Zeniplatin in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, a phase II study with a third generation platinum complex

25 patients with residual or recurrent ovarian cancer were treated with the new platinum complex zeniplatin (CL 286,558) and 23 patients were evaluable for response. Responses were achieved in 4 patients, 1 complete and 3 partial remissions (16%). 7 patients had stable disease and 12 patients had tumour progression. At a median follow-up of 12 months, the median progression-free survival in responding patients was 11 months and overall survival 81%. The median overall survival of progressive patients amounted to 9 months, indicating the advanced stage of disease in most patients. Renal function was monitored by isotope clearance studies. There was no significant change in effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in 10 patients who completed six cycles of treatment. 1 patient with a marginal creatinine clearance at baseline suffered from sudden and severe renal failure during the first cycle. Zeniplatin may be active in relapsing, platinum-pretreated patients, and has no direct effects on renal function as measured by isotope clearance. Despite these findings, occasional nephrotoxicity may occur in patients with compromised kidney function, even with prophylactic hydration, and thus limit the application of this new analogue

Haematopoietic growth factors in oncology:Present and future

Hematopoietic growth factors are glycoproteins that play an essential role in hematopoiesis by regulating proliferation and differentiation of (hematopoietic) stem cells and more differentiated cells. After cloning of the genes for various hematopoietic growth factors their production could be scaled up with the help of recombinant DNA technology. The interest for the growth factors in oncology derives from the fact that these factors might have an antitumour effect and a stimulatory effect on hematopoiesis. This last aspect is relevant, as one of the most important side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs is meylosuppression. A number of these growth factors have already obtained a place in the teatment of patients with cancer. In the upcoming years a wealth of new data will become available concerning already known and new growth factors.</p

Haematopoietic growth factors in oncology:Present and future

Hematopoietic growth factors are glycoproteins that play an essential role in hematopoiesis by regulating proliferation and differentiation of (hematopoietic) stem cells and more differentiated cells. After cloning of the genes for various hematopoietic growth factors their production could be scaled up with the help of recombinant DNA technology. The interest for the growth factors in oncology derives from the fact that these factors might have an antitumour effect and a stimulatory effect on hematopoiesis. This last aspect is relevant, as one of the most important side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs is meylosuppression. A number of these growth factors have already obtained a place in the teatment of patients with cancer. In the upcoming years a wealth of new data will become available concerning already known and new growth factors.</p

Haematopoietic growth factors in oncology:Present and future

Hematopoietic growth factors are glycoproteins that play an essential role in hematopoiesis by regulating proliferation and differentiation of (hematopoietic) stem cells and more differentiated cells. After cloning of the genes for various hematopoietic growth factors their production could be scaled up with the help of recombinant DNA technology. The interest for the growth factors in oncology derives from the fact that these factors might have an antitumour effect and a stimulatory effect on hematopoiesis. This last aspect is relevant, as one of the most important side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs is meylosuppression. A number of these growth factors have already obtained a place in the teatment of patients with cancer. In the upcoming years a wealth of new data will become available concerning already known and new growth factors.</p