Combination regimen of epirubicin, vinorelbine and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion as first-line chemotherapy in anthracycline-naive metastatic breast cancer patients.
We investigated the activity and toxicity of a combination of vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15; epirubicin 25 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15; and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion at 200 mg/m2 every day, administered as first-line chemotherapy in anthracycline-naive metastatic breast cancer patients. Fifty-three patients entered the study. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. Objective response was 60% by World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria and 63% by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST). The median time to progression was 12.7 months (17.6 months in responders) and the median survival duration was 32.9 months. The dose-limiting toxicity was leucopenia (grade 3/4 in 36% of patients). Grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicities included mucositis in 11% of patients, skin and cardiac toxicity in 4% and 2%, respectively. The combination of vinorelbine, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion was found to be an active and manageable first-line regimen for metastatic breast cancer patients.
Berruti
Alfredo
A
Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera San Luigi, Regione Gonzole 10 10043 Orbassano (To), Italy.
Bitossi
Raffaella
R
Bottini
Alberto
A
Bonardi
Simone
S
Donadio
Michela
M
Nigro
Cinzia
C
Bertetto
Oscar
O
Danese
Saverio
S
Bertone
Elena
E
Sarobba
Maria Giuseppa
MG
Farris
Antonio
A
Katsaros
Dionyssios
D
Castiglione
Federico
F
Volpe
Teresa
T
Lattuada
Sara
S
Mancarella
Sergio
S
Dogliotti
Luigi
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D015251:Epirubicin; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D005472:Fluorouracil