Rm. Bukowski et al., PHASE-II TRIAL OF DIMETHYLTRIAZENOIMIDAZOLE CARBOXAMIDE IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC CARCINOID - A SOUTHWEST-ONCOLOGY-GROUP STUDY, Cancer, 73(5), 1994, pp. 1505-1508
Background. The use of chemotherapy in patients with metastatic carcin
oid tumors has been of limited value, and investigation of new agents
is necessary. Previous reports have suggested that dimethyltriazenoimi
dazole carboxamide (DTIC) may have antitumor activity. Methods. A Phas
e II trial to investigate the clinical response rate to DTIC in patien
ts with metastatic carcinoid tumors was performed. DTIC was administer
ed at low (650 mg/m(2)) or high (850 mg/m(2)) doses every 28 days. Res
ults. Sixty-three patients were entered into the study, and 56 were ev
aluable for toxicity and response. Toxicity was moderate, with the mos
t common side effect being nausea and vomiting (88%). Nine patients (1
6%; 95% confidence interval, 8-28%) had partial responses, 5 of 25 rec
eiving 850 mg/m(2) and 4 of 31 receiving 650 mg/m(2) of DTIC. Median s
urvival time of all patients was 20 months. Conclusions. DTIC has mini
mal activity in patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors.