title: Phase II study of high-dose epirubicin in untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Eighteen previously untreated patients with histologically confirmed small-cell lung cancer were treated with high-dose epirubicin (course 1, 100 mg/m2; courses 2-6, 140 mg/m2, day 1), every 3 weeks. Overall response rate was 33% (95% confidence limits, 14-52%), including two complete and four partial responses. The response rates for limited (n = 11) and extensive (n = 7) disease patients were 45% and 14%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 18 months, estimated 2-year survival of all patients was 29% and the median duration of response 18.5 months. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression, with a median granulocyte nadir of 1,150/mm3; 39% of patients had neutropenic fever. Nausea/vomiting, alopecia, and stomatitis were the most common nonhematological toxicities, usually mild to moderate. Acute cardiac toxicity was unusual and no episodes of congestive heart failure were observed. Cumulative doses of 800 mg/m2 were associated with moderate cardiotoxicity (grade 2), as assessed by endomyocardial biopsy and electron microscopy analysis. These results indicate that epirubicin, at the present doses and schedule, is an active single agent in patients with small-cell lung cancer, with acceptable general and moderate cardiac toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Service of Thoracic Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macchiarini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danesi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fazzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giuntini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Tacca
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Angeletti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin