Amrubicin hydrochloride (AMR) is usually administered intravenously to lung cancer patients at 45 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days every 3 or 4 weeks.As such chemotherapy is used for patients who have already received other chemotherapies,the recommended dosage in the package insert is usually reduced.In the present study,the clinical usage and adverse drug reactions of AMR were investigated in outpatients with lung cancer treated with the drug at the Outpatient Oncology Unit of Kyoto University Hospital between October 2005 and September 2006.Patient profiles,previously performed regimens and initial dosages of AMR were examined,and hematological toxicities were compared with those reported in clinical trials.
Seventeen outpatients (44-79 years) had been treated with AMR.All of them had received other chemotherapies with the number of previous chemotherapies ranging from 2-7.The average dose of AMR in the first administration was 35.4±5.5 mg/m2,lower than the recommended dose of 45 mg/m2.Neutropenia (Grade 3 or 4)and thrombocytopenia occurred in 47.1 % and 5.9% of the patients,respectively,these frequencies being lower than those reported in clinical trials.Patients experiencing hematological toxicity had neutrophil counts of less than 3,500/μL before chemotherapy.In view of our findings,pharmacists should pay attention to therapeutic histories and hematological profiles in order to perform AMR therapy more safely and effectively.