title: Irinotecan combined with docetaxel in pre-treated metastatic breast cancer patients: a phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is a phase II study where a novel chemotherapy combination was tested in pre-treated breast cancer patients: docetaxel and irinotecan have already been established as agents for breast and colorectal cancer, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight (median age 54 years, range 26-77 year) patients, all evaluable, were enrolled. All patients had been pre-treated with anthracycline-combined chemotherapy, 30 of whom were also treated with paclitaxel and 2 with docetaxel. World Health Organization (WHO) performance status was 0-2. The dominant metastasis was in the liver (54.17%), in the lungs (27.08%), in soft tissues (12.50%) and in the skeleton (6.25%). Treatment involved irinotecan infusion 200 mg/m(2) for 90 min and docetaxel infusion 80 mg/m(2) for 90 min, repeated once every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five (52.08%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 37.95-66.21) patients showed responses: 3 complete (6.25%, 95% CI 0-13.05) and 22 (45.83%, 95% CI 31.74-59.92) partial; the most responsive metastases were observed at the liver site (53.85%). Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 18 patients (37.50%); 14 (29.17%) patients developed anaemia and three (6.25%), thrombocytopenia. Concerning non-haematologic toxicity, alopecia and fatigue were common; grade 3 diarrhea was observed in only one (2.08%) patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The irinotecan-docetaxel combination produces quite a high response rate in pre-treated advanced breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: First Oncology Department, Errikos Dunant Hospital, Semitelou 2A, Athens, Greece. dr-gps@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsavdaridis
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Malamos
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pergantas
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xynotroulas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin