Phase II study of fulvestrant 250 mg/month in patients with recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer: A study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie

• Published in: Gynecologic oncology 2013-06, Vol.129 (3), p.495-499
• Main Authors: Emons, Günter, Günthert, Andreas, Thiel, Falk C, Camara, Oumar, Strauss, Hans-Georg, Breitbach, Georg-Peter, Kölbl, Heinz, Reimer, Toralf, Finas, Dominique, Rensing, Klaus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal - adverse effects; Drug Administration Schedule; Endometrial Neoplasms - drug therapy; Endometrial Neoplasms - metabolism; Endometrial Neoplasms - pathology; Estradiol - administration & dosage; Estradiol - adverse effects; Estradiol - analogs & derivatives; Estrogen Antagonists - administration & dosage; Estrogen Antagonists - adverse effects; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - drug therapy; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - metabolism; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Receptors, Estrogen - biosynthesis; Receptors, Progesterone - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0090-8258; 1095-6859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.02.039

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the activity and toxicity of fulvestrant, a pure estrogen receptor antagonist in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, expressing estrogen and/or progesterone receptors (ER/PR). Methods Eligible patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer not amenable to curative surgery and/or radiotherapy were treated with fulvestrant at a dose of 250 mg by IM injection every 4 weeks for at least 12 weeks. Therapy was continued until disease progression, death, intolerable side effects or end of study. Response was assessed in patients with at least one target lesion according to WHO-criteria. Results Thirty-five patients were enrolled in this study and received at least one injection of fulvestrant (intention to treat-population, ITT). Twenty six patients received the intended 3 injections of fulvestrant (per protocol population, PP). There was no complete response but 4 partial responses (11.4% ITT) and 8 stable diseases. The median time to progression was 2.3 months (ITT). Overall survival was 13.2 months (ITT). Treatment was well tolerated. Conclusions Fulvestrant at a dose of 250 mg IM every 4 weeks has marginal activity and good tolerability in patients with ER and/or PR positive advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. A loading dose strategy and the use of 500 mg/4 weeks might improve the efficacy of this treatment.