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Erschienen in:
01.08.2011 | Original Article
A prospective phase II study of 2-methoxyestradiol administered in combination with bevacizumab in patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors
Erschienen in: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology | Ausgabe 2/2011
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Purpose
Angiogenesis inhibition has emerged as a potentially promising treatment strategy for neuroendocrine tumors. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2; Panzem®) is a natural derivative of estradiol with demonstrated anti-angiogenic activity in animal models. We performed a prospective, phase II study of 2ME2, administered in combination with bevacizumab, in patients with advanced carcinoid tumors.
Methods
Thirty-one patients with advanced carcinoid tumors were treated with 2ME2, administered orally at a dose of 1,000 mg four times daily. Patients also received bevacizumab 5 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks. Patients were observed for evidence of toxicity, tumor response, and survival.
Results
The combination of 2ME2 and bevacizumab was relatively easily tolerated and was associated with anticipated toxicities for these two agents. No confirmed radiologic responses (by RECIST) were observed. However, 68% of the radiologically evaluable patients experienced at least some degree of tumor reduction, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 11.3 months.
Conclusion
2ME2 and bevacizumab can be safely administered to patients with advanced carcinoid tumors. While major tumor regression was not observed with this regimen, the encouraging median progression-free survival time suggests that this regimen has some degree of antitumor activity and supports the further investigation of angiogenesis inhibitors in this disease.