Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the management of ovarian cancer

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Abstract

Among the pharmaceutical options available for treatment of ovarian cancer, much attention has been progressively focused on pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), whose unique formulation, which entraps conventional doxorubicin in a bilayer lipidic sphere surrounded by a polyethylene glycol layer, prolongs the persistence of the drug in the circulation and potentiates intratumor drug accumulation. These properties enable this drug to sustain its very favorable toxicity profile and to be used safely in combination with other drugs. PLD has been already approved for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer patients failing first-line platinum-based treatment. Moreover, phase III trials have been already completed, and results are eagerly awaited, which hopefully will expand the range of PLD clinical application in this neoplasia both in front-line treatment, and in the salvage setting in combination with other drugs. Moreover, attempts are continuing to enable this drug to be combined with novel cytotoxic drugs and target-based agents. This review aims at summarizing the available evidence and the new perspectives for the clinical role of PLD in the management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Most cited references 91

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Prolonged circulation time and enhanced accumulation in malignant exudates of doxorubicin encapsulated in polyethylene-glycol coated liposomes.

A. Gabizon, R Catane, B. Uziely … (1994)

In preclinical studies, a doxorubicin liposome formulation containing polyethylene-glycol (Doxil) shows a long circulation time in plasma, enhanced accumulation in murine tumors, and a superior therapeutic activity over free (unencapsulated) doxorubicin (DOX). The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of Doxil in cancer patients in comparison with free DOX and examine its accumulation in malignant effusions. The pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin and/or liposome-associated doxorubicin were analyzed in seven patients after injections of equivalent doses of free DOX and Doxil and in an additional group of nine patients after injection of Doxil only. Two dose levels were examined, 25 and 50 mg/m2. When possible, drug levels were also measured in malignant effusions. The plasma elimination of Doxil followed a biexponential curve with half-lives of 2 and 45 h (median values), most of the dose being cleared from plasma under the longer half-life. Nearly 100% of the drug detected in plasma after Doxil injection was in liposome-encapsulated form. A slow plasma clearance (0.1 liter/h for Doxil versus 45 liters/h for free DOX) and a small volume of distribution (4 liters for Doxil versus 254 liters for free DOX) are characteristic of Doxil. Doxorubicin metabolites were detected in the urine of Doxil-treated patients with a pattern similar to that reported for free DOX, although the overall urinary excretion of drug and metabolites was significantly reduced. Doxil treatment resulted in a 4- to 16-fold enhancement of drug levels in malignant effusions, peaking between 3 to 7 days after injection. Stomatitis related to Doxil occurred in 5 of 15 evaluable patients and appears to be the most significant side effect in heavily pretreated patients. The results of this study are consistent with preclinical findings indicating that the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin are drastically altered using Doxil and follow a pattern dictated by the liposome carrier. The enhanced drug accumulation in malignant effusions is apparently related to liposome longevity in circulation. Further clinical investigation is needed to establish the relevance of these findings with regard to the ability of liposomes to modify the delivery of doxorubicin to solid tumors and its pattern of antitumor activity.

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Paclitaxel plus platinum-based chemotherapy versus conventional platinum-based chemotherapy in women with relapsed ovarian cancer: the ICON4/AGO-OVAR-2.2 trial.

M Parmar, J A Ledermann, N Colombo … (2003)

Despite improvements in the treatment of ovarian cancer, most patients develop recurrent disease within 3 years of diagnosis. There is no agreed second-line treatment at relapse. We assessed paclitaxel plus platinum chemotherapy as such treatment. In parallel international, multicentre, randomised trials, between January, 1996, and March, 2002, 802 patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer relapsing after 6 months of being treatment-free were enrolled from 119 hospitals in five countries. Patients were randomly assigned paclitaxel plus platinum chemotherapy or conventional platinum-based chemotherapy. Analysis was by intention to treat, except for toxic effects. With a median follow-up of 42 months, 530 patients have died. Survival curves showed a difference in favour of paclitaxel plus platinum (hazard ratio 0.82 [95% CI 0.69-0.97], p=0.02), corresponding to an absolute difference in 2-year survival of 7% between the paclitaxel and conventional treatment groups (57 vs 50% [95% CI for difference 1-12]), and median survival of 5 months (29 vs 24 months [1-11). 717 patients developed progressive disease or died. The progression-free survival curves show a difference in favour of paclitaxel plus platinum (hazard ratio 0.76 [0.66-0.89], p=0.0004), corresponding to an absolute difference in 1-year progression-free survival of 10% (50 vs 40% [4-15]) and in median progression-free survival of 3 months (13 vs 10 months [1-5]). Paclitaxel plus platinum chemotherapy seems to improve survival and progression-free survival among patients with relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer compared with conventional platinum-based chemotherapy.

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Recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma: a randomized phase III study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin versus topotecan.

J Fleagle, Richard M Gore, H. A. Gordon … (2001)

To compare the efficacy and safety of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and topotecan in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma that recurred after or didn't respond to first-line, platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with measurable and assessable disease were randomized to receive either PLD 50 mg/m(2) as a 1-hour infusion every 4 weeks or topotecan 1.5 mg/m(2)/d for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks. Patients were stratified prospectively for platinum sensitivity and for the presence or absence of bulky disease. A total of 474 patients were treated (239 PLD and 235 topotecan). They comprised the intent-to-treat population. The overall progression-free survival rates were similar between the two arms (P =.095). The overall response rates for PLD and topotecan were 19.7% and 17.0%, respectively (P =.390). Median overall survival times were 60 weeks for PLD and 56.7 weeks for topotecan. Data analyzed in platinum-sensitive patients demonstrated a statistically significant benefit from PLD for progression-free survival (P =.037), with medians of 28.9 for PLD versus 23.3 weeks for topotecan. For overall survival, PLD was significantly superior to topotecan (P =.008), with a median of 108 weeks versus 71.1 weeks. The platinum-refractory subgroup demonstrated a nonstatistically significant survival trend in favor of topotecan (P =.455). Severe hematologic toxicity was more common with topotecan and was more likely to be associated with dosage modification, or growth factor or blood product utilization. The comparable efficacy, favorable safety profile, and convenient dosing support the role of PLD as a valuable treatment option in this patient population.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Ther Clin Risk Manag

Journal ID (publisher-id): Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management

Title: Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management

Publisher: Dove Medical Press

ISSN (Print): 1176-6336

ISSN (Electronic): 1178-203X

Publication date (Electronic): 5 October 2010

Publication date Collection: 2010

Publication date (Print): 2010

Volume: 6

Pages: 463-483

Affiliations

[1 ] Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Catholic, University of Campobasso, Campobasso, Italy

[2 ] Gynecologic, Oncology Unit, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy

[3 ] Salvatore Pisconti, Oncology Unit, Taranto, Hospital, Taranto, Italy

Author notes

Correspondence: Gabriella Ferrandina Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Catholic University, L.go A. Gemelli 1, 86100, Campobasso, Italy Tel/Fax +39-0874-312549 Email gabriella.ferrandina@ 123456libero.it

Article

Publisher ID: tcrm-6-463

DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S3348

PMC ID: 2952486

PubMed ID: 20957139

SO-VID: af41cd28-9380-4a4e-85e6-0a9dfcefba09

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This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the management of ovarian cancer

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Abstract

Most cited references 91

Prolonged circulation time and enhanced accumulation in malignant exudates of doxorubicin encapsulated in polyethylene-glycol coated liposomes.

Paclitaxel plus platinum-based chemotherapy versus conventional platinum-based chemotherapy in women with relapsed ovarian cancer: the ICON4/AGO-OVAR-2.2 trial.

Recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma: a randomized phase III study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin versus topotecan.

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