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Vol.45 No.4 contents | Japanese/English |
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- Original Article -
Amrubicin (Calsed®) Monotherapy for Patients With Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Study in Cases Unfit for Combination Chemotherapy
Michiko Yamamoto1, Nobuo Yanase1, Tomoko Yanaihara1, Sayaka Onoda1, Kaori Ishii1, Shintaro Hagiri1, Shinichiro Ryuge1, Mayuko Wada1, Emi Kato1, Noriyuki Masuda11Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Japan
Objective. Antitumor efficacy and safety of amrubicin were assessed in patients with small-cell lung cancer unfit for combination chemotherapy. Patients and Methods. The study population consisted of patients with small-cell lung cancer for whom platinum-based chemotherapy was difficult due to old age, poor performance status or complications, plus patients who had undergone 2 or more regimens of chemotherapy. Amrubicin was intravenously administered at 40 mg/m2 (or 35 mg/m2) for 3 consecutive days. After a 3-week course was repeated 2 or more times, antitumor effect and toxicity were evaluated. Results. Between February 2003 and July 2004, 21 patients were treated with amrubicin. In 6 out of 21 patients, the initial dose was reduced to 35 mg/m2. Median age was 71 (range: 51-80) years. Prior chemotherapy had not been performed in 7 patients but had been performed in 14 patients. Response rate was 71% in those without prior chemotherapy and 14% in those with prior chemotherapy. Median survival time was 9.4 months and 6.0 months, respectively. Hematological toxicity was common and relatively severe, whereas non-hematological toxicity was relatively mild. Conclusion. Due to its potential high response rate and better prognosis, amrubicin monotherapy is considered useful for patients with small-cell lung cancer unfit for combination chemotherapy. Further investigation of this agent is warranted.
key words: Small-cell lung cancer, Chemotherapy, Amrubicin
Received: March 15, 2005
Accepted: May 31, 2005
JJLC 45 (4): 329-333, 2005
