Nicole McMahon

Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

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Publications (3)14.16 Total impact

  • Article: Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, enhances the response of melanoma to regional chemotherapy.
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    ABSTRACT: Melanoma responds poorly to standard chemotherapy due to its intrinsic chemoresistance. Multiple genetic and molecular defects, including an activating mutation in the BRaf kinase gene, are associated with melanoma, and the resulting alterations in signal transduction pathways regulating proliferation and apoptosis are thought to contribute to its chemoresistance. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor that targets BRaf kinase, is Food and Drug Administration approved for use in advanced renal cell and hepatocellular carcinomas. Although sorafenib has shown little promise as a single agent in melanoma patients, recent clinical trials suggest that, when combined with chemotherapy, it may have more benefit. We evaluated the ability of sorafenib to augment the cytotoxic effects of melphalan, a regional chemotherapeutic agent, and temozolomide, used in systemic and regional treatment of melanoma, on a panel of 24 human melanoma-derived cell lines and in an animal model of melanoma. Marked differences in response to 10 micromol/L sorafenib alone were observed in vitro across cell lines. Response to sorafenib significantly correlated with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) downregulation and loss of Mcl-1 expression (P < 0.05). Experiments with the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 suggest a unique role for ERK downregulation in the observed effects. Sorafenib in combination with melphalan or temozolomide led to significantly improved responses in vitro (P < 0.05). In the animal model of melanoma, sorafenib in combination with regional melphalan or regional temozolomide was more effective than either treatment alone in slowing tumor growth. These results show that sorafenib in combination with chemotherapy provides a novel approach to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy in the regional treatment of in-transit melanoma.
    Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 07/2010; 9(7):2090-101. · 5.23 Impact Factor
  • Article: A phase 1 study of systemic ADH-1 in combination with melphalan via isolated limb infusion in patients with locally advanced in-transit malignant melanoma.
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    ABSTRACT: Isolated limb infusion with melphalan is a well-tolerated treatment for patients with in-transit extremity melanoma with an approximately 30% complete response (CR) rate. ADH-1 is a cyclic pentapeptide that disrupts N-cadherin adhesion complexes and when given systemically in a preclinical model of regional melphalan therapy demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity. A phase 1 dose escalation study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of systemic ADH-1 in combination with melphalan via isolated limb infusion in patients with in-transit extremity melanoma was performed. Dose escalation cohorts of 3 patients each received 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg (10 patients) of ADH-1 administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 with standard dose melphalan via isolated limb infusion on Day 1. N-cadherin immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed on pretreatment tumor. Response was defined at 3 months using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Sixteen patients have been treated with no observed dose-limiting toxicities. Common treatment-related grade 1 or 2 toxicities included skin/dermatologic (n=14) and pain (n=12). Grade 3 toxicities included shortness of breath (n=1), hypertension (n=1), serologic toxicities (n=4), and 1 grade 4 creatine phosphokinase elevation. In-field responses included 8 CRs, 2 partial responses, 1 stable disease, and 5 progressive diseases. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated increasing ADH-1 concentrations at each dose and minimal variability in melphalan drug levels. Systemic ADH-1 at a dose of 4000 mg on Days 1 and 8 in combination with melphalan via isolated limb infusion is a well-tolerated, novel targeted therapy approach to regionally advanced melanoma. The number of CRs exceeded expectations, suggesting that targeting N-cadherin may be a new strategy for overcoming melanoma chemoresistance.
    Cancer 08/2009; 115(20):4766-74. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Isolated limb infusion for in-transit malignant melanoma of the extremity: a well-tolerated but less effective alternative to hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion.
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    ABSTRACT: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a recently described minimally invasive technique developed in Australia for delivering regional chemotherapy. This study examined the efficacy and toxicity of ILI, compared to hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP), in treating extremity in-transit melanoma. Variables from a prospective single institution database of 120 regionally treated melanoma patients (1995-2007) were compared using chi-square analysis. This included 61 consecutive ILI treatments in 58 patients and 59 HILP treatments in 54 patients. Response was defined at 3 months using the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). ILI was performed using melphalan (LPAM) and dactinomycin for 30 min after limb temperature reached 37 degrees C. HILP was performed using LPAM for 60 min after limb temperature reached 38.5 degrees C. For ILI (n = 61), the complete response (CR) rate was 30%, the partial response (PR) rate was 14%, and there was no response (NR) in 56% of patients. The median duration of CR was 12 months and 18% of patients experienced (grade >or=3) toxicity. HILP (n = 59) was associated with a better (P < 0.001) response rate (CR 57%, PR 31%, and NR 12%) however, more patients (32%) experienced grade >or=3 toxicity (P = 0.037). The dose of LPAM was corrected for ideal body weight (IBW) in 40 out of 61 ILI procedures, and 13 of 59 HILP procedures. This dosing modification was associated with decreased toxicity (P = 0.024) without diminishing response. ILI was found to be a well-tolerated alternative to HILP. While ILI does not appear to be as effective as HILP, it does seem to be associated with less morbidity.
    Annals of Surgical Oncology 06/2008; 15(8):2195-205. · 4.17 Impact Factor