Phase I trial of carboplatin and etoposide in combination with panobinostat in patients with lung cancer.

UNLABELLED: A phase I trial consisting of panobinostat (a HDAC inhibitor), carboplatin and etoposide was conducted in patients with lung cancer.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Patients received carboplatin AUC5 on day 1 and etoposide 100 mg/m(2) on days 1, 2 and 3, every 21 days. Concurrent oral panobinostat was given 3 times weekly on a 2-weeks-on and 1-week-off schedule during the 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy and then continued as maintenance therapy.

RESULTS

Six evaluable patients were treated at the first dose level of panobinostat (10 mg). Dose-limiting toxicity occurred in two patients (33%) during the first cycle. One patient developed grade 4 thrombocytopenia and another grade 4 febrile neutropenia. Therefore, the study was suspended based on the pre-specified study design. No recommended phase II starting dose was established.

CONCLUSION

The addition of panobinostat to carboplatin and etoposide was not tolerable at the lowest dose level tested in this trial. Further research and development into this combination is not recommended.