Summary
Fotemustine is a novel chloroethylnitrosourea, that readily penetrates the blood brain barrier. Preliminary French studies reported encouraging results with fotemustine in patients with cerebral metastases of malignant melanoma. Thirty-one patients with histologically confirmed metastatic malignant melanoma were entered on a phase II trial. The treatment regimen consisted of fotemustine, administered intravenously as a rapid infusion, at a dose of 100 mg/m2 on day 1, 8 and 15 every 4 to 5 weeks. Objective response (CR+PR) was documented in 3 patients. Median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 44 days and median survival was 164 days. Life threatening toxicity did not occur; hematological toxicity and nausea and vomiting were the most common toxicities. Despite a somewhat disappointing response rate, objective responses were documented in patients with cerebral metastases. Since no other chemotherapeutic agent has shown therapeutic efficacy in cerebral metastases from malignant melanoma fotemustine therefore warrants further study.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cudennec CA, Lavielle G, Deloffre P, Bizzari JP: Preclinical antitumor activity of the new nitrosourea, Servier S 10036. Proc 15th Int Congress Chemotherapy, Istanbul, 1987
Khayat D, Lokiec F, Bizzari JP, Weil M, Meeus L, Sellami M, Rouesse J, Banzet P, Jacquillat C: Phase I clinical study of the new amino acid-linked nitrosourea, S 10036, administered on a weekly schedule. Cancer Res 47:6782–6785, 1987
Jacquillat C, Khayat D, Banzet P, Weil M, Avril M-F, Fumoleau P, Namer M, Bonneterre J, Kerbrat P, Bonerandi JJ, Bugat R, Montcuquet P, Audhuy B, Cupissol D, Lauvin R, Grosshans E, Vilmer C, Prache C, Bizzari JP: Chemotherapy by fotemustine in cerebral metastases of disseminated malignant melanoma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 25:263–266, 1990
Oken MM, Creech RH, Tormey DCet al.: Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol 5:649–655, 1982
Falkson G, van der Merwe AM, Falkson HC: Clinical Experience with 5-[3,3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-triazeno]-imi-dazole-4-carboxamide (NSC 82196) in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma. Cancer Chemother Rep 56:671–677, 1972
Pritchard KI, Quirt IC, Cowan DH, Osoba D, Kutas GJ: DTIC therapy in metastatic malignant melanoma: A simplified dose schedule. Cancer Treat Rep 64:1123–1126, 1980
Jacquillat C, Khayat D, Banzet P, Weil M, Fumoleau P, Avril M-F, Namer M, Bonneterre J, Kerbrat P, Bonerandi JJ, Bugat R, Montcuquet P, Cupissol D, Lauvin R, Vilmer C, Prache C, Bizzari JP: Final report of the French Multicenter phase II study of the nitrosourea fotemustine in 153 patients with disseminated malignant melanoma including patients with cerebral metastases. Cancer 66:1873–1878, 1990
Calabresi F, Aapro M, Becquart D, Dirix L, Wils J, Ardizzoni A, Gerard B: Multicenter Phase II trial of the single agent fotemustine in patients with advanced malignant melanoma. Annals of Oncology 2:377–378, 1991
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Falkson, C.I., Falkson, G. & Falkson, H.C. Phase II trial of fotemustine in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Invest New Drugs 12, 251–254 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00873967
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00873967