Survival:9.3 months
Toxicity Grade:5
Treatments:Chemotherapy
Drugs:Camptosar
Country:United States
City/State/Province:Chicago, IL
Hospital:University of Chicago
Journal:Link
Date:6/2005
Description:
Patients: This Phase II study involved 28 patients with malignant mesothelioma. Eighteen patients were men, and ten were women. The median age was 66 years. Twenty patients had been exposed to asbestos, and fifteen had been exposed to tobacco products.

Treatment: The treatment consisted of one chemotherapeutic agent: irinotecan.

Toxicities: Three patients died of treatment related toxicities. In addition, grade 3-4 toxicities included: lymphocytopenia, granulocytopenia, leukocytopenia, diarrhea, nausea, and anorexia.

Results: The median survival was 9.3 months. The authors concluded, “Single-agent irinotecan in this dose and schedule has considerable toxicity in patients with malignant mesothelioma and has no anti-tumor activity.”

Correspondence: Hedy L. Kindler, MD