A phase II study of continuous infusion of trimetrexate in patients with refractory acute leukemia

Albert Kheradpour, Ellin Berman, Erdem Göker, James T. Lin, William P. Tong, Joseph R. Bertino

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Trimetrexate, a second-generation folate antagonist, is a potent inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase with a broader spectrum of activity and different mechanism of entry and intracellular accumulation than methotrexate. Six patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemia were treated with a 5-day continuous infusion of trimetrexate of 8 mg/m2 /day after an initial loading dose of 4 mg/m2 to achieve a target plasma concentration of 0.2-0.5 μM. In 4 patients with peripheral blasts at study entry, transient decrease or disappearance of blasts was observed, although no decrease of bone marrow blasts occurred. Mucositis was dose-limiting and severe in 4 patients. Neutrophil and platelet nadirs occurred on day 5-12 postinfusion. Because of dose-limiting mucositis, this dose schedule of trimetrexate is not recommended for further studies in refractory acute leukemia. However, other dose schedules (24- to 72-hr infusions) and its use as a modulating agent with thiopurines or leucovorin in patients that are resistant to methotrexate should be explored.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)36-40
Number of pages5
JournalCancer Investigation
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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