PHASE-II STUDY OF ACIVICIN IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER - A NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE OF CANADA STUDY

  • 1 November 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (11) , 1327-1328
Abstract
Thirty-six previously untreated patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer received acivicin at a starting dose of 15 mg/m2, given over 5 days and repeated every 21 days. Hematological toxicity was dose-related; one patient died of neutropenic sepsis at 18 mg/m2. Nonhematological toxicity was mild, with gastrointestinal symptoms being the most prominent. Neurological toxicity was seen in 48% of the patients and consisted of confusion, hallucinations, and sleeping difficulty. A minority of patients required dose reduction because of these symptoms. In 33 evaluable patients, two partial remissions were documented, with seven additional patients showing evidence of minor responses. Although modest, these responses warrant further study of acivicin in non-small cell lung cancer in combination with other agents.