title: Doxorubicin plus cisplatin in the treatment of apudomas.
abstract: Twelve patients with advanced apudomas--six with carcinoid tumors, two with chemodectomas, two with pancreatic islet cell tumor, and one each of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and paraganglioma of unknown primary--were treated with a combination of doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 every 3 to 4 weeks. Biochemical markers were present in 8 of the 12 patients. Five of the 12 patients (3 with carcinoid and 2 with chemodectomas) responded with more than 50% regression of tumor size measured as hypothetical area. Three others (two with islet cell tumors and one with carcinoid) had clinical and/or biochemical improvements. A median duration of response was 6 months. Nausea, vomiting, and alopecia were universal. Mild or moderate leukopenia was the most frequent toxicity. No sustained nephrotoxicity was seen. The combination of doxorubicin and cisplatin provides a new palliative therapy for patients with APUD tumors.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001079:Apudoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin