Fig. 3: ATRA pharmacokinetics, biochemical CA19-9 response and vitamin A levels.
a Serum ATRA levels for the first three cycles are summarized as mean (SEM) for the first 5 h after co-administration of ATRA at 45 mg/m2 with chemotherapy drugs. b Absolute CA19-9 levels on logarithmic Y-axis for patients on dose level 5 at start of each cycle. Summary statistics represented by box (median ± interquartile range) and whisker (range: LQR−(1.5 × IQR) and UQR + (1.5 × IQR)). Two-sided Skilling–Mack test, statistic 39.21, p < 0.001. c Normalized CA19-9 levels for each patient on dose level 5 with baseline being 100%. There were 14 biochemical responders (black) compared to 5 non-responders (unique colors). Responders are defined as those who show >30% reduction of CA19-9 from baseline with a sustained response (no greater than 20% rise from previous reading at any time). d Vitamin A on dose level 5 at start of each cycle. Summary statistics represented by box (median ± interquartile range) and whisker (range: LQR−(1.5 × IQR) and UQR + (1.5 × IQR)). Two-sided Skilling–Mack test, statistic 5.95, p = 0.31. e Individual values for vitamin A for patients with biochemical non-responders (CA19-9) highlighted in corresponding colors as in panel c. f Linear regression trend lines comparing biochemical responders (solid line) to non-responders (dashed line) demonstrate that a drop in serum vitamin A levels may indicate non-responders. N = X R: X is the number of responders at the stated cycle. N = X NR: X is the number of non-responders at the stated cycle.
