A phase II trial evaluating two schedules of sagopilone (ZK-EPO), a novel epothilone, in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

Background: Sagopilone, the first fully synthetic epothilone, has shown promising preclinical activity in tumour models. This open-label randomised phase II study investigated two infusion schedules of sagopilone in women with ovarian cancer. Patients and methods: Women with ovarian cancer recurring within 6 months of end of last platinum-containing treatment received sagopilone 16 mg/m(2) as a 3- or 0.5-h i.v. infusion every 21 days for up to 6 weeks. Results: Sixty-three patients received sagopilone as a 3-h (n = 38) or 0.5-h (n = 25) infusion. There were nine confirmed tumour responses [by modified RECIST (n = 8) and by Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup CA-125 criteria (n = 1)] in 57 patients assessable for efficacy overall [three (13%) with 0.5-h and six (18%) with 3-h infusions]. The 0.5-h arm was closed when it failed to meet its target efficacy. Main drug-related adverse events were peripheral sensory neuropathy (73%; 16% grade 3), nausea (37%; 2% grade 3), fatigue (35%; 3% grade 3) and arthralgia (30%; 5% grade 3). Overall incidence of peripheral sensory neuropathy was similar in both treatment arms, with no grade 4 neuropathy events. No acute allergic infusion reactions were observed. Conclusion: Sagopilone is effective, with balanced tolerability, in patients with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.