M. Keating
May 1, 1995
Citations
0
Influential Citations
6
Citations
Journal
Clinical Drug Investigation
Abstract
SummarySince the introduction of idarubicin into the clinical research arena in the mid-1980s, the drug has been demonstrated to have significant activity in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, nonHodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Few data are available in Hodgkin’s disease. While the intravenous preparation was used in many of these studies, the activity of oral idarubicin has also been well documented. The versatility of oral administration of an active anticancer agent allows exploration of prolonged schedules and long term, low dose administration. This route and the various schedules of administration are optimal for patients with low-grade malignancies and are particularly relevant for elderly patients and those who would be considered unlikely to tolerate intensive regimens. The oral route is also useful in other clinical situations when dose intensity and schedule are not mandatory for delivering therapy with curative intent.Consequently, this extended role for oral idarubicin allows not only a more convenient mode of administration, but also the exploration of the impact of different doses and schedules on response rate and survival. The documented lipophilicity and bioavailability of idarubicin illustrate that it may be a convenient regimen to use in conjunction with other oral or subcutaneous medications, allowing delivery of combination programmes to a wider variety of patients in an outpatient setting. Further studies of these regimens in chronic leukaemias, in remission maintenance of acute leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes, and in the management of low-grade lymphoproliferative disorders, are indicated.