title: Phase I - II study of oral idarubicin, tegafur and levo-folinate in patients with pretreated advanced breast cancer.
abstract: Thirty patients with pretreated advanced breast cancer were enrolled in a study aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose and to evaluate the efficacy of oral idarubicin (12 mg/m2/day for 3 days every 4 weeks) with tegafur and levo-folinate (200 mg/m2/day and 50 mg/day, respectively, for a minimum of 6 days, increasing the dose and duration according to a modified Fibonacci scheme). The maximum tolerated doses identified were 200 mg/m2 days 1-30 for tegafur and 50 mg days 1-30 for levo-folinate. We obtained 2 partial remissions (7%) and 12 stable disease (45%) in 27 objectively evaluable patients. The main toxicity was gastrointestinal, with no hematologic toxicity. Median time to progression was 4 months (range 2-14), median survival was 10 months (3-30). A median number of 4 cycles (1-13) was administered. The results seem to support the use of this combination in elderly and pretreated patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cilenti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suriano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tartarone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lelli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D002955:Leucovorin; D015255:Idarubicin