nab-Paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors and hepatic dysfunction: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: This pilot open-label clinical study evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in patients with advanced solid tumors and hepatic dysfunction.

Research design/methods: Dosing was determined according to baseline bilirubin levels as described in the package insert for Taxol^® (paclitaxel), and patients received 130, 200 or 260 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel every 3 weeks.

Results: Thirty patients with elevated baseline bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase levels received nab-paclitaxel. The most commonly-occurring grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia and fatigue. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 10, 30 and 30% of patients receiving 130, 200 and 260 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel, respectively. Grade 3 fatigue presented in 50 and 30% patients receiving 130 and 200 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel, respectively (no grade 4 event). Only one (10%) patient had a grade 3 sensory neuropathy in the 260 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel arm. Treatment-related grade 3 bilirubinemia and elevated aspartate aminotransferase was observed in patients receiving 130 mg/m² (30 and 10%, respectively) and 260 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel (20 and 10%, respectively). One patient had a grade 4 bilirubinemia in the 200 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel arm. Total bilirubin levels were inversely correlated to paclitaxel clearance (p < 0001).

Conclusions: nab-Paclitaxel has an acceptable tolerability profile in patients with solid tumors and hepatic dysfunction. The safety and pharmacokinetic results support the same dose modification scheme recommended for cremophor-based paclitaxel.

Keywords::

• clinical study
• hepatic impairment
• nab-paclitaxel
• solid tumors

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank DV Kirsanov for his contribution in data collection and patient care.