Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Thirty-one patients were entered into a pilot study combining oral quinidine with epirubicin 100 mg m-2 as first line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. Three patients were treated with quinidine 1 g b.d., and developed symptoms of toxicity. Of eight subsequent patients treated with quinidine 500 mg b.d., two experienced tiredness and nausea and one severe oral toxicity with epirubicin. The remaining 20 patients received quinidine 250 mg b.d.; one developed cinchonism and one malaise, the remainder showing no excess toxicity compared with epirubicin alone. The median nadir WBC was similar with or without quinidine (2.3 vs 1.6 x 10(9) l-1) as was median nadir platelet count (175 vs 157 x 10(9) l-1). There was no evidence of significant cardiac toxicity. The median plasma quinidine level achieved was 5.6 mumol l-1 (range 2.1-22.1), which is within the range of concentrations which is effective in vitro at reversing experimental anthracycline resistance. A randomised controlled study is proposed to assess the impact of this potential modulation on the efficacy of epirubicin in advanced breast cancer.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/bjc.1990.244

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Cancer

Publication Date

07/1990

Volume

62

Pages

133 - 135

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Breast Neoplasms, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Therapy, Combination, Epirubicin, Female, Humans, Leukocyte Count, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Platelet Count, Quinidine