Gianni Bisogno1, Andrea Ferrari2, Arianna Tagarelli3, Silvia Sorbara3, Stefano Chiaravalli2, Elena Poli1, Giovanni Scarzello4, Federica De Corti5, Michela Casanova2, Maria Carmen Affinita3. 1. Maternal and Child Health Department, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy. 2. Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy. 3. Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Division, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy. 4. Radiotherapy Division, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padua, Italy. 5. Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Irinotecan is a drug active against pediatric sarcomas with a toxicity profile that theoretically allows for its association with more myelotoxic drugs. We examined the feasibility of a dose-density strategy integrating irinotecan in standard chemotherapy regimens for patients with high-risk sarcomas. METHODS: Between November 2013 and January 2020, 23 patients ≤25 years old were included in the study. Eleven patients newly diagnosed with metastatic disease received nine cycles of IrIVA (irinotecan-ifosfamide-vincristine-actinomycin D; ifosfamide 3 g/m2 on days 1 and 2, vincristine 1.5 mg/m2 on day 1, actinomycin D 1.5 mg/m2 on day 1, irinotecan 20 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days starting on day 8) as first-line therapy. Two relapsed patients received IrIVA and 10 IrVAC (irinotecan-vincristine-actinomycin D-cyclophosphamide; cyclophosphamide 1.5 g/m2 on day 1 instead of ifosfamide). Feasibility was assessed in terms of toxicity and time to complete the treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen rhabdomyosarcomas, four Ewing sarcomas, two desmoplastic small round cell tumors received a total of 181 cycles (range 2-10). Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 62.4% of the cycles. Thirteen patients had febrile neutropenia. Diarrhea occurred in 14 cycles. The median time to complete the treatment was 195 days (range 170-231), 83.4% of cycles were administered on time or with a delay <1 week. With a median follow-up of 2.6 years (range 0.2-5.0), 12 patients are alive, nine complete remissions, three with the disease. CONCLUSIONS: A dose-density strategy combining irinotecan with standard chemotherapy is feasible. This approach will be investigated in the next trial coordinated by the European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group.
BACKGROUND: Irinotecan is a drug active against pediatric sarcomas with a toxicity profile that theoretically allows for its association with more myelotoxic drugs. We examined the feasibility of a dose-density strategy integrating irinotecan in standard chemotherapy regimens for patients with high-risk sarcomas. METHODS: Between November 2013 and January 2020, 23 patients ≤25 years old were included in the study. Eleven patients newly diagnosed with metastatic disease received nine cycles of IrIVA (irinotecan-ifosfamide-vincristine-actinomycin D; ifosfamide 3 g/m2 on days 1 and 2, vincristine 1.5 mg/m2 on day 1, actinomycin D 1.5 mg/m2 on day 1, irinotecan 20 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days starting on day 8) as first-line therapy. Two relapsed patients received IrIVA and 10 IrVAC (irinotecan-vincristine-actinomycin D-cyclophosphamide; cyclophosphamide 1.5 g/m2 on day 1 instead of ifosfamide). Feasibility was assessed in terms of toxicity and time to complete the treatment. RESULTS: Seventeen rhabdomyosarcomas, four Ewing sarcomas, two desmoplastic small round cell tumors received a total of 181 cycles (range 2-10). Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 62.4% of the cycles. Thirteen patients had febrile neutropenia. Diarrhea occurred in 14 cycles. The median time to complete the treatment was 195 days (range 170-231), 83.4% of cycles were administered on time or with a delay <1 week. With a median follow-up of 2.6 years (range 0.2-5.0), 12 patients are alive, nine complete remissions, three with the disease. CONCLUSIONS: A dose-density strategy combining irinotecan with standard chemotherapy is feasible. This approach will be investigated in the next trial coordinated by the European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group.