Epirubicin in previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer: a phase II study by the EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
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.
Quoix
E A
EA
Pavillon Laennec, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France.
Giaccone
G
G
Jassem
J
J
Karnicka
H
H
Wiatr
E
E
Cortes-Funes
H
H
Roozendaal
K J
KJ
Kirkpatrick
A
A
Evrard
D
D
van Zandwijk
N
N
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
D015251:Epirubicin