Favorable response to antigonadal therapy for a benign metastasizing leiomyoma.

Background: Benign metastasizing leiomyoma and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) both are characterized by abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle-like cells in the lung.

Case: A 32-year-old African woman with a diagnosis of LAM underwent myomectomy for uterine leiomyomas. An alternative diagnosis of benign metastasizing leiomyoma was made on repeat lung biopsy.

Vandetanib, designed to inhibit VEGFR2 and EGFR signaling, had no clinical activity as monotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer and no detectable modulation of VEGFR2.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical activity and target modulation of vandetanib in women with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Experimental Design: A phase II trial of orally administered vandetanib 300 mg daily was designed to include analyses of target inhibition through paired biopsies and dynamic imaging. Core 18-gauge needle biopsies and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were obtained before initiation of therapy and 6 weeks into therapy.

A phase I study of paclitaxel and continuous daily CAI in patients with refractory solid tumors.

Background: Carboxyamido-triazole (CAI) is a calcium influx inhibitor with anti-angiogenic and anti-invasive properties and stabilizes tumor progression in patients. We hypothesized daily oral micronized CAI with q3 week paclitaxel would be well-tolerated and active.

Results: Twenty-nine heavily pretreated patients [median 3 [0-7]] were enrolled on five dose levels.

Combination targeted therapy with sorafenib and bevacizumab results in enhanced toxicity and antitumor activity.

Purpose: Sorafenib inhibits Raf kinase and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeted against VEGF. We hypothesized that the complementary inhibition of VEGF signaling would have synergistic therapeutic effects.

Pilot study of vaccination with recombinant CEA-MUC-1-TRICOM poxviral-based vaccines in patients with metastatic carcinoma.

Purpose: Poxviral vectors have a proven safety record and can be used to incorporate multiple transgenes. Prior clinical trials with poxviral vaccines have shown that immunologic tolerance to self-antigens can be broken. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and MUC-1 are overexpressed in a substantial proportion of common solid carcinomas.

Lack of reliability of CA125 response criteria with anti-VEGF molecularly targeted therapy.

Background: CA125 is an accepted indicator of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) response and is used to monitor patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. It is uncertain how CA125 is affected by molecularly targeted drugs. In this pilot study, the authors analyzed the utility of CA125 to predict disease behavior in patients who were receiving sorafenib, a Raf-kinase/VEGFR2 inhibitor, and bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody.

A prospective analysis of imatinib-induced c-KIT modulation in ovarian cancer: a phase II clinical study with proteomic profiling.

Background: c-Kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) are potential molecular targets in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Imatinib inhibits the kinase domain and subsequent downstream signaling of these receptor tyrosine kinases. The objective of this study was to investigate biochemical and biologic effects of imatinib on EOC.

Phase I clinical trial of oral 2-methoxyestradiol, an antiangiogenic and apoptotic agent, in patients with solid tumors.

Purpose: To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity profile of the novel anticancer agent, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) administered orally, in patients with solid tumors.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients with refractory solid tumors were enrolled. 2ME2 was given orally starting at 400 mg bid with dose escalation until 3000 mg bid.