title: Increased therapeutic index of weekly doxorubicin in the therapy of non-small cell lung cancer: a prospective, randomized study.
abstract: One hundred patients with non-small cell lung cancer were entered into a randomized evaluation of two schedules of doxorubicin combined with ftorafur, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin (FACP). Doxorubicin was given either weekly at 20 mg/m2, or every three weeks (standard) at 60 mg/m2. Fifty-two patients were randomized to the FACP/weekly doxorubicin arm and 48 patients to the FACP/standard doxorubicin arm. The FACP/weekly doxorubicin regimen was associated with higher complete and partial remission rates (31% versus 19%), longer response duration (median, 33 versus 21 weeks), and longer survival duration for responders (median, 58 versus 50 weeks). These differences were not significant. Less neutropenia (p = 0.01) and less infectious morbidity (p = 0.05) were observed in the FACP/weekly doxorubicin arm. Twenty-eight patients underwent 35 endomyocardial biopsies to assess doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Sixteen biopsies were performed in 12 patients receiving cumulative doxorubicin doses ranging from 250 to 1,190 mg/m2 within the FACP/weekly doxorubicin arm. Nineteen biopsies were performed in 16 patients receiving cumulative doxorubicin doses ranging from 250 to 540 mg/m2 within the FACP/standard doxorubicin regimen. The FACP/weekly doxorubicin regimen was associated with significantly lower cardiotoxicity scores (p = 0.01). This study indicates that weekly administered doxorubicin is as effective and less cardiotoxic than the standard schedule.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin