bropirimine and Fever

Early Phase II clinical studies with bropirimine (U-54461S) having interferon (IFN) inducing and direct antiproliferative activities were conducted in patients with various solid tumors or hematologic neoplasm at 34 institutions nationwide. To investigate the safety and efficacy of the treatment, bropirimine was orally administered to the patients at the dose of 1g every two hours, three times a day for three consecutive days with a four day drug-free interval. Among the 65 patients registered, 60 patients were eligible and 44 patients completed bropirimine treatment in accordance with the respective protocols. Complete response (CR) was observed in 7 cases, and partial response (PR) was observed in 4 cases, so the efficacy rate was 25.0% (7 CRs + 4 PRs/44). Classified by target tumors, the efficacy rates were 12.9% (6 CRs/14) in bladder CIS, 33.3% 1 CR/3) in superficial bladder cancer. 11.1% 1 PR/9) in renal cell carcinoma, and 42.9% (3 PRs/7) in malignant lymphoma, respectively. Adverse drug reactions frequently observed were influenza-like symptoms such as fever (60.0%) and generalized malaise (21.7%), gastrointestinal symptoms like anorexia (56.7%) and nausea/vomiting (43.3%), and adverse effects on the circulatory system such as tachycardia (15.0%) and abnormalities in ECG (11.7%). Most of these symptoms were relieved or improved. Abnormalities in laboratory tests observed frequently were adverse effects on the liver such as elevations in GPT (33.3%), in GOT (31.7%), and in LDH (18.3%) or on the blood system like a decrease in RBC (18.3%), leukopenia (26.7%), or neutropenia (25.0%). In conclusion, bropirimine treatment proved to be effective for bladder CIS in particular, suggesting that it will be promising for use in the treatment of the disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anorexia; Antineoplastic Agents; Cytosine; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fever; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Interferon Inducers; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Skin Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Urologic Neoplasms; Vomiting

Late Phase II clinical study with bropirimine (U-54461S), a novel oral antitumor agent that has interferon inducing and anti-proliferative activities, was conducted in patients with bladder CIS at 38 institutions nationwide. To investigate the efficacy and safety of the treatment, bropirimine was administered to the patients at the dose of 750 mg every two hours, three times a day, for three consecutive days with four-day drug withdrawal, based on the results of the preceding clinical studies up to early phase II. Among the 48 patients registered, 41 patients were evaluable for antitumor efficacy. Complete response (CR) was observed in 17 of them, no change (NC) in 18 patients, and progressive disease (PD) in 6 patients; so the efficacy rate was 41.5%. Classified by patient background, the efficacy rates were 58.3% (7/12) in patients with primary bladder CIS, 34.5% (10/29) in those with secondary bladder CIS, 45.5% (10/22) in those with Grade 3, and 23.8% (5/21) in those previously given chemotherapeutic agents or BCG by intravesical or other routes. Adverse drug reactions frequently observed were influenza-like symptoms such as fever and generalized malaise and gastrointestinal symptoms like anorexia and nausea/vomiting; these symptoms were all Grade 2 or milder. Abnormalities in laboratory tests, such as an elevation in GOT/GPT, neutropenia, and leukopenia were observed. These adverse effects were all tolerated by the patients. From the above results, bropirimine was considered to be a useful oral agent for the treatment of bladder CIS.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Anorexia; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma in Situ; Cytosine; Drug Administration Schedule; Fever; Humans; Interferon Inducers; Nausea; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Vomiting