Phase 2 open-label study of weekly docosahexaenoic acid-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma

Jade Homsi, Agop Y. Bedikian, Nicholas E. Papadopoulos, Kevin B. Kim, Wen Jen Hwu, Sandy L. Mahoney, Patrick Hwu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-paclitaxel is a taxane with a unique pharmacokinetic profile. We investigated the safety and response rate of DHA-paclitaxel weekly in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Chemotherapy-naive and previously treated patients were eligible for this open-label phase II study. DHA-paclitaxel (500mg/m/week) was administered by a 1-hour intravenous infusion for five consecutive weeks in a 6-weeks cycle. Response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors every 6 weeks. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. The patients' median age was 56 years (range: 33-79 years). Nine patients had a systemic therapy for metastatic disease earlier. The median number of treatment cycles was 1 (range 1-7 cycles). One chemonaive patient with liver metastases had partial response lasting for 5 months. Seven patients (32%) had stable disease with a median duration of 3 months (range: 3-7 months). The median overall survival was 9.8 months. Neutropenia (23%) and musculoskeletal pain (10%) were the most common grade 3 and grade 4 toxicities. As a single-agent therapy, DHA-paclitaxel is safe and well-tolerated in metastatic uveal melanoma patients. Its efficacy in this disease is limited with 32% of patients achieving stable disease. Further evaluation of DHA-paclitaxel in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents and/or targeted agents may improve its antitumor activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)507-510
Number of pages4
JournalMelanoma research
Volume20
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010

Keywords

  • chemotherapy
  • melanoma
  • paclitaxel
  • uveal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Cancer Research

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