Phase II study of esorubicin (4'-deoxydoxorubicin) in locally advanced or metastatic head and neck carcinoma.
Sixteen patients with locally advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer were treated with esorubicin (4'-deoxydoxorubicin) at a dose of 30-35 mg/m2 i.v. every 3 weeks. One patient was lost to the follow up after one cycle, whereas in the 15 evaluable cases a total of 34 courses were administered (median per patient: 2, range: 1-6). Pretreatment for parameter lesions consisted of radiotherapy in 5, chemotherapy in 3 and both treatments in 1 patients respectively. Overall, one partial response, one stable disease and 13 progressions were documented. Severe (grade 3 and 4) leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia were noted in 3, 1 and 1 patients respectively. The only patient developing leukopenia and thrombocytopenia of grade 4 subsequently died because of pneumonia. On the other hand, non-hematologic toxicity was generally mild. At this dose and schedule, esorubicin demonstrated an activity less than 20% in head and neck cancer and therefore, no further evaluation is warranted.
Frustaci
S
S
Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, (Pordenone), Italy.
Gasparini
G
G
Veronesi
A
A
Tirelli
U
U
Pacciarini
M A
MA
Crivellari
D
D
Zagonel
V
V
Monfardini
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004317:Doxorubicin; C030851:esorubicin