A Phase I/II Clinical Trial of PXD101 in Combination With Doxorubicin in Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed consent of an IEC (Independent Ethics Committee)-approved Information consent form
2. A. For the dose escalation phase: Patients with histological or cytological confirmed solid tumours (including sarcomas), for which there is no known curative therapy B. For the MTD expansion phase: Patients with an established diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma in need of first line chemotherapy and with measurable disease
3. Performance status (ECOG) ≤ 2
4. Life expectancy of at least 3 months
5. Age ≥ 18 years

6. Acceptable liver, renal and bone marrow function including the following:

   1. Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
   2. AST ([Aspartate Amino Transferase]](SGOT), ALT (SGPT) and Alkaline Phosphatase ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (if liver metastases are present, then ≤ 5 x ULN is allowed)
   3. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
   4. Leucocytes > 2.5 x 109/ L, neutrophils > 1.0 x 109/L, platelets > 100 x 109/L
   5. Haemoglobin > 9.0 g/dL or > 5.6 mmol/l
7. Acceptable coagulation status: PT and APTT ([activated partial thromboplastin time ]) within ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal or in the therapeutic range if on anticoagulation.
8. A negative pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential. For men and women of child producing potential, the use of effective contraceptive methods during the study is required
9. Serum potassium within normal range

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Treatment with investigational agents within the last 4 weeks
2. Prior anticancer therapy, within the last 3 weeks of trial dosing including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy or immunotherapy
3. Co-existing active infection or any co-existing medical condition likely to interfere with trial procedures, including significant cardiovascular disease (New York Heart Association Class III or IV cardiac disease, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, unstable angina, congestive heart failure requiring therapy, unstable arrhythmia or a need for anti-arrhythmic therapy, or evidence of ischemia on ECG, marked baseline prolongation of QT/QTc ([corrected QT interval ]) interval, e.g., repeated demonstration of a QTc interval > 500 msec; Long QT Syndrome; the required use of concomitant medication on PXD101 infusion days that may cause Torsade de Pointes.
4. Altered mental status precluding understanding of the informed consent process and/or completion of the necessary studies
5. Concurrent second malignancy
6. History of hypersensitivity to doxorubicin
7. A. For dose escalation phase: More than two prior doses of anthracycline, more than three prior lines of chemotherapy given for metastatic disease B. For MTD expansion phase: Prior chemotherapy
8. Bowel obstruction or impending bowel obstruction
9. Known HIV positivity
10. LVEF ([left ventricular ejection fraction]) below normal range (45% by MUGA)
11. Presence of metastatic disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would require palliative treatment within 4 weeks of enrolment