Phase II study of epirubicin in advanced malignant melanoma.
Twenty patients with advanced malignant melanoma refractory to conventional chemotherapy, were entered into a Phase II study of epirubicin, one of the new doxorubicin analogues. The drug was given at a dose of 90 mg/m2 IV every 3 weeks. One partial response and three disease stabilizations were observed. Nausea and vomiting and alopecia were common. Mild to moderate leukopenia occurred in 6 patients. Three cases of reversible ST-T changes were recorded. The observed response rate of 5% with a 39.2% probability of a true response rate greater than or equal to 10%, does not suggest that epirubicin, in the dose and schedule chosen, is active in metastatic malignant melanoma.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001769:Blood / Q000187:drug effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D015251:Epirubicin; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015251:Epirubicin; D004317:Doxorubicin