title: Phase II study of continuous infusion fluorouracil with epirubicin and cisplatin in patients with metastatic and locally advanced breast cancer: an active new regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of continuous infusion fluorouracil (5-FU) with every-3-weeks epirubicin and cisplatin (ECF) in advanced breast cancer in a phase II study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients with metastatic (n = 29) or locally advanced/inflammatory (n = 14) breast cancer were treated with 5-FU 200 mg/m2/d via a Hickman line using an ambulatory pump for 6 months with epirubicin 50 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 IV every 3 weeks, for eight courses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate (complete plus partial) was 84% (95% confidence interval [Cl], 76% to 96%), with a complete response rate of 24% (95% Cl, 9% to 40%) in patients with metastatic disease and 36% (95% Cl, 11% to 61%) in patients with locally advanced disease. The main World Health Organization [WHO] grade 3 or 4 toxicities included leukopenia, emesis, and alopecia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infusional ECF is a highly active regimen in advanced breast cancer and warrants evaluation in high-risk early breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramage
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robertshaw
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashley
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; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil