[4'-epidoxorubicin: its cardiotoxicity. Possible cardiac protection with gallopamil, a drug with calcium-antagonist action]

Minerva Cardioangiol. 1992 Jan-Feb;40(1-2):23-30.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

The 4'-EPI-doxorubicin (4'-EDX) has shown antitumoral activity against a broad spectrum of human tumors. The same clinical reports have shown therapeutic activity comparable to doxorubicin (adriamycin), but a lower cardiac toxicity. 4'-EDX cardiotoxicity appears after highest cumulative doses: 935 mg/m2 bs for 4'-EDX vs 550 mg/m2 bs for adriamycin. Moreover we have observed a protective action of the calcium antagonist gallopamil. We have found an improvement in ventricular performance after using gallopamil, and a reduction of 4'-EDX cardiotoxicity. Cardiac function was evaluated by EKS, STI, echography, myocardial scintigraphy course. Our result indicates the possibility of treating tumors without serious cardiotoxic by 4'-EDX and gallopamil.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography
  • Epirubicin / administration & dosage
  • Epirubicin / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Gallopamil / administration & dosage
  • Gallopamil / pharmacology*
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Gallopamil
  • Epirubicin