A Phase I Study of SU5416, an Antiangiogenesis Agent, in Combination With Carboplatin in Patients With Platinum-Refractory Ovarian Cancer

SU5416, a novel antiangiogenesis agent, has been shown to be a potent and selective inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of FlK-1 (a downstream effector of VEGF) in vitro and to inhibit the growth of endothelial cells. Since VEGF mRNA levels and vessel counts in tumor tissues have been shown to be inversely related to prognosis in ovarian cancer, SU5416 may prove to be a useful agent in this disease. Platinum agents currently provide the most effective treatment for ovarian cancer. However, ovarian cancer often becomes refractory to platinum therapy, leaving the patient with a poor prognosis. This is a phase I study designed to: a) determine a dose level of carboplatin to use in combination with an established dose of SU5416 for treatment of patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer, b) assess the side effect profile of SU5416 and carboplatin combination therapy, c) characterize any alterations in SU5416 pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters when given in combination with carboplatin, d) characterize carboplatin pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters when given in combination with SU5416, e) do exploratory studies to assess the effect of SU5416 on platinum-DNA adduct levels, f) do exploratory studies to assess any alterations in ERCC1 mRNA levels when carboplatin is administered with SU5416, and g) obtain preliminary evidence of the ability of SU5416 to reverse platinum resistance in patients with platinum-refractory ovarian carcinoma.