title: A randomized comparison of single-agent doxorubicin and epirubicin as first-line cytotoxic therapy in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: One hundred forty-one patients with advanced breast cancer who had not received prior chemotherapy were randomly assigned to receive doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 or epirubicin 90 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. These doses were selected to produce equivalent toxicities. All patients were assessed for toxicity, and 138 patients were assessable for response. After a median of five treatment cycles, 47% (32 of 68) of doxorubicin-treated patients achieved a partial or complete response. Response duration and survival were 10 and 12 months for doxorubicin and 8 and 10 months for epirubicin, respectively. Noncardiac toxicities were similar for both drugs. Of 41 patients receiving doxorubicin who had serial left ventricular ejection fraction assessments, seven sustained a fall of 10% or more, and one patient developed congestive cardiac failure at a cumulative doxorubicin dose of 489 mg/m2. Of 39 patients receiving epirubicin who had serial cardiac assessments, five sustained left ventricular ejection fraction falls of 10% or more and two patients developed congestive cardiac failure at cumulative doses of 178 mg/m2 and 833 mg/m2. These data indicate that an epirubicin dose of 90 mg/m2 produces toxicity equivalent to doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 but does not improve response rates, response duration, or survival in advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dunedin Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dady
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D004317:Doxorubicin