A phase II study of amrubicin, a synthetic 9-aminoanthracycline, in patients with previously treated lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to confirm the efficacy and safety of amrubicin, a new anthracycline agent, in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).


METHODS
Eligible patients were required to have recurrent or refractory NSCLC and SCLC after one or two previous chemotherapy regimens. All patients received intravenous amrubicin 35 mg/m(2) on days 1-3 every 3 weeks. Overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.


RESULTS
Sixty-six patients (37 NSCLC and 29 SCLC) were assessable for efficacy and safety evaluation. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 39.4% of all patients (NSCLC, 37.8%; SCLC, 41.4%). Nonhematological toxicities were mild. No treatment-related death was observed. The ORRs were 13.5% (95% CI, 4.5-28.8%) in NSCLC and 44.8% (95% CI, 26.4-64.3%) in SCLC. In SCLC, ORRs were 60.0% in the sensitive relapse and 36.8% in the refractory relapse (p=0.2332). In NSCLC, the PFS, OS, and 1-year survival were 3.3 months, 12.0 months, and 35.3%, respectively. In SCLC, the PFS, OS, and 1-year survival were 4.0 months, 12.0 months, and 46.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Amrubicin is an active and well-tolerated regimen in patients with previously treated lung cancer. Amrubicin 35 mg/m(2) seems to achieve similar efficacy with less toxicity than amrubicin 40 mg/m(2) in this patient population. These results warrant further evaluation in previously treated lung cancer.
Kaira
Kyoichi
K
Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. kkaira1970@yahoo.co.jp
Sunaga
Noriaki
N
Tomizawa
Yoshio
Y
Yanagitani
Noriko
N
Shimizu
Kimihiro
K
Imai
Hisao
H
Utsugi
Mitsuyoshi
M
Iwasaki
Yasuki
Y
Iijima
Hironobu
H
Tsurumaki
Hiroaki
H
Yoshii
Akihiro
A
Fueki
Naoto
N
Hisada
Takeshi
T
Ishizuka
Tamotsu
T
Saito
Ryusei
R
Mori
Masatomo
M
D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C055866:amrubicin