Evaluation of efficacy and toxicity of systemic chemotherapy of combined epirubicin, cisplatin and bolus 5-fluorouracil for hepatobiliary tumors

Abstract

We aimed to search the efficacy and toxicity of epirubicin, cisplatin, bolus 5-fluorouracil regimen in hepatobiliary tumors. Twelve patients, (8 with biliary tumors, 4 with hepatocellular carcinoma) were included. All patients were inoperable or metastatic. 5- Fluorouracil 500 mg/m ² i.v. bolus (day 1-5), cisplatin 60 mg/m ² i.v. (day 1), epirubicin 50 mg/m ² i.v. (day 1) chemotherapy was given every 21 days. The patients were evaluated after median 4 cycles. There was partial response in 3 (37.5%), stable disease in 2 (25%) and progression in 3 (37.5%) patients with biliary tumor. One patient showed partial response (25%), 1 had stable disease (25%) and 2 patients had progression (50%) in hepatocellular carcinoma group. Grade 3/4 side effects were thrombocytopenia in 2 patients (17%), neutropenia in 2 patients (17%), emesis in 1 patient (8%) and alopecia in 4 patients (33%). Treatment of hepatobiliary tumors with this regimen was well tolerated. More definite results with further studies including homogeneous groups of patients must be performed.