[Single-agent trial with epirubicin in hematological malignancies]

Twelve patients with hematological malignancies were treated with epirubicin and ten patients were evaluable. One out of our four patients with ALL, who had a previous therapy of anthracycline, achieved a partial remission (PR: 25%). In two patients with AML, remission was not obtained. Of four patients with NHL, one with B-cell lymphoma achieved complete remission (CR) and one with ATLL partial remission (CR + PR: 50%). Stomatitis was observed as a major side effect in three patients with acute leukemia and in one with NHL. In conclusion, our trial seems to show the efficacy of epirubicin in lymphoid malignancies.