title: Adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin: treatment with vindesine and doxorubicin.
abstract: Adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin (ACUP) is a common oncologic problem for which there is no standard therapy. Forty-two patients with metastatic tumor were identified as having ACUP after extensive evaluation failed to reveal a primary site of disease. They were treated with an investigational chemotherapy regimen consisting of vindesine and doxorubicin. Of the 38 evaluable patients, six (16%) had major responses to chemotherapy. The median duration of response was 4 months. The median survival of the responding patients has not been reached, but is greater than 8 months. The median survival of the nonresponding patients was 6 months. Vindesine and doxorubicin were well tolerated. The major toxicity was leukopenia, with a median wbc count nadir of 2600/mm. We conclude that the combination of vindesine and doxorubicin has some activity in ACUP, but does not improve the response rate seen with other regimens.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014751:Vindesine
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D014751:Vindesine