title: A multi-centre phase two study of intravesical epirubicin in the treatment of superficial bladder tumour.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Urology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Newling
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hargreave
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whelan
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin