[A clinical study of the radiosensitization of aclarubicin]

Sixty six patients with an advanced or a relapsed cancer have been treated with a combination of radiation and aclarubicin (ACR). The average irradiation dose was 45 +/- 15 Gy, and the combined total dose of ACR ranged from 130 to 260 mg, depending upon the following differing schedules: 10 mg x 3 or 5/w, 20 mg x 2 or 3/w and 20 mg x 2/d x 2/w. The tumor response attained was 70%, including 30% who achieved a complete response. A high response rate also was observed in rather radioresistant cancerous tumor, such as those of the lung, stomach and esophagus. The adverse effects, such as anorexia, nausea, and so on, were found increase with an increase in the dose of ACR. It thus was concluded that for clinical usefulness, 10 mg of ACR should administered every other day in combination with a definite program of radiotherapy.