title: Front-line treatment of advanced breast cancer with docetaxel and epirubicin: a multicenter phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a previous phase I trial we evaluated the toxicity and determined the maximum tolerated doses of the docetaxel (D)-epirubicin (Epi) combination. We conducted a multicenter phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of this regimen as front-line treatment in women with advanced breast cancer (ABC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four women with ABC stage IIIB (4 patients) or IV (50 patients) received front-line treatment with Epi 70 mg/m2 on day 1 and D 90 mg/m2 on day 2. The median age was 55 years, performance status (WHO) was 0-1 in 49 patients and visceral disease was present in 45 (83%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were evaluable for toxicity and 50 for response. In an intent-to-treat analysis complete remission was observed in 5(9%) patients, partial remission in 31 (57%) (overall response rate 66%, 95% confidence interval: 54% 79%), stable disease in 9 (17%) and disease progression in 9 (17%). After a median follow-up of 11.5 months, the median duration of responses was 8 months, the median time to disease progression 11.5 months and the median survival has not yet been reached. The probability of one-year survival was 65%. Three hundred six cycles of treatment were administered (median 6 cycles per patient). Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 8 (15%) and 31 (57%) patients, respectively, and febrile neutropenia in 19 (35%). Prophylactic rh-G-CSF was used in 45 (83%) patients or 226 (74%) cycles. Other hematologic or non-hematologic toxicities were usually mild. In five (9%) patients the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was decreased by more than 10% with the treatment. Two patients died during the treatment of respiratory failure without associated neutropenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of docetaxel epirubicin is an effective and well tolerated front-line treatment in patients with ABC.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. georgoul@med.uch.gr
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Mavroudis
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alexopoulos
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ziras
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Malamos
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kouroussis
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kakolyris
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Agelaki
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kalbakis
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Tsavaris
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Potamianou
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Rigatos
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Georgoulias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D043823:Taxoids
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel