Purpose:
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing
so they stop growing or die.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of aminocamptothecin in treating patients
with stage III or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.
Study summary:
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether aminocamptothecin colloidal dispersion (AC/CD) administered
as a 120 hour weekly infusion is an effective treatment for advanced non-small cell lung
cancer. II. Observe any toxicities associated with this treatment in this patient
population.
OUTLINE: Patients receive a 120 hour continuous infusion of aminocamptothecin colloidal
dispersion (AC/CD) once a week for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week of rest. Patients are
assessed after every 2 courses of therapy. Treatment with aminocamptothecin continues
indefinitely if there is tumor shrinkage or stable disease and no significant toxicity is
experienced. Patients are followed every 3 months.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 19-36 patients will be accrued for this study.
Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed measurable stage IIIB or IV non-small
cell lung cancer No brain metastases
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At
least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3500/mm3 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT and
SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater
than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at
least 60 mL/min Calcium and electrolytes normal Other: No other malignancy within past 5
years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
Not pregnant or nursing No active infections or other serious medical conditions
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior
chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 2 weeks since prior
radiotherapy No prior radiotherapy to site(s) of measurable disease Surgery: At least 3
weeks since any prior surgery
Primary Contact:
Study Chair
Nathan Levitan, MD
Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center