title: Is epirubicin effective in first-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) after an epirubicin-containing adjuvant treatment? A single centre phase III trial.
abstract: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the superiority of docetaxel and epirubicin vs docetaxel alone as first-line therapy in metastatic breast cancer patients pretreated with adjuvant or neoadjuvant epirubicin. We compared single agent docetaxel 100 mg m-2 (D) with the combination of docetaxel 80 mg m-2 and epirubicin 75 mg m-2 (ED). The response rate (72 vs 79%), the progression-free survival (median 9 vs 11 months) and the overall survival (median 18 vs 21 months) were not significantly different between the ED (n=26) and D arms (n=25), respectively. Leucopaenia, nausea and stomatitis were significantly worse with ED. In conclusion, epirubicin should not be administered in combination with taxanes in metastatic breast cancer patients relapsed after an anthracycline-based adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology C, National Cancer Institute, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pacilio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nuzzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Labonia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Maio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Maio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Aiuto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Normanno
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiodini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Matteis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin