Patent Abstract:
10 - hydroxy 7 - ethyl camptothecin , an active metabolite of the camptothecin analog cpt - 11 , is poorly soluble in water . because of its poor water solubility , hecpt has not been directly administered by parenteral or oral routes in human patients for the purpose of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells . there is also unpredictable interpatient variability in the metabolic production of hecpt from cpt - 11 which limits the utility of cpt - 11 . this invention overcomes these limitations by teaching novel pharmaceutically acceptable lactone stable hecpt formulations for the direct administration of hecpt . the claimed invention also describes novel dosages , schedules , and routes of administration of the lactone stable hecpt formulations to patients with various forms of cancer .

Detailed Description:
in its preferred embodiments , this invention involves preparation and administration of novel lactone stable hecpt formulations as described below . the following examples illustrate selected modes for carrying out the claimed invention and are not to be construed as limiting the specification and claims in any way . for injection or infusion into aqueous body fluids , a formulation comprises from about 0 . 1 to about 2 . 0 mg of hecpt dissolved in 1 to 10 parts of dimethylisosorbide in an acidified vehicle comprising between about 10 to about 40 percent of an acceptable alcohol , about 4 to about 10 parts by weight of polyether glycol , and about 1 to about 10 parts of a non - ionic surfactant . suitable alcohols include dehydrated ethyl alcohol , benzyl alcohol . suitable polyether glycols , include polyethylene glycol 200 , polyethylene glycol 300 , propylene glycol . suitable non - ionic surfactants include polysorbate - 80 . in a preferred embodiment , the formulation of hecpt is supplied as an intravenous injectable in a 1 mg vial comprising a sterile , nonaqueous solution of drug in a vehicle comprising dehydrated ethyl alcohol , benzyl alcohol , citric acid , polyethylene glycol 300 , and polysorbate ( tween 80 ) in acidified medium with a ph of 3 to 4 at a final concentration of 1 mg per 1 to 2 ml . a second formulation comprises from about 0 . 1 mg to about 2 . 0 mg of hecpt in an acidified vehicle comprising between about 0 . 1 to 2 parts of an alcohol and about 1 to 10 parts of a non - ionic surfactant . suitable alcohols include dehydrated ethyl alcohol usp , and benzyl alcohol . suitable non - ionic surfactants include the polyoxyethylated oils , such as polyoxyethylated vegetable oils , such as castor oil , peanut oil , and olive oil . in a preferred embodiment 0 . 1 mg to 2 mg hecpt is formulated in 1 to 10 parts of dimethylisosorbide , 1 to 10 parts of cremaphor el ( polyoxyethylated castor oil ), 0 . 1 to 2 parts by weight dehydrated ethyl alcohol usp , and 0 . 1 to 0 . 9 parts citric acid to adjust the final ph between 3 to 4 . an oral formulation of hecpt in soft gelatin capsules ( comprised of gelatin / glycerin / sorbitol / purifiers / purified water ) containing 1 . 0 part of hecpt in 1 to 10 parts of dimethylisosorbide , citric acid 0 . 1 to 0 . 5 parts by weight , purified water 1 part by weight , glycerin 1 to 10 parts by weight , and polyethylene glycol 200 to 300 5 to 9 parts by weight , dehydrated ethyl alcohol 0 . 2 to 2 parts by weight of total solution weight , sodium acetate 0 . 05 to 0 . 5 parts by weight , pluronic f - 127 poloxamer using 0 . 05 to 1 . 0 parts by weight , and taurocholic acid 2 to 10 parts by weight . the soft gelatin capsules may also be composed of any of a number of compounds used for this purpose including , for example , a mixture of gelatin , glycerin , sorbitol , purified water , and parabens . to prolong the stability and solubility of hecpt for clinical infusions , the drug may diluted in 5 % dextrose in water ( d5w ) to a final concentration of 0 . 001 mg / ml to about 0 . 1 mg / ml of hecpt prior to injection or infusion . maintaining an acidic ph ( 3 to 4 ) in the formulation is particularly important to reduce the slow conversion of hecpt lactone to the e - ring - hydrolyzed carboxylate , which occurs at physiological ph . at equilibrium under physiologic ph , the ratio of the open - ring form to lactone increases . hydrolysis of the lactone ring will be substantially reduced if the drug is kept in an acidic environment . some of the unpredictable toxicity seen in earlier clinical trials using sodium camptothecin may have been due to the formation of greater amounts of the lactone form of camptothecin , which is 10 - fold more toxic than sodium camptothecin in mice . the lactone form of camptothecin , as in hecpt , is less water soluble than the carboxylate e - ring form . when early clinical trials were first conducted with camptothecin using naoh , the significance of maintaining the closed lactone ring for uniform efficacy in treating patients with cancer was poorly understood . the early reported unpredictable clinical toxicities associated with camptothecin administration may have been exacerbated by the naoh formulation which promotes the formation of the carboxylate form , and by the relative lack of understanding of the significance of the lactone form of camptothecin as it relates to antitumor activity . the foregoing description of the formulation invention has been directed to particular preferred embodiments in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes and for purposes of explanation and illustration . those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention . initially , patients may be treated in a dose escalation protocol to determine the maximal tolerated dose of the hecpt formulation . in determining a safe starting dose for hecpt , the data from tables 3 and 4 are helpful . for the purpose of this invention , &# 34 ; auc &# 34 ; is defined as &# 34 ; area under the curve &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; cpmax &# 34 ; is defined as &# 34 ; the maximum plasma concentrate at the end of i . v . infusion .&# 34 ; table 3__________________________________________________________________________analysis of auc and cpmax ratios of cpt - 11 : hecpt auc cpmax cpt - 11 auc ratio auc cpt - cpmax ratio ( ug × hecpt cpt - 11 : hecpt cpt hr / ml ) ( ug × hr / ml ) 11 / hecpt ( ug / ml ) 11 : hecpt__________________________________________________________________________ohe et al . 25 mg / m . sup . 2 / d × 5 14 . 1 1 . 08 13 . 0 1 . 178 : 0 . 0104 11 . 3 : 130 mg / m . sup . 2 / d × 5 20 . 5 0 . 96 21 . 3 1 . 500 : 0 . 0105 14 . 2 : 135 mg / m . sup . 2 / d × 5 20 . 5 0 . 91 22 . 5 1 . 538 : 0 . 0068 22 . 6 : 140 mg / m . sup . 2 / d × 5 28 . 5 0 . 86 33 . 1 2 . 043 : 0 . 0080 25 . 5 : 1rothenberg et al . 50 mg / m . sup . 2 / wk × 4 1 . 13 0 . 0622 18 . 1 0 . 89 : 0 . 0264 33 . 7 : 1100 mg / m . sup . 2 / wk × 4 2 . 23 0 . 2148 10 . 4 1 . 29 : 0 . 0316 98 . 0 : 1125 mg / m . sup . 2 / wk × 4 2 . 97 0 . 1955 15 . 2 1 . 70 : 0 . 0393 43 . 2 : 1150 mg / m . sup . 2 / wk × 4 2 . 81 0 . 1232 22 . 8 1 . 56 : 0 . 0367 42 . 5 : 1180 mg / m . sup . 2 / wk × 4 3 . 83 0 . 2328 16 . 5 1 . 97 : 0 . 0262 75 . 2 : 1__________________________________________________________________________ table 4______________________________________fractional amounts of lactone species of cpt - 11 and hecpt asfunction of increasing single dose i . v . from rothenberg et . al . cpt - 11 hecpt cpt - 11 hecpt cpmax cpmaxdose auc based auc based based based______________________________________ 50 mg / m . sup . 2 0 . 41 0 . 29 0 . 51 0 . 50 80 mg / m . sup . 2 0 . 30 0 . 50 0 . 44 0 . 39100 mg / m . sup . 2 0 . 33 0 . 58 0 . 53 0 . 45125 mg / m . sup . 2 0 . 39 0 . 43 0 . 55 0 . 41150 mg / m . sup . 2 0 . 33 0 . 30 0 . 42 0 . 36180 mg / m . sup . 2 0 . 33 0 . 63 0 . 42 0 . 45______________________________________ data obtained using the continuous infusion schedule of ohe et al . shows that the ratio cpt - 11 to hecpt aucs increases gradually as a function of dose and that this increase is substantially more marked in a single dose study . the data in table 3 supports the conclusion that conversion of cpt - 11 to hecpt is a saturable process which is variable among patients , and that increases in the dose ( e . g ., above 30 mg / m 2 / d ) of cpt - 11 can result in a decrease in the cpmax of hecpt using a 5 day continuous infusion schedule . although the factors involved in interpatient variability is not completely understood , some variability in the pharmacology and metabolic conversion of cpt - 11 to hecpt probably exists based on the pharmacologic data reported from several investigators . this variability in the conversion of cpt - 11 to hecpt is likely to be a result in instances of unexpected toxicity or lack of clinical effect by the use of cpt - 11 . in table 4 , the overall fractional concentration of the lactone species of cpt - 11 and hecpt appear to remain fairly constant through a range of doses . the administration of hecpt may be carried out using various schedules and dosages . for example : 1 . for intravenous administration , a suitable dose is 0 . 45 mg to 5 . 4 mg / m 2 per day using a 3 to 5 day continuous infusion schedule every 21 to 30 days or 2 . 7 to 32 . 4 mg / m 2 given as a 30 to 90 minute infusion every 21 to 30 days . 2 . another schedule involves the administration of 1 . 2 to 15 . 5 mg / m 2 daily for three consecutive days over 90 minutes intravenously every 21 to 28 days . 3 . a suitable oral dose of the drug is 0 . 5 to 50 mg / m 2 per day using the lower dose for a period of 3 to 5 days and using divided dosages of administration of two to four times per day . the parenteral and oral doses can be administered under the supervision of a physician based on gradual escalation of the dosage to achieve the maximum tolerated dose in the individual patient . the oral administration schedule of hecpt may involve multiple daily doses or single daily doses for one or more consecutive days with the ability of the physician to optimize therapy by reaching the maximum effective antitumor dose that has the least toxicity in the individual patient . in addition , patients may be given the lactone stable hecpt as an inpatient or outpatient using the following exemplary schedules : 1 ) 2 . 7 to 32 . 4 mg / m 2 given over 90 minutes i . v . every 21 to 28 days ; 2 ) 1 . 2 to 15 . 5 mg / m 2 given daily for three consecutive days over 90 minutes i . v . every 21 to 28 days ; 3 ) 1 . 0 to 20 . 0 mg / m 2 week given once per week × 3 consecutive weeks over 90 minutes i . v . with 2 weeks rest after each 3 week cycle for pretreated patients ; 4 ) 2 . 25 to 24 . 3 mg / m 2 given once per week × 3 consecutive weeks over 90 minutes i . v . for previously untreated patients with 2 weeks rest after each 3 week cycle ; and 5 ) 0 . 45 to 5 . 4 mg / m 2 / d × 3 to 5 consecutive days as a continuous i . v . infusion every 21 to 28 days . in a preferred embodiment , hecpt is initially given at a lower dose . the dose of hecpt is then escalated at each successive cycle of treatment until the patient develops side effects which demonstrates individual therapeutic tolerance . the purpose of dose escalation is to safely increases the drug levels to a maximum tolerated dose and should result in increased cytotoxicity and improved antitumor activity . dosages can be escalated based on patient tolerance as long as unacceptable toxicity is not observed . &# 34 ; unacceptable toxicity &# 34 ; is defined by world health organization ( who ) as grade 3 non - hematologic toxicity excluding nausea and vomiting and grade 4 vomiting or hematologic toxicity according to the national cancer institute common toxicity criteria . since some clinical drug toxicity is anticipated in routine clinical oncology practice , appropriate treatment will be used to prevent toxicity ( e . g ., nausea and vomiting ) or ameliorate signs and symptoms if they are observed ( e . g ., diarrhea ). for example , antiemetics will be administered for nausea and vomiting , antidiarrheals for diarrhea , and antipyretics for fever . appropriate dosages of steroids / antihistamines will also be used to prevent or ameliorate any anaphylactoid toxicity if an anaphylactoid reaction is observed . kaneda &# 39 ; s hplc method and further modifications by barilero et al . are useful for the measuring quantities of hecpt in plasma and tissue . in these assays , plasma , serum , and tissue homogenate samples containing hecpt are immediately diluted 10 - fold with 0 . 1 n hcl to give final concentrations of about 100 ng / ml for hecpt . the diluted plasma or serum samples are applied to a c18 cassette of an automated sample processor ( analytichem international , harbor city , calif . ), which is activated with 1 . 5 ml of methanol and water . the hplc apparatus ( model lc - 4a ; shimadzu seisakusho ) is linked to the automated sample processor , and a c18 reversed - phase column ( lichrosorb rp - 18 ; 25 × 0 . 4 cm ; merck ) with an rp - 18 precolumn is used for chromatography . the mobile phases consists of ch 3 cn / water ( 1 / 4 , v / v ) for hecpt . the flow rate and column temperature are 2 . 0 ml / min and 60 degrees celsius for hecpt . a fluoro - spectromonitor ( model rf - 530 ; shimadzu seisakusho ) is set at an excitation wavelength of 373 nm and an emission wavelength of 380 nm and a wavelength of 540 nm for hecpt . the peak area is integrated by a data processor ( model c - r1bs chromatopac ; shimadzu seisakusho ). hecpt gives retention times of 13 . 8 min . calibration curves are established for each determination by 10 % mouse serum in 0 . 1 n hcl containing hecpt . validations of hecpt determinations will be made by running samples versus real standards . the limit of determination is about 1 to 5 ng for hecpt using this assay . the following references may facilitate understanding or practice of certain aspects of the present invention . inclusion of a reference in this list is not intended to and does not constitute an admission that the reference represents prior art with respect to the present invention . ______________________________________u . s . pat . no . ______________________________________4 , 545 , 880 10 / 85 miyasaka et al . 4 , 473 , 692 9 / 84 miyasaka et al . 4 , 778 , 891 10 / 88 tagawa et al . 5 , 061 , 800 10 / 91 miyasaka et al . ______________________________________ barilero et al ., simultaneous determination of the camptothecin analogue cpt - 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11 , a new derivative of camptothecin , for previously untreated small - cell lung cancer . j . clin . onc . 10 ( 1 ): 16 - 20 , 1992 . giovanella bc , et al ., dna topoisomerase i -- targeted chemotherapy of human colon cancer in xenografts . science 246 : 1046 - 1048 ; 1989 . hsiang et al ., arrest of replication forks by drug - stabilized topoisomerase i - dna cleavable complexes as a mechanism of cell killing by camptothecin analogues . cancer jaxel , c . et al ., structure activity study of the actions of camptothecin derivatives on mammalian topoisomerase i : evidence for a specific receptor site and a relation to antitumor activity . cancer res . 49 : 1465 - 1469 , 1989 . kaneda , n . et al ., metabolism and pharmacokinetics of the camptothecin analogue cpt - 11 in the mouse . cancer research 50 : 1715 - 1720 , 1990 . kano y , et al ., effects of cpt - 11 in combination with other anti - cancer agents in culture . int . j . cancer 50 : 604 - 610 ; 1992 . kanzawa f , et al ., role of carboxylesterase on metabolism of camptothecin analog ( cpt - 11 ) in non - small cell lung cancer cell line pc - 7 cells ( meeting abstract ). proc . annual meet . am . assoc . cancer res . 33 : a2552 ; 1992 . kawato , y . et al ., intracellular roles of hecpt , a metabolite of the camptothecin derivative cpt - 11 , in the antitumor effect of cpt - 11 . cancer res . 51 : 4187 - 4191 , 1991 . kunimoto , t . et al ., antitumor activity of 7 - ethyl - 10 -[ 4 -( 1 - piperidino )- 1 - piperidino ] carbonyloxy - camptothecin , a novel water soluble derivative of camptothecin against murine tumors . cancer res . 47 : 5944 - 5947 , 1987 . malone et al ., desoxycholic acid enhancement of orally administered reserpine . journal of pharmaceutical sciences , 55 : 972 - 974 ( 1966 ). masuda , n . et al ., cpt - 11 : a new derivative of camptothecin for the treatment of refractory or relapsed small - cell lung cancer . j . clin . onc . 10 ( 8 ): 1225 - 1229 1992 . negoro , s . et al ., phase i study of weekly intravenous infusions of cpt - 11 , a new derivative of camptothecin , in the treatment of advanced non - 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11 in patients with refractory solid tumors . amer . soc . clin . onc . 11 : 113 , 1992 . rothenberg , m . l ., kuhn , j . g ., burris , h . a ., nelson , j ., eckardt , j . r ., tristan - morales , m ., hilsenbeck , s . g ., weiss , g . r ., smith , l . s ., rodriguez , g . i ., rock , m . k ., von hoff , d . d . phase i and pharmacokinetic trial of weekly cpt - 11 . journal of clinical oncology . 11 : 2194 - 2204 ( 1993 ). rowinsky , e . et al ., phase i pharmacologic study of cpt - 11 , a semisynthetic topoisomerase i - targeting agent , on a single - dose schedule ( meeting abstract ). proc . of amer . soc . clin . onc . 11 : 115 , 1992 . sawada s . et al ., synthesis and antitumor activity of 20 ( s ) - camptothecin derivatives : carbonate - linked , water soluble , derivatives of 7 - ethyl - 10 - hydroxycamptothecin . chem . pharm . bull . 39 : 14446 - 1454 ; 1991 . shimada , y . et al ., phase ii study of cpt - 11 , new camptothecin derivative , in the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer . proc . of amer . soc . clin . onc . 10 : 135 , 1991 . takeuchi , s . et al ., late phase h study of cpt - 11 , a topoisomerase i inhibitor , in advanced cervical carcinoma ( cc ) ( meeting abstract ). proc . of amer . soc . clin . onc . 11 : 224 , 1992 . westergaard et al ., the mechanism whereby bile acid mycelles increase the rate of fatty acid and cholesterol uptake into the intestinal mucosal cell . journal of clinical investigation , 58 : 97 - 108 ( 1976 )). the foregoing description has been directed to particular embodiments of the invention in accordance with requirements of the patent statutes for the purposes of illustration and explanation . it will be apparent , however , to those skilled in this art , that many modifications , changes and variations in the claimed antitumor compositions , solutions , methods of administration of the antitumor compositions set forth will be possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention . it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such modifications and changes .