title: Multicentric phase II trial of gemcitabine plus epirubicin plus paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: In this phase II, multicentre trial, patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were treated with a combination of gemcitabine, epirubicin and paclitaxel (GET). The primary objective of this study was to determine the tolerability and activity in terms of complete responce (CR) and overall response rate of the GET combination in this patient population. Patients with no prior treatment for MBC, and at least one bidimensionally measurable lesion received gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) intravenously (i.v.) over 30 min on days 1 and 4, followed by epirubicin i.v. at 90 mg m(-2) on day 1, and paclitaxel 175 mg m(-2) over 3 h on day 1, every 21 days, up to eight courses. From May 1999 to June 2000, 48 patients were enrolled from seven Italian institutions. A total of 297 chemotherapy courses were administered with a median of six cycles patient(-1) (range 1-8). Seven patients (15%) obtained CR and 27 patients (56%) had partial responce, for an overall response rate of 71% (95% CI: 58.3-83.7). After a median follow-up of 23.7 months (range 7.0-34.4), median progression-free survival was 10.5 months (95% CI: 9.2-11.7), and median overall survival 25.9 months. The main haematological toxicity consisted of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia that occurred in 62% of cycles (22% grade 4 and 40% grade 3). The GET combination is active and well tolerated as first-line chemotherapy for MBC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Bellaria Hospital, via Altura 3, 40139-Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cappuzzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gennari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Cetto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galligioni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansutti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tumolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucentini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valduga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartolini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crinò
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Conte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D015251:Epirubicin