[Administration of oral etoposide for one year as adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer-side effect].
The possibility of using etoposide 25 mg daily as adjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer was discussed. Initially, 73 patients who had undergone resection participated in this trial; 49 of them were eligible, 24 including a patient over 70 years of age (8) took the drug for 1 year, 22 patients resigned from the study due to side effects, and a further 3 patients died during the trial. The main side effects observed were gastro-intestinal trouble (13) and pneumonia (4). The side effects of this drug appeared early in the treatment phase. During the first month of treatment, 9 patients discontinued the drug due to side effects, and 10 more did so within 4 months. To achieve optimal conditions for the trial study of low-dose etoposide it was found important to select patients under 70 years of age and to control side effects of the drug on the gastro-intestinal tract from the beginning.
Uchida
T
T
Dept. of Surgery, Aichi Prefectural Hospital.
Nakakawaji
K
K
Sakamoto
J
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011182:Postoperative Care; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D005047:Etoposide