title: Doxorubicin in advanced breast cancer: influence of schedule on response, survival and quality of life.
abstract: The influence of scheduling of doxorubicin on response, survival and quality of life was assessed in a randomised trial in patients with advanced breast cancer, none of whom had previously received cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced disease. 28 patients received 75 mg/m2 doxorubicin every 3 weeks for four courses (arm 1) and 31 patients received 25 mg/m2 weekly for 12 courses (arm 2). Response rates and median time to progression were similar in the two arms and median survival was 8 months in both arms. However, amongst patients receiving treatment every 3 weeks, psychological distress measured using the Rotterdam symptom checklist fell significantly over the course; no such change was observed in those treated weekly. Physical symptoms related to cancer improved during treatment similarly for both groups.
authors.affiliation: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Twelves
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swindell
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scrivener
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin