peplomycin and Alopecia

Recent advances in chemotherapy have markedly improved the treatment results for oral cancer. Among many chemotherapeutic regimens, the usefulness of multiple combination chemotherapy with cisplatin as the primary drug has been frequently reported. During the past 6-year period, we have performed combination chemotherapy with cisplatin as the primary drug, peplomycin, and etoposide (CPE chemotherapy) as one of the chemotherapeutic regimens for oral cancer. The subjects were 11 patients (7 males and 4 females) with tongue cancer treated by CPE chemotherapy as neoadjuvant chemotherapy at our department between March, 1990 and April, 1995.. PR in 8 (73%), and NC in 3 (27%). No patient showed CR and PD. The side effects observed were reversible findings such as transient myelosuppression, nausea-vomiting, and alopecia. No patient showed severe or persistent suppression of hematopoietic function.

Topics: Alopecia; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cisplatin; Drug Administration Schedule; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Peplomycin; Tongue Neoplasms; Vomiting

Twenty-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma were treated with a combination chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, vincristine, and peplomycin. Overall response rate was over 70% including complete disappearance of tumors in one patient. Peplomycin was given by continuous i.v. or s.c. infusion using a micro-infusion pump. All the patients experienced some degree of nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. Phlebitis and induration of injection sites with subsequent local pigmentation were frequently encountered. Nausea and vomiting were caused mainly by cisplatin, but more than 60% of the patients experienced transient increase of anorexia or nausea in the period of peplomycin administration. Eruption with skin excoriation or pigmentation along scratch dermatitis were seen in 5 patients. These side effects were well tolerated, and high fever which is commonly observed in one-shot therapy did not develop in any patient. Pulmonary fibrosis was also not seen. Peplomycin should be given by low-dose continuous infusion because of its low toxicity and comparable antineoplastic activity to one-shot therapy.

Topics: Aged; Alopecia; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cisplatin; Drug Eruptions; Female; Humans; Infusions, Parenteral; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Peplomycin; Phlebitis; Vincristine