WS Cai, R Wu, HY Zhao, WL Wang, DL Wen, JH Zhang, Y Wang, YG Tan, HW Zou

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and quality of life of irinotecan in Chinese refractory neuroblastoma patients in affiliated hospitals of China Medical University. Patients and Methods: Seven patients received irinotecan at 40-50 mg/m²/day administered as a 60-minute infusion for 5 consecutive days, every 3 weeks. Tumour response, toxicities and performance status were evaluated. Results: Stable disease was observed in 3 of 7 patients (42.9%). Most common grade 3-4 toxicities were myelosuppressive haematologic toxicities. Grade 1-2 nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or cramping and diarrhoea were the most common non-haematologic drug-related toxicities observed. Quality of life was improved in almost all patients. Conclusion: Irinotecan as a single agent was well tolerated and was a very safe regimen in Chinese patients. Although this regimen induced no objective response (CR+PR) in refractory neuroblastoma patients, the clinical benefit rate (CR+PR+SD) was 42.9%. This regimen could alleviate pain and to some extent improve the quality of life for heavily pretreated refractory Chinese neuroblastoma patients.

目的：評價中國醫科大學附屬醫院難治性神經母細胞瘤患者應用伊立替康治療的效力、安全性以及患者的生活質素。患者與方法：7名患者每3周接受連續5天伊立替康60分鐘輸注（40-50毫克/平方米/天）。對腫瘤藥物的反應、藥物毒性和表現狀態進行評估。結果：其中3名患者（42.9%）病情維持穩定。最常見3-4級毒性為骨髓抑制性血液科毒性。1-2級毒性有噁心、嘔吐、腹痛、絞痛和腹瀉，為最常見非血液科毒性。基本上所有病人的生活質素都得以改善。結論：中國患者伊立替康單藥使用耐受性好，是一個較安全的治療方案。儘管該方案並不能在難治性神經母細胞瘤患者中有顯著的療效（CR和PR），但臨床獲益率（CR、PR和SD）為42.9%。該方案能減輕疼痛，並在一定程度上改善難治性神經母細胞瘤中國患者的生活質素。