[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus which Parkinsonism was induced by tacrolimus].

The present case is the first report of a systemic lupus erythematosus patient which has been induced Parkinsonism with the administration of tacrolimus (TAC). A 50-year-old woman was diagnosed as lupus nephritis on September 2003. The patient had been prescribed initially 40 mg/day of prednisolone, then cyclosporine was added on May 2005. One year later, she developed severe headache, so cyclosporine was stopped, and she was prescribed tacrolimus on February 2007. However her severe headache had been disappeared, she experienced rigidity and tremor around September 2007. The Dopamine-transporter-imaging examination reavealed that she had Parkinson's disease. The gene analysis on the genetic background showed her case was the sporadic type? Parkinson's disease. Washing out of Tacrolimus, her Parkinsonism was partially improved. This fact suggested that her Parkinsonism was drug-induced type Parkinsonism. In lupus nephritis patients who have been treated with TAC, a very careful observation should be considered because neurological disorders inducing Parkinsonism may occur.

Phase II study of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a Kansai Clinical Oncology Group study.

The objective of this phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel combination chemotherapy in previously untreated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients received paclitaxel at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, 15, and carboplatin with the target dose of area under the curve (AUC) of 6 on day 1 every 28 days. Forty-six patients were enrolled. A median of four cycles (range, 1-13) were administered. Complete response was observed in one patient (2.2%) and partial response in 23 patients (50%), yielding an overall intent-to-treat response rate of 52.2% (95% confidence interval, 37.8-66.6%). The median survival time was 395 days and 1-year survival rate was 51.4%. Toxicities were mild. Twelve patients (26%) had grade 3 and three patients (7%) had grade 4 neutropenia. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia was seen in four patients (8%). Massive hematoemesis due to duodenal ulcer was observed in one patient, but no other patients experienced grade 3 or more non-hematological toxicities. There was no treatment-related death. Carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel combination chemotherapy is an efficacious and feasible regimen in patients with advanced NSCLC, and this treatment will be a reasonable alternative to the conventional triweekly regimen of paclitaxel and carboplatin.