title: A phase II study of epirubicin, vinorelbine and cisplatin in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the activity and safety of the combination of cisplatin, epirubicin and vinorelbine (CEV) in advanced breast cancer patients. Patients with advanced breast cancer, locally advanced or metastatic, received epirubicin 75 mg/m2 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on day 1, and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on day 8. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. A total of 35 patients were treated. Thirty-one patients were evaluated for response. One hundred and fifty-five cycles of chemotherapy were administered overall. The objective response rate (ORR) was 84%, including complete response in 13% of patients. All stage III patients achieved a downstaging, with a pathological complete response in two out of 10 patients. Patients with stage IV disease obtained objective response in 67% of cases. Toxicity was mild to moderate. The most common grade 3-4 adverse event was febrile neutropenia, which occurred in 17% of patients. We conclude that CEV combination represents an effective treatment for patients with previously untreated advanced breast cancer, allowing an important ORR. Moreover this regimen appears to be well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Medical Oncology, S. Croce General Hospital, Cuneo, Italy. ornella.garrone@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Garrone
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Principe
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Occelli
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: Gianmauro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Numico
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granetto
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Costanzo
authors.forename: Pier Dino
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Rattazzi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merlano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine