A multi-centre phase two study of intravesical epirubicin in the treatment of superficial bladder tumour.
Epirubicin (4'-epi-adriamycin) was used in the treatment of widespread superficial carcinoma of the bladder. Thirty-seven patients received 50 mg in 50 ml of saline retained for 60 min. There was an overall response rate of 59% but this was of short duration. Thirty percent of patients progressed despite therapy. Therapy was associated with an incidence of side effects which necessitated therapy withdrawal in 12 (32.4%) patients. It is concluded that epirubicin, in the dose used in this study, cannot be recommended for routine intravesical chemotherapy and that further studies, at a reduced dosage, are necessary to evaluate this agent.
Cumming
J A
JA
Department of Surgery/Urology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Kirk
D
D
Newling
D W
DW
Hargreave
T B
TB
Whelan
P
P
D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D015251:Epirubicin