PHASE-II TRIAL OF GALLIUM NITRATE IN PREVIOUSLY TREATED PATIENTS WITH SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER

Gallium nitrate is a group IIIa metal that was found to be active in animal species [1]. Gallium nitrate exerts its antitumor effects via a transferrin binding mechanism [2]. This agent is of interest in small cell lung cancer since 26 of 27 small cell carcinoma cell lines tested had increased levels of transferrin receptors [3]. In a phase I study using a continuous infusion, the dose limiting toxicity was nausea when gallium nitrate was given at doses of 400 mg/m2/day. Other effects included elevations of serum creatinine, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, decreased hearing and paresthesias [4]. Activity has been seen in pretreated patients with malignant lymphoma, bladder carcinoma and small numbers of patients with small cell lung carcinoma [4, 5]. To determine the activity of continuous infusion gallium nitrate, this phase II trial was undertaken in patients with small cell lung cancer previously treated with chemotherapy.