ABSTRACT
The clinical efficacy and safety of cepharanthin for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced leukopenia were reevaluated at multiple institutions.Clinical data of cancer patients aged over 20 years old, who received a total radiotherapy dose above 40 Gy, and who were treated with cepharanthin for more than 2 weeks between April 2007 and November 2012, were evaluated. Data from 65 patients(males: 31, females: 34)from 7 facilities were analyzed to assess efficacy and adverse events.The mean leukocyte count was significantly higher at the end of the treatment compared with the initial data.However, no significant differences were observed in erythrocyte and platelet counts.No adverse events attributed to cepharanthin were reported.Although this was a retrospective study, cepharanthin was found to be safe and significantly effective for the management of leukopenia caused by radiotherapy.
