title: Combined epirubicin and interleukin-2 regimen in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma: a multicenter phase II study of the Italian Group on Rare Tumors.
abstract: The Italian Group on Rare Tumors undertook a phase II study of a combination of epirubicin and interleukin-2 in 21 chemotherapy-naive patients with malignant mesothelioma. All patients had bidimensionally measurable disease at CT scan. Treatment included Intravenous administration of epirubicin at a dose of 110 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, and interleukin-2 at a dose of 9 MU subcutaneously from day 8 to day 12 and from day 15 to day 19. Cycles were repeated every three weeks, up to six times in the absence of progressive disease. Treatment response was evaluated after two cycles of therapy. Only one patient achieved a partial response, resulting in an overall response rate of 5% (1/21) with a median progression-free and overall survival of 5 and 10 months, respectively. Toxicity was relevant and caused treatment discontinuation in many patients. These results do not support the use of such a combination in the management of malignant mesothelioma.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Oncologia Medica, Ospedale Oncologico S. Giovanni A.S., Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bretti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Castagneto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bertulli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astorre
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verusio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lionetto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruzzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015251:Epirubicin