Phase II study with high doses of epirubicin in patients with advanced rectal cancer.
We tested the possible role of epirubicin, 100 to 130 mg/m2 administered i.v. every 3 weeks, in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the rectum untreated with chemotherapy. Sixteen of 17 entered cases were evaluable. No complete or partial responses were observed. The median time to progression was 6 weeks, and the median survival was 36 weeks. Reversible leukopenia was the major toxic side effect. The median epirubicin cumulative dose was 330 mg/m2; no patient had clinical cardiac toxicity. With no responses recorded in 16 evaluable patients, the activity of epirubicin in rectal cancer ranged between 0 and 18%, with 95% probability. Further studies with epirubicin in this tumor are not indicated.
Alberola
V
V
Hospital Clinico, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Valencia, Spain.
García Conde
J
J
Jimeno
J
J
Fernandez Martos
C
C
Herranz
C
C
Macheng
I
I
Centelles
M
M
Sánchez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume
D015251:Epirubicin