title: Phase II study of carboplatin and etoposide as a first line regimen in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The data available on the role of carboplatin and etoposide in breast cancer, especially in patients with no or minimal prior therapy are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a phase II study with carboplatin and etoposide as first line treatment in 34 patients with metastatic breast cancer. The treatment regimens was carboplatin 300 mg/m2 day 1, and etoposide 100 mg/m2 days 1, 3 and 5 every four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 33 evaluable patients, 2 achieved complete responses (6%) lasting 4 and 5 months, 7 patients (21%) achieved partial responses with a median duration of 6+ (range 5-8) months, 15 patients had stable disease, and 9 progressed during treatment. The major toxicity was myelosuppression WHO grades 3 or 4 leukocytopenia or thrombocytopenia were seen in 15 and 10 patients, respectively. One formally ineligible patient with an impaired renal function died 14 days after the start of treatment because of a septicaemia in the presence of a grade 4 leukocytopenia. Besides this patient no other patient presented with granulocytopenic fever.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the observed response rate of 27% (95% confidence interval 11%-43%) we think that carboplatin and etoposide given in this dose and schedule has probably no clear advantage over the more commonly used regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Gaast
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bontenbal
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Planting
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Splinter
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 / Q000473:pathology; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin