Ixabepilone Shows 15% Response in Previously Treated Metastatic or Recurrent Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck
11/14/2006 Prague, Czech Republic Chris Berrie Doctor's Guide (www.docguide.com) The tubulin-polymerising agent ixabepilone (BMS 247550; NSC 710428) is active and tolerable in taxane-naive patients with metastatic/ recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN), according to results of a randomised, phase 2 study. The findings were presented here on November 10th at the American Association for Cancer Research 18th Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics - National Cancer Institute - 18th European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (AACR-NCI-EORTC). The epothilones are derived from fermentation of myxobacteria and they have been shown to have broad-spectrum antitumour activity. Thus, as principal investigator Barbara Burtness, MD, attending physician, medical oncology, division of medical sciences, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said of this semi-synthetic epothilone derivative, "Ixabepilone is a novel tubulin-polymerising agent, which has the same target as the taxanes, but there is preclinical evidence that ixabepilone is active even if there are tubulin mutations or if MDR is over-expressed, the basis for taxane resistance." Eligibility for study entry required measurable SCCHN, with distant metastases and locoregional recurrence/ persistence. Up to 2 prior treatment regimens for recurrent/ metastatic disease were allowed (including taxanes), accompanied by: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, 0/1; absolute neutrophil count, >1,500/mm2; adequate renal/ hepatic function. "It is also important to note that the majority of the taxane-naive patients in this study had previously been exposed to chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy," added Dr. Burtness. Patients were stratified according to previous taxane exposure, then [...]