A phase II study of etoposide in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by the Tokyo Liver Cancer Chemotherapy Study Group.
Twenty-four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with 80 mg etoposide/m2 for five consecutive days at 4-week intervals. Of the 21 patients evaluated, only one showed a partial response (of 8 weeks, duration). The dose-limiting factor was bone marrow suppression. Grades 3 and 4 white blood cell count toxicity occurred in five (24%) and two (10%) patients, respectively. Alopecia (grades 1 and 2) was observed in 18 patients (57%). The The present study indicates that etoposide has very limited activity against hepatocellular carcinoma.
Yoshino
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo.
Okazaki
N
N
Yoshida
T
T
Kanda
Y
Y
Miki
M
M
Oda
H
H
Sasagawa
Y
Y
Hayashi
S
S
Hashimoto
N
N
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005047:Etoposide