Background: Ecteinascidin-743 (ET743) is a novel antitumour agent originating from the Caribbean tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. It has potent cytotoxic and antitumour activity and a potential new mechanism of action. The aim of the present study was to further explore the antitumour activity of ET743 in human tumour xenografts from melanoma, non-small-cell lung and ovarian cancer.
Design: As the antitumour profile of ET743 was largely unknown a chemo-sensitive and a marginal chemo-resistant human tumour xenograft were selected for each tumour type. ET743 was administered intravenously using two administration schedules (days 0, 4, 8 and 0-2, 13-15).
Results: ET743 was very active at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in the chemo-sensitive xenograft melanoma MEXF 989, non-small-cell lung cancer LXFL 529, and ovarian cancers HOC22 and (marginally resistant to cisplatin) HOC18. Activity was also seen at 1/2 MTD. Apart from HOC18, ET743 caused complete remissions in the responding xenografts. The compound was inactive in the chemo-resistant xenograft melanoma MEXF 514 and non-small-cell lung cancer LXFA 629. In terms of antitumour activity the days 0, 4, 8 schedule had advantages over the days 0-2, 13-15 schedule.
Conclusions: ET743 is a very effective agent in chemo-sensitive and marginal chemo-resistant xenografts, but inactive in chemo-resistant tumour xenografts. The activity of ET743 in the marginally cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer HOC18 might indicate absence or incomplete cross-resistance against cisplatin. It is recommended to include melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer in phase II clinical trials and to use an intermittent schedule.