[Oral idarubicin in treatment of advanced breast carcinoma]

Idarubicin is the first anthracycline derivative which can be applied orally due to its high lipid solubility. The joint bioavailability of the parent compound and its active metabolite Idarubicinol is around 40%. The most frequently used administration schedule is 45 mg/m2, day 1 or 15 mg/m2, day 1-3 every third or forth week. The dosis for weekly administration is 15-20 mg/m2. The objective remission rate of the pooled data of 509 evaluable patients treated with the q3w schedule is 24% (CR 3%, PR 21%). The most important side effects are reversible leukopenia and moderate gastrointestinal toxicity. The cardiac toxicity and alopecia are significantly lower than that observed by doxorubicin or epirubicin treatment.