VM-26 IN GASTRIC-CANCER - A SOUTHWEST-ONCOLOGY-GROUP STUDY

The Southwest Oncology Group conducted a trial of VM-26 (teniposide) i n patients with advanced gastric cancer. VM-26 60 mg/m(2) IV infusion over 30-45 minutes was given daily for 5 days every 21 days. Twenty-on e eligible patients with measurable disease and a SWOG performance sta tus of 0-2 were analyzed for response and toxicity. Partial responses were seen in 2 of the 21 eligible patients (9.5%). Median survival was 3.8 months. Severe or life-threatening toxicity was observed in 13/21 (62%) patients. This included two drug related deaths related to neut ropenic sepsis and seven other patients with grade 4 granulocytopenia (<500/mm(3)). Liver dysfunction and hypotension were seen less often a nd were not dose limiting. Although the modest activity seen was compa rable to that of VP-16 (etoposide) as a single agent, the hematologic toxicity observed in this trial would likely preclude further trials o f VM-26 (teniposide) in advanced gastric cancer.