Gemcitabine: once-weekly schedule active and better tolerated than twice-weekly schedule.
dc.contributor.author | Martin, C | |
dc.contributor.author | Lund, B | |
dc.contributor.author | Anderson, Heather | |
dc.contributor.author | Thatcher, Nick | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2010-04-07T16:19:54Z | |
dc.date.available | 2010-04-07T16:19:54Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1996-05 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Gemcitabine: once-weekly schedule active and better tolerated than twice-weekly schedule. 1996, 7 (3):351-7 Anticancer Drugs | en |
dc.identifier.issn | 0959-4973 | |
dc.identifier.pmid | 8792011 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10541/95929 | |
dc.description.abstract | This paper reviews the toxicity profile of gemcitabine, a novel anticancer drug. Gemcitabine has been administered using two different treatment schedules: once weekly or twice weekly for 3 weeks followed by a week of rest (one cycle). It was well tolerated and alopecia was not a problem. Toxicity was greater in the twice-weekly schedule. Comparing the once-weekly with the twice-weekly schedule, WHO grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was reported in 4.7 and 25.6% of patients, respectively. Other hematological toxicity was minimal. Transient WHO grade 3 or 4 elevations of ALT and AST occurred in 9.2 and 7.2% of patients, respectively, in the once-weekly schedule. For the twice-weekly schedule the corresponding percentages were 12.2 and 13.8%. Symptomatic toxicity was greater in patients who received twice-weekly gemcitabine. Nausea and vomiting was mild and generally well controlled without 5HT3 antagonists. However, there was a greater incidence of nausea and vomiting on the twice-weekly schedule. Flu-like symptoms were documented in 19.8% of patients receiving once-weekly and 63.3% of patients receiving twice-weekly gemcitabine. Peripheral edema, not related to cardiac, hepatic or renal failure, was seen more often in patients on twice-weekly treatment. As the efficacy of gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer was equivalent when using both regimens, the better tolerated and more easily administered once-weekly schedule is recommended. | |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.subject | Lung Cancer | en |
dc.subject.mesh | Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic | |
dc.subject.mesh | Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung | |
dc.subject.mesh | Clinical Trials as Topic | |
dc.subject.mesh | Deoxycytidine | |
dc.subject.mesh | Drug Administration Schedule | |
dc.subject.mesh | Drug-Induced Liver Injury | |
dc.subject.mesh | Humans | |
dc.subject.mesh | Kidney Diseases | |
dc.subject.mesh | Lung Neoplasms | |
dc.subject.mesh | Neoplasms | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thrombocytopenia | |
dc.title | Gemcitabine: once-weekly schedule active and better tolerated than twice-weekly schedule. | en |
dc.type | Article | en |
dc.contributor.department | Lilly Research Centre, Windlesham, Surrey, UK. | en |
dc.identifier.journal | Anti-Cancer Drugs | en |
html.description.abstract | This paper reviews the toxicity profile of gemcitabine, a novel anticancer drug. Gemcitabine has been administered using two different treatment schedules: once weekly or twice weekly for 3 weeks followed by a week of rest (one cycle). It was well tolerated and alopecia was not a problem. Toxicity was greater in the twice-weekly schedule. Comparing the once-weekly with the twice-weekly schedule, WHO grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was reported in 4.7 and 25.6% of patients, respectively. Other hematological toxicity was minimal. Transient WHO grade 3 or 4 elevations of ALT and AST occurred in 9.2 and 7.2% of patients, respectively, in the once-weekly schedule. For the twice-weekly schedule the corresponding percentages were 12.2 and 13.8%. Symptomatic toxicity was greater in patients who received twice-weekly gemcitabine. Nausea and vomiting was mild and generally well controlled without 5HT3 antagonists. However, there was a greater incidence of nausea and vomiting on the twice-weekly schedule. Flu-like symptoms were documented in 19.8% of patients receiving once-weekly and 63.3% of patients receiving twice-weekly gemcitabine. Peripheral edema, not related to cardiac, hepatic or renal failure, was seen more often in patients on twice-weekly treatment. As the efficacy of gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer was equivalent when using both regimens, the better tolerated and more easily administered once-weekly schedule is recommended. |