Irinotecan in cancers of the lung and cervix
- 1 November 1999
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Anti-Cancer Drugs
- Vol. 10, S13-S18
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00001813-199911001-00003
Abstract
Irinotecan is active as a single agent in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with overall response rates (ORRs) of 13–32% reported in phase II trials. In the first-line treatment of stage III/IV NSCLC, phase II studies have suggested that the combination of irinotecan with cisplatin can achieve response rates of 29–75%, which is greater than achieved with older platinum-containing combinations. Neutropenia and diarrhea are the dose-limiting toxicities. In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), irinotecan alone has achieved ORRs of 16–47% in previously treated SCLC, which is higher than expected with oral etoposide. Studies with irinotecan in combination with cisplatin or etoposide have reported responses of up to 79%. Irinotecan is active in cervical cancer patients whose metastases are outside the area of previous irradiation (ORR 24%) and a major phase II/III study is currently comparing irinotecan as single agent or in combination with cisplatin against a reference cisplatin arm.Keywords
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