title: [A phase II study of oral VP-16 in primary lung cancer].
abstract: A clinical trial of a new semi-synthetic podophyllotoxin, VP-16, was undertaken in patients with primary lung cancer; 56 of the 81 evaluable patients had small cell carcinoma, 9 adenocarcinoma, 8 epidermoid carcinoma, 7 large cell carcinoma, and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. A dose of 200 mg/body/day orally for 5 consecutive days was administered every 3 to 4 weeks. Partial response (PR) was attained in 19 out of 81 (23%) and PR + MR was 35 out of 81 (43%). PR and minor response (MR) were seen as follows; small cell carcinoma, 17 PR (30%), 13 MR; epidermoid carcinoma, 2 PR (25%), 1 MR; adenocarcinoma, 1 MR; adenosquamous carcinoma, 1 MR. The dose-limiting factor was leukopenia, while thrombocytopenia was experienced in 2 cases. Clinical toxicities noted were anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, diarrhea and alopecia, but these were well tolerated in all cases. The result indicated that VP-16 has considerable efficacy in small cell carcinoma and epidermoid carcinoma of the lung and hence its usefulness in combination chemotherapy was suggested.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002214:Capsules; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D005047:Etoposide; D011034:Podophyllotoxin