Low-dose decitabine-based chemoimmunotherapy for patients with refractory advanced solid tumors: a phase I/II report

J Immunol Res. 2014:2014:371087. doi: 10.1155/2014/371087. Epub 2014 May 21.

Abstract

Aberrant DNA methylation is one of the main drivers of tumor initiation and progression. The reversibility of methylation modulation makes it an attractive target for novel anticancer therapies. Clinical studies have demonstrated that high-dose decitabine, a hypomethylating agent, results in some clinical benefits in patients with refractory advanced tumors; however, they are extremely toxic. Low doses of decitabine minimize toxicity while potentially improving the targeted effects of DNA hypomethylation. Based on these mechanisms, low-dose decitabine combined with chemoimmunotherapy may be a new treatment option for patients with refractory advanced tumors. We proposed the regimen of low-dose decitabine-based chemoimmunotherapy for patients with refractory advanced solid tumors. A favorable adverse event profile was observed in our trial that was highlighted by the finding that most of these adverse events were grades 1-2. Besides, the activity of our cohort was optimistic and the clinical benefit rate was up to 60%, and the median PFS was prolonged compared with PFS to previous treatment. We also identified a significant correlation between the PFS to previous treatment and clinical response. The low-dose DAC decitabine-based chemoimmunotherapy might be a promising protocol for improving the specificity and efficiency of patients with refractory advanced solid tumors. This trial is registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database (identifier NCT01799083).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Azacitidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Azacitidine / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma / immunology
  • Carcinoma / mortality
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods*
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • DNA Modification Methylases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Decitabine
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Doxorubicin
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / transplantation
  • Lymphoma / immunology
  • Lymphoma / mortality
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / immunology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Prednisone
  • Prospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vincristine

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Vincristine
  • Decitabine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • Azacitidine
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • CHOP protocol

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01799083