title: A phase II study of pirarubicin in malignant pleural mesothelioma.
abstract: Thirty-five non-pretreated patients (29 male, six female) with malignant pleural mesothelioma, median age of 68.5 years (range, 29 to 78 years) and a median performance status of 80% (range, 60% to 100%) were treated with 70 mg/m2 Pirarubicin. The treatment was repeated every 3 to 4 weeks (median duration per cycle, 23 days) up to progression or severe toxicity. The median cumulative dose given was 294 mg/m2, or 4.5 cycles. All patients were evaluable regarding response. Three partial remissions were achieved, leading to a remission rate of 8.6%. The median duration of remission was 6 months. Five patients achieved minor response, and a further 14 patients were stable under treatment with Pirarubicin. The median survival time was 10.5 months. Leukocytopenia was the main dose-limiting factor and 20% of the patients experienced World Health Organization (WHO) Grades III and IV. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were mild. Nausea and vomiting, WHO Grades I and II, were observed in 46% of all patients. Alopecia, Grades I and II, was seen in 47% and Grade III in 6%. No signs of cardiac dysfunction were detectable, except for cardiac arrhythmia in four patients (11%). Pirarubicin is an active drug in the treatment of pleural mesothelioma with fewer severe side effects than doxorubicin.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, General Hospital, Hamburg, FRG.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaukel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koschel
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gatzemeyer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; C027260:pirarubicin