title: Phase II intravenous study of epirubicin with 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Between August 1986 and September 1990, 22 previously untreated non-cirrhotic patients with measurable unresectable primary liver cancer were treated every 4 weeks with a combination of epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil. The dose of epirubicin was escalated; the starting dose was 40 mg/m2, the second dose was 50 mg/m2 and thereafter 60 mg/m2 during subsequent cycles. The dose of 5-fluorouracil was always 800 mg/m2. Objective response rate was 14%. Most of the patients experienced only mild haematological toxicity, and no other dose limiting toxicity was observed. Nonetheless, increasing the dose would probably not have increased the response rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kajanti
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Pyrhönen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil