title: Phase II study of high-dose epirubicin, lonidamine, alpha 2b interferon in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: 44 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with high-dose epirubicin (130 mg/sqm), because of its steep dose-response curve. Lonidamine and alpha interferon were administered as well with the aim of increasing epirubicin uptake and overcoming drug resistance. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor support was provided. 14 complete responses and 22 partial responses were observed in 40 evaluable patients for a 90% overall response rate. Median duration of response was 12 months for complete responders, 7 months for partial responders. In two cases the complete response has lasted for more than two years. Myelosuppression, infection, and cardiac toxicity were the main treatment-related toxic effects. These results are encouraging enough to justify a randomized comparison of our chemotherapy program with standard regimens used in advanced breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Interna, Universitá di Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Iaffaioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortoriello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caponigro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007191:Indazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007191:Indazoles; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015251:Epirubicin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; C016371:lonidamine