Phase II trial of high-dose liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in metastatic breast cancer. TLC D-99 Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the toxicity and response rate of high-dose liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (TLC D-99, Evacet, The Liposome Company Inc, Princeton, NJ) in patients with advanced breast cancer.


METHODS
Fifty-two breast cancer patients with bidimensionally measurable metastatic disease and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease received a 135 mg/m2 intravenous (i.v.) bolus of TLC D-99 with 5 microg/kg of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor via subcutaneous injection every 21 days.


RESULTS
The median number of treatment cycles of TLC D-99 was three (range, one to 10 cycles), and the median total cumulative dose of TLC D-99 was 405 mg/m2 (range, 135 to 1,065 mg/m2). Grade IV neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and mucositis were experienced by 48 (92%), 46 (88%), and 10 (19%) patients, respectively. Twenty (38%) of patients experienced cardiac toxicity: four (8%) experienced a decrease of 20% or more in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to a final value > or = 50%, nine (17%) experienced a decrease of 10% or more in LVEF to a final value less than 50%, and seven (13%) developed symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF), including one patient who died of cardiomyopathy after receiving a total dose of 1,035 mg/m2. In a stepwise logistic regression model, the significant risk factors for the development of CHF were the cumulative dose of prior adjuvant doxorubicin (P = .007) and the total cumulative dose of TLC D-99 (P = .032). The overall response rate was 46% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32% to 61%) on an intent-to-treat basis. The median duration of response was 7.4 months (95% CI, 6.1 to 19.6 months) and the median progression-free survival was 6.1 months (95% CI, 5.4 to 7.5 months).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no added therapeutic benefit to the dose escalation of TLC D-99 in this study. A high rate of cardiotoxicity was also observed, especially among patients who had received prior adjuvant doxorubicin. This was probably attributable to the dose and schedule of TLC D-99 used in this trial, as well as the patient's lifetime cumulative doxorubicin dose. Administration of high-dose TLC D-99 at 135 mg/m2 every 3 weeks by i.v. bolus infusion does not warrant further investigation.
Shapiro
C L
CL
Breast Oncology Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. shapiro1@medctr.osu.edu
Ervin
T
T
Welles
L
L
Azarnia
N
N
Keating
J
J
Hayes
D F
DF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008081:Liposomes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D004317:Doxorubicin