Is epirubicin effective in first-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) after an epirubicin-containing adjuvant treatment? A single centre phase III trial.
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.
Pacilio
C
C
Medical Oncology C, National Cancer Institute, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Morabito
A
A
Nuzzo
F
F
Gravina
A
A
Labonia
V
V
Landi
G
G
Rossi
E
E
De Maio
E
E
Di Maio
M
M
D'Aiuto
G
G
Botti
G
G
Normanno
N
N
Chiodini
P
P
Gallo
C
C
Perrone
F
F
de Matteis
A
A
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
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin