Abstract
Background. This Phase III trial was performed to compare the roles of oral etoposide and intravenous (i.v.) vinblastine in the treatment of Mediterranean Kaposi's Sarcoma (MEKS) in elderly patients with severe disease (Stages II, Ac/B, III, and IV). Patients and Methods. Sixty-five patients were randomized to receive either oral etoposide (60 mg/m2 on Days 1-3 during the first course; 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-4 during the second course, and 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-5 during the third course; the courses were recycled every 3 weeks) or an i.v. bolus of vinblastine (3 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks, and then 6 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Results. No significant difference between the two drugs was observed in terms of response rates (etoposide, 73.5% vs. vinblastine, 58%; P = 0.3), duration of response, or survival (median not yet reached at a median follow-up of 38 months). Side effects of both treatments were limited, although myelotoxicity was more evident in the vinblastine arm. Conclusions. Although it is feasible and well tolerated, the oral administration of etoposide at these doses and in this regimen does not appear superior to vinblastine in the treatment of MEKS. Further evaluation of a more intensive schedule in large cooperative clinical trials is needed to establish the role of this drug in comparison with reference treatments.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2873-2878 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Cancer |
| Volume | 74 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1994 |
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Keywords
- elderly
- Kaposi's sarcoma
- oral etoposide
- randomized study
- vinblastine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology
Cite this
Mediterranean Kaposi's sarcoma in the elderly : A randomized study of oral etoposide versus vinblastine. / Brambilla, L.; Labianca, R.; Boneschi, V.; Fossati, S.; Dallavalle, G.; Finzi, A. F.; Luporini, G.
In: Cancer, Vol. 74, No. 10, 1994, p. 2873-2878.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediterranean Kaposi's sarcoma in the elderly
T2 - A randomized study of oral etoposide versus vinblastine
AU - Brambilla, L.
AU - Labianca, R.
AU - Boneschi, V.
AU - Fossati, S.
AU - Dallavalle, G.
AU - Finzi, A. F.
AU - Luporini, G.
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - Background. This Phase III trial was performed to compare the roles of oral etoposide and intravenous (i.v.) vinblastine in the treatment of Mediterranean Kaposi's Sarcoma (MEKS) in elderly patients with severe disease (Stages II, Ac/B, III, and IV). Patients and Methods. Sixty-five patients were randomized to receive either oral etoposide (60 mg/m2 on Days 1-3 during the first course; 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-4 during the second course, and 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-5 during the third course; the courses were recycled every 3 weeks) or an i.v. bolus of vinblastine (3 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks, and then 6 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Results. No significant difference between the two drugs was observed in terms of response rates (etoposide, 73.5% vs. vinblastine, 58%; P = 0.3), duration of response, or survival (median not yet reached at a median follow-up of 38 months). Side effects of both treatments were limited, although myelotoxicity was more evident in the vinblastine arm. Conclusions. Although it is feasible and well tolerated, the oral administration of etoposide at these doses and in this regimen does not appear superior to vinblastine in the treatment of MEKS. Further evaluation of a more intensive schedule in large cooperative clinical trials is needed to establish the role of this drug in comparison with reference treatments.
AB - Background. This Phase III trial was performed to compare the roles of oral etoposide and intravenous (i.v.) vinblastine in the treatment of Mediterranean Kaposi's Sarcoma (MEKS) in elderly patients with severe disease (Stages II, Ac/B, III, and IV). Patients and Methods. Sixty-five patients were randomized to receive either oral etoposide (60 mg/m2 on Days 1-3 during the first course; 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-4 during the second course, and 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-5 during the third course; the courses were recycled every 3 weeks) or an i.v. bolus of vinblastine (3 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks, and then 6 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Results. No significant difference between the two drugs was observed in terms of response rates (etoposide, 73.5% vs. vinblastine, 58%; P = 0.3), duration of response, or survival (median not yet reached at a median follow-up of 38 months). Side effects of both treatments were limited, although myelotoxicity was more evident in the vinblastine arm. Conclusions. Although it is feasible and well tolerated, the oral administration of etoposide at these doses and in this regimen does not appear superior to vinblastine in the treatment of MEKS. Further evaluation of a more intensive schedule in large cooperative clinical trials is needed to establish the role of this drug in comparison with reference treatments.
KW - elderly
KW - Kaposi's sarcoma
KW - oral etoposide
KW - randomized study
KW - vinblastine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028100112&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028100112&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/1097-0142(19941115)74:10<2873::AID-CNCR2820741021>3.0.CO;2-1
DO - 10.1002/1097-0142(19941115)74:10<2873::AID-CNCR2820741021>3.0.CO;2-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 7954250
AN - SCOPUS:0028100112
VL - 74
SP - 2873
EP - 2878
JO - Cancer
JF - Cancer
SN - 0008-543X
IS - 10
ER -