Teniposide in the treatment of small cell lung cancer: a review.

Abstract

The epipodophyllotoxin derivatives teniposide and etoposide have been under clinical investigation for over 15 years. Although etoposide has been established as one of the most active compounds in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), teniposide has received little attention. The results of seven phase II studies evaluating response rate and duration of response to teniposide in 10 previously treated and 102 untreated patients showed response rates of 21% and 58%, respectively. The most frequently used dosage schedule was 60 mg/m2 intravenously daily for 5 days every 3 weeks. The following are factors influencing the response rate and duration of response to teniposide: performance status; prior weight loss; prior chemotherapy exposure, including prior treatment with etoposide; stage; and effectiveness of prior chemotherapy, including time from last administration. Preliminary analyses from a study comparing the efficacy of teniposide with that of etoposide suggest that teniposide may be more effective in previously untreated patients with SCLC who are 70 years of age or older. The preliminary data, however, indicate that equivalent doses of teniposide cause more cases of leukopenia than etoposide. Before a final conclusion can be drawn, the results from an ongoing study using teniposide and etoposide at equitoxic doses must be evaluated.