Phase II Study of ET-743 Given as a Three Hour Intravenous Infusion in Patients With Advanced and/or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma Previously Treated With Chemotherapy

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the rate of clinical benefit, in terms of the incidence of objective partial and complete response, stable disease, or minor response of more than 3 months duration, in patients with previously treated, unresectable advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma treated with ecteinascidin 743. II. Determine the progression-free survival, overall survival, and response duration in patients treated with this drug. III. Determine the toxicity profile of this drug in these patients. IV. Determine the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship of this drug in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to number of prior cytotoxic therapies for advanced disease (1-2 vs more than 2). Patients receive ecteinascidin 743 IV over 3 hours on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for at least 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 36-76 patients (18-38 per stratum) will be accrued for this study within 13 months.