title: A multicenter phase II study of belotecan, a new camptothecin analogue, in elderly patients with previously untreated, extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Belotecan is a new camptothecin analogue and a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor. The aim of this phase II study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of belotecan in previously untreated elderly patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 26 patients, aged ≥65 years, with previously untreated, extensive-stage SCLC were enrolled in the study. Belotecan was administered by daily intravenous infusion at 0.5 mg/m(2)/day for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate and disease control rate of chemotherapy on an intention-to-treat basis were 35 and 54 %, respectively. The median overall survival was 6.4 months, and the median time to progression was 2.8 months. The most common toxicity was hematologic. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurred in 80.8 % of patients, and grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia in 15.3 %. Non-hematologic toxic effects of grade 3 or 4 were uncommon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Belotecan had modest efficacy and well-tolerated toxicity in previously untreated, elderly SCLC patients. Single belotecan could be a promising treatment option, considering its lower toxicity in elderly patients who are unsuitable candidates for platinum plus etoposide chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Dong
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Sang Haak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Kyoon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyung Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jeong Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hwa Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwan Hyoung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byoung Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Chi Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; C116963:belotecan; D002166:Camptothecin