title: Amrubicin for non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Amrubicin is a totally synthetic anthracycline anticancer drug and a potent topoisomerase II inhibitor. Recently, amrubicin was approved in Japan for the treatment of small- and non-small-cell lung cancers (SCLC and NSCLC). Here, we review the efficacy and toxicities of amrubicin monotherapy and amrubicin in combination with cisplatin for extensive-disease SCLC (ED-SCLC), and of amrubicin monotherapy for advanced NSCLC, as observed in the clinical trials. Recommended dosage for previously untreated advanced NCSLC was 45 mg/m2/day by intravenous administration for 3 days. Dose-limiting toxicities were leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and gastrointestinal disturbance. Response rate was 27.9% for advanced NSCLC, and 75.8% for ED-SCLC with a median survival time (MST) of 11.7 months. Recommended dosage of amrubicin was 40 mg/m2/day in combination with cisplatin at 60 mg/m2/day, with MST of 13.6 months and 1-year survival rate of 56.1%. In sensitive or refractory relapsed SCLC, response rate was 52 and 50%, progression-free survival was 4.2 and 2.6 months, overall survival was 11.6 and 10.3 months, and 1-year survival rate was 46 and 40%, respectively. These results are promising for the treatment of both NSCLC and SCLC. Further clinical trials will clarify the status of amrubicin in the treatment of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan. ctc002@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takayasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
mesh_terms: D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C055866:amrubicin