of chemotherapy, and about 80 percent received full-dose therapy during the second cycle. Dr. Choy said that three-fourths of patients received at least 90 percent of the planned radiation dose, and 81 percent received at least 80 percent of the planned dose. Follow-up evaluation at two months showed complete responses in four of 44 evaluable patients and partial responses in 35 patients, resulting in an overall response rate of 88.6 percent. Two additional patients had disease stabilization. In addition to the 64.7 percent one-year overall survival and 50.8 percent projected two-year survival, progression-free survival was 54.6 percent at one year and 20.8 percent at two years. The median time to progression was 14 months.

Copyright © 2009 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content.