title: Treatment of brain metastases of small cell lung cancer with teniposide.
abstract: Over 50% of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) will develop symptomatic brain metastases during the course of their disease. Results of whole brain radiotherapy, the standard treatment, are rather poor and relapses are frequent. Thus, new modes of therapy are urgently needed for these patients. In this study, the efficacy of teniposide was evaluated at a dose of 150 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 3, and 5 at 3-week intervals. In 11 of 26 evaluable patients an intracranial response was observed. Median response duration was 23 weeks (range, 9 to 50). Toxicity was acceptable, with grades 3/4 leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia reported in 37% and 16%, respectively, of 123 courses. Therefore, teniposide is an effective agent against brain metastases of SCLC and is suitable for palliation of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Diseases, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Postmus
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Berendsen
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Sleijfer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haaxma-Reiche
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000556:secondary*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013713:Teniposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D013713:Teniposide