title: Carboplatin and oral etoposide in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracyclines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and toxicity of the carboplatin and oral etoposide combination in patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients were treated with a maximum of 6 cycles of carboplatin (300 mg/m2) and etoposide (200 mg/m2) every 4 weeks. Prior treatment with an anthracycline was given as adjuvant in 17 patients and as first line treatment for advanced disease in 10 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 12  (44%) patients completed all 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The median administered dose of carboplatin was 72 mg/m2/week and of etoposide 143 mg/m2/week. Two (7.5%) complete and 4 (15%) partial responses were observed. Both complete responses occurred in patients who received only mitoxantrone-containing adjuvant treatment, and lasted for 36 and 92+ weeks. The main toxicities included anemia (56%), leukopenia (56%), nausea/vomiting (50%) and alopecia (79%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of carboplatin and oral etoposide is effective and should probably be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracyclines.
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: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Theoharis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin