title: Combination regimen of epirubicin, vinorelbine and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion as first-line chemotherapy in anthracycline-naive metastatic breast cancer patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera San Luigi, Regione Gonzole 10 10043 Orbassano (To), Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bitossi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottini
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonardi
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donadio
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bertetto
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danese
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertone
authors.forename: Maria Giuseppa
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sarobba
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: Dionyssios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katsaros
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lattuada
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancarella
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D005472:Fluorouracil