A weekly schedule of epirubicin in pretreated advanced breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Epirubicin is an analogue of doxorubicin with a similar activity but less toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of a weekly schedule of epirubicin.


METHODS
Fifty-three patients with metastatic breast cancer, pretreated and/or with a low performance status, were treated with 25 mg/m2/week of the drug.


RESULTS
Of the 49 evaluable patients, 3 achieved a complete response (6.1%) and 21 a partial response (42.8%) with a median duration of 6.3 months. Median survival was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders: 15.2 vs 6.0 months (P < 0.005). Furthermore, a marked improvement in performance status was observed (ECOG scale). No cardiologic toxicity was observed, and gastrointestinal toxicity was low.


CONCLUSIONS
Epirubicin administered weekly represent a valid alternative to conventional treatments.
Barni
S
S
Divisione di Radioterapia Oncologica, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Milano, Italy.
Archili
C
C
Lissoni
P
P
Paolorossi
F
F
Crispino
S
S
Tancini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis
D015251:Epirubicin