Phase II study of single-agent etoposide in patients with metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
A total of 26 evaluable patients presenting with advanced or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus were entered in a phase II trial to assess the single-agent activity of etoposide. Etoposide was given at a dose of 200 mg/m2 on 3 consecutive days every 3 weeks. Five patients (19%) achieved a partial response and seven (27%) experienced stabilisation of their disease. The median duration of response was 4 months (range 3-8 months). The major toxicity was leukopenia, which reached WHO grade 3 in 46% of patients and grade 4 in 11% of cases, with five instances of leukopenic fever and one therapy-associated death being recorded. Etoposide given at this dose and on this schedule seems to have considerable activity against non-pretreated metastatic esophageal carcinoma.
Harstrick
A
A
Department of Hematology, University of Hannover, FRG.
Bokemeyer
C
C
Preusser
P
P
Köhne-Wömpner
C H
CH
Meyer
H J
HJ
Stahl
M
M
Knipp
H
H
Schmoll
H J
HJ
Wilke
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors
D005047:Etoposide