Outpatient treatment with epirubicin and oral etoposide in patients with small-cell lung cancer

Br J Cancer. 1997;76(5):639-42. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1997.438.

Abstract

To assess the efficacy and toxicity of an outpatient combination chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), we treated 70 consecutive patients with epirubicin 80 mg m(-2) i.v. on day 1 and etoposide 200 mg o.d. p.o. on days 1-4 (EE) at 3-weekly intervals. The median age of patients was 64 years (range 39-84). The male-female ratio was 42:28 and 35 (50%) had metastatic disease. Fifty-seven patients were evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 64.4%, including 14 (23.7%) complete responses and 24 (40.7%) partial responses. Median time to progression was 7 months in responders and 8 months in patients with limited disease. The median survival in patients with limited disease was 10.5 months (range 0.5-70 +) and 7 months (range 0.5-24) in those with extensive disease. Improvement of symptoms occurred in 79% of patients with shortness of breath, 80% with cough, 81% with haemoptysis and 68% with pain. In 19 patients an increase in body weight was noted. Major (WHO grade 3/4) toxicities were neutropenia in 13 (18.5%) patients, alopecia in 33 (47.1%) patients, mucositis in 15 (21.4%) patients, anorexia in eight patients (11.4%), nausea and vomiting in six patients (8.5%) and diarrhoea in 4 (5.7%) patients. In conclusion, EE is an active and well-tolerated outpatient regimen in the treatment of SCLC. The survival data in this unselected group of patients were disappointing and the possible explanations for this are discussed.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / pathology
  • Epirubicin / administration & dosage
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Outpatients
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Epirubicin
  • Etoposide