title: Intensive chemotherapy with high-dose epirubicin every 2 weeks and prophylactic administration of filgrastim in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: 50 women with advanced breast cancer were treated with an intensified regimen which consisted of high-dose epirubicin (110 mg/m2) every 2 weeks and filgrastim (5 micrograms/kg) subcutaneously for 13 days, starting 24 h after chemotherapy. 44 patients completed all six cycles. The median interval between cycles of treatment was 14.3 days. The actually administered median dose per unit time per patient was 53 mg/m2/week, amounting to 97.2% of the dose prescribed by the protocol. 7 [14%, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) 4-24%] patients achieved a complete and 25 (50%, 95% C.I. 36-64%) a partial response. Median time to progression was 32 weeks and median survival 64 weeks. Stomatitis and fever each occurred in 7 (14%) patients. Grade 3 haematological toxicity was observed in 6 (12%) patients. 1 (2%) patient developed grade 4 cardiac toxicity. This intensified regimen appears to be a well tolerated and effective treatment in advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skarlos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasiades
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bafaloukos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalogera-Fountzila
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018450:Disease Progression; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D000069585:Filgrastim; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D015251:Epirubicin; D000069585:Filgrastim