pirarubicin and Pleural-Effusion--Malignant

A 52-year-old female underwent radical mastectomy at the age of 41 for left breast cancer (n0, positive for ER). After a few years of adjuvant TAM therapy, follow-up was stopped at the age of 50 with no recurrence. She had suffered from symptoms of cold since January 2001 and came to our hospital complaining dyspnea on February 11. CXP showed pleural effusion of the entire thoracic cavity and she was admitted to the hospital immediately. Pleural exudate cytodiagnosis showed carcinomatous pleurisy; however, dyspnea and thoracic effusion were improved by continuous thoracic drainage and instillation therapy. Various examinations demonstrated that the carcinomatous pleurisy was due to recurrent breast cancer. They also showed local recurrence, left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis and multiple bone metastasis. Thus, combined chemoendocrine-therapy of CTF (CPA, THP and 5-FU) and anastrozole was administered. After 6 cycles of CTF, the carcinomatous pleurisy, local recurrence and left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis were diagnosed as CR by CXP, chest CT and US and multiple bone metastasis were diagnosed as PR by bone scintigram. The patient continues to be treated on an outpatient basis with no recurrence about one year after the beginning of the treatment (6 months after CTF 6 cycles) and she is taking anastrozole continuously.

Topics: Anastrozole; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Medullary; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Drainage; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fluorouracil; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Mastectomy, Radical; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Nitriles; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pleurisy; Triazoles

We report a case of malignant pericardial effusion due to breast cancer that was successfully controlled by intrapericardial chemotherapy using pirarubicin. A 53-year-old woman underwent breast conserving therapy for left breast cancer in 1996. She was given CAF therapy and UFT as adjuvant therapy. Three years and 10 months after operation, she had malignant pericardial and pleural effusion. Pericardiocentesis and pleurocentesis were performed immediately. Pericardial effusion relapsed after some time and she was treated with intrapericardial chemotherapy using pirarubicin. After this treatment she has not suffered from pericardial effusion for 1 year and 4 months to date. This case suggests that intrapericardial chemotherapy is effective for malignant pericardial effusion.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Breast Neoplasms; Doxorubicin; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Pericardial Effusion; Pericardium; Pleural Effusion, Malignant

Pirarubicin (4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin), a new anthracyline derivative, was administered as a single agent into the pleural cavity of 42 patients (total 46 courses) with malignant pleural effusion at a dose of 20, 40, 60 or 80 mg/body. All 46 courses were evaluable for non-hematological toxicities. Fever and chest pain (> or = WHO grade 2) were seen in 67.4% and 13.0% of courses, respectively. Patients receiving a dose of 80 mg/body developed fever of > or = 39 degrees C in 45.5%, and chest pain lasting more than three days and requiring pentazocine more than three times in 36.4%. In contrast, patients receiving a dose of < or = 60 mg/body presented these toxicities in only 8.6% and 2.9%, respectively. Nausea-vomiting (> or = WHO grade 2) was observed in only 4.3% of the total 46 courses and alopecia was not observed. Thirty-eight courses (36 patients) were evaluable for hematological toxicities. Myelosuppression (leukocyte nadir count < or = 1900, WHO grade 3 or 4) was seen in four courses (10.5%), and thrombocytopenia (< or = 49,000, WHO grade 3 or 4) in only two (5.3%). Although the mean AUC (0-24) for pirarubicin in plasma during the four courses that produced myelosuppression was significantly higher than that during the 11 courses without myelosuppression, the difference in the mean dose was not significant. Furthermore, no significant correlation was shown between dose (mg/m2) and AUC in plasma. It is considered that myelosuppression is not a dose-related toxicity at a dose of 20-80 mg/body. The dose-limiting toxicity was fever or chest pain, although unexpected myelosuppression was also encountered. The maximum tolerated dose was 80 mg/body. With regard to clinical efficacy, the overall response rate was 73.7% in 38 evaluable courses (38 patients). The mean T(1/2) of pirarubicin concentration in pleural effusion and plasma was 22.1 h and 8.8 h, respectively. We recommend a dose of 40 or 60 mg/body pirarubicin for this pleurodesic treatment.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Area Under Curve; Doxorubicin; Female; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion, Malignant

The efficacy of intrathoracic administration of pirarubicin (THP-ADM), a derivative of adriamycin, was evaluated in 20 patients with malignant effusion due to lung cancer. All 20 patients had no previous intrapleural therapy. According to the criteria of ECOG, eight patients were at performance status 1 (P.S.1), nine were P.S.2, and three were P.S.3. Fourteen patients were clinical stage IIIB, and six stage IV. The effusions were first completely drained by thoracocentesis or tube thoracostomy drainage, and 30 mg/m2 THP-ADM was instilled. Overall response rate was 50.0%. The response rate for treatment with tube thoracostomy drainage was 69.2%, which was significantly higher than that for treatment with thoracocentesis (14.3%). Significant difference in survival was not seen between the tube thoracostomy drainage group and the thoracocentesis group. There were no severe side effects. In conclusion, intrapleural administration of THP-ADM with tube thoracostomy drainage was considered to be useful for the control of malignant pleural effusion due to lung cancer.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Chest Tubes; Doxorubicin; Drainage; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion, Malignant

Pirarubicin, a new antineoplastic antibiotic of anthracycline derivative, was injected into the pleural cavity in 15 patients with malignant pleural effusion. The dose of pirarubicin was 40 mg or 80 mg/body. All 15 patients were evaluable for both efficacy and toxicity. Since one evaluable patient received two courses of intrapleural administration of pirarubicin, we evaluated a total of 16 courses. Overall response rate was 81.3% with 7 CR cases, 6 PR cases and 3 NR cases. As toxicities, transient elevation of fever was observed in 81.3%, chest pain in 37.5%, appetite loss in 18.8%, nausea in 12.5% and bone marrow suppression in 6.3% of 16 courses, but no alopecia was observed. Between 40 mg group (n = 8) and 80 mg group (n = 8), no significant difference was observed in response rate, response duration, survival duration or toxicities except for fever. Fever over 38 degrees C was observed in all (100%) the 80 mg group, which was significantly higher than 50% in the 40 mg group. Response duration in cases with fever over 38 degrees C (n = 12) was significantly longer than in cases with maximum fever under 38 degrees C (n = 4). Intrapleural administration of pirarubicin was considered to be effective for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion without severe toxicities.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Anorexia; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Chest Pain; Doxorubicin; Female; Fever; Humans; Infusions, Parenteral; Lung Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Stomach Neoplasms; Survival Rate