title: Epirubicin in previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer: a phase II study by the EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
abstract: Epirubicin 110 mg/m2 was administered intravenously every 3 weeks to 41 elderly and/or unfit, previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). There were three complete responses, 16 partial responses and 14 treatment failures, with a response rate of 57% in 33 evaluable patients. The main toxicity was haematological, characterised by leukopenia and, less frequently, thrombocytopenia and anaemia. There were three toxic deaths due to infection occurring during leukopenia. Non-haematological side effects were alopecia, nausea, stomatitis and diarrhoea. WHO grade 2 cardiac toxicity was seen in 3 patients after a cumulative dose of more than 740 mg/m2. In conclusion epirubicin is an active agent in untreated SCLC.
authors.affiliation: Pavillon Laennec, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Quoix
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giaccone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jassem
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karnicka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiatr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cortes-Funes
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Roozendaal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evrard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Zandwijk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin