A multicenter phase II study of belotecan, a new camptothecin analogue, in elderly patients with previously untreated, extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

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.

CONCLUSION:

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: Chang Dong Yeo, Sang Haak Lee, Ju Sang Kim, Seung Joon Kim, Seok Chan Kim, Young Kyoon Kim, Hyeon Hui Kang, Hyung Kyu Yoon, Jeong Sup Song, Hwa Sik Moon, Jin Woo Kim, Kwan Hyoung Kim, Byoung Yong Shim, Chi Hong Kim
• Journal: Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology (Cancer Chemother Pharmacol) Vol. 72 Issue 4 Pg. 809-14 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1432-0843 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23918044 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
• belotecan
• Camptothecin

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Camptothecin (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Male
• Neoplasm Staging
• Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (drug therapy, pathology)
• Survival Rate
• Topoisomerase I Inhibitors (adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome