Abstract
Background: Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) is a chemotherapy-sensitive tumour, but this sensitivity is not reflected in an impact on survival. The study of new drugs is therefore indicated. Pirarubicin (4′-O-tetrahydropyranyl-doxorubicin) has a higher preclinical index than doxorubicin, with low cardiotoxicity in animal models. Patients and methods: Twenty-six patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and documented progression after or during previous chemotherapy were entered into the study. Two patients were ineligible for evaluation. Pirarubicin was given at a dose of 70 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Results: Partial remission was seen in 1 of the 24 evaluable patients. The predominant toxicity was bone marrow depression, with leucopenia in 62% of the patients. One patient died due to a gastrointestinal haemorrhage during a period with WHO grade IV thrombocytopenia. Conclusion: On the basis of these results, pirarubicin cannot be recommended as second-line treatment in patients with recurrent and metastatic HNSCC. Its possible relevance for first-line treatment cannot be judged from these data.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Snow GB, Vermorken JB (1988) Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck cancer: state of the art, 1988. Clin Otolaryngol 14:371
Al-Saraf M (1988) Head and neck cancer: chemotherapy concepts. Semin Oncol 15:70
Vokes E, Weichselbaum R, Lippman S, Hong W (1993) Head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med 328:184
Tsuruo T, Iida H, Tsukagoshi S, Sakurai Y (1982) 4′-O-Tetrahydropyranyladriamycin as a potential new antitumor agent. Cancer Res 42:1462
Tadeka C, Inuyama M, Honda Y (1984) A phase II study of (2″R)-4-O-tetrahydro-pyranyladriamycin (THP) in patients with head and neck cancer. Jpn J Cancer Chemother 11:138
Schroeder M, Purea H, Westerhausen M (1988) Clinical experience with pirarubicin in the treatment of patients with pretreated head and neck cancer. Proceedings of the 19th National Cancer Congress of the German Cancer Society 4-/27-M010
Miller AB, Hoogstraten B, Staquet M (1981) Reporting results of cancer treatment. Cancer 47:207
Dantchev D, Bourut C, Maral R (1983) Cardiotoxicity and alopecia of 12 different anthracyclins in the golden hamster model. Proc 13th Cong Chemother 211:15
Cobleigh M, Hill J, Gallagher P, Kukla L, Lad T, Shevrin D, Applebaum E, McGuire W (1985) A phase II study of Adriamycin in previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer 56:2573
Nkada H, Ogawa M, Miyamoto H, et al (1986) Phase II study of 4′-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP-Adria). Jpn J Cancer Chemother 13:1870
Saito, Kasai Y, Wakui A, et al (1986) A phase II study of (2″R)-4′-O-tetrahydropylaranyladriamycin (THP) in patients with solid tumors. Jpn J Cancer Chemother 13:1060
Recondo G, Armand JP, Tellez-Bernal E, Domenge C, Belehradek M, De Vathaire F, Wibault P, Richard J, Cvitkovic E (1991) Recurrent and or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a clinical, univariate and multivariate analysis of response and survival with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Laryngoscope 101:494
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Authors are members of the EORT Head and Neck Cancer Cooperative Group
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
De Mulder, P.H.M., Cappelaere, P., Cognetti, F. et al. A phase II study of pirarubicin in patients with advanced recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Chemother. Pharmacol. 33, 438–440 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686275
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686275