[Doses of epirubicin used in oily chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma].
Epirubicin (EPIR), an anticancer agent, has recently been used with increasing frequency in transcatheter oily chemoembolization (TOCE) of hepatocellular carcinoma. We conducted a dose-finding study of EPIR with regard to its safety. One hundred thirty-four patients were divided into five groups according to the EPIR doses (mg/m2), Group A (< 30 mg/m2), Group B (> or = 30 - < 40 mg/m2), Group C (> or = 40 - < 50 mg/m2), Group D (> or = 50 - < 60 mg/m2), and Group E (> or = 60 mg/m2). The number of leukocytes decreased at 2 weeks but recovered at 4 weeks with no significant differences among the groups. However, there were significantly fewer leukocytes in Group E than in Groups A to D. There were no significant differences among the groups in either the number of erythrocytes or platelets. The number of platelets tended to remain at increased levels even at 4 weeks. Liver function as represented by GOT, GPT, LDH, and total bilirubin was not aggravated, but tended to improve. GOT and LDH in Groups D and E, in particular, improved significantly at 4 weeks, probably because of the antitumor effect of TOCE. These results suggest that EPIR can be administered up to 50 mg/m2 for TOCE.
Nakamura
H
H
Clinic of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School.
Murakami
T
T
Tomoda
K
K
Nakanishi
K
K
Hori
S
S
Oi
H
H
Tsukaguchi
I
I
Watanabe
H
H
Masuike
M
M
Inoue
Y
Y
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015251:Epirubicin; D007459:Iodized Oil