The phase II trial evaluates Cloretazine in two separate subpopulations of small cell lung cancer, sensitive relapsed disease and refractory disease. Sensitive relapsed disease is defined as relapse after three months of first-line therapy and refractory disease is defined as relapse within three months of first-line therapy.
Of the patients on the sensitive relapsed arm, there has been an overall response rate of 32%. Of those patients with refractory disease treated with Cloretazine, one patient achieved a partial response and three patients have demonstrated stable disease.
“Cloretazine has impressive activity to date in the second-line small cell lung cancer setting. These data provide a strong rationale for further study of this drug,” commented Dr Anthony Greco, director of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
Small cell lung cancer accounts for up to 20% of all lung cancer cases according to the American Cancer Society. It is an aggressive cancer that has a poor survival rate.