Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC): a salvage regimen for advanced breast cancer patients who have failed anthracycline and/or taxane therapy.
BACKGROUND
In clinical studies of both heavily and minimally pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer, the combination of Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC), given in a variety of schedules and doses, has demonstrated moderate safety and efficacy in both heavily and minimally pretreated advanced breast cancer with response rate from 29-63% (median 46%).


METHODS
We evaluated the activity and toxicity of another GC regimen (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) days 1, 8 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 1 every 3 weeks) in 30 breast cancer patients who failed chemotherapy with anthracycline and/or taxanes as adjuvant or neoadjuvant, or primary therapy.


RESULTS
We obtained overall response in 15 of 29 evaluable patients (52%), with responses occurring in all subgroups of disease (unresectable locally advanced, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis). Toxicity was primarily hematologic, with grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 37% and 17% of patients, respectively. The only grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicity was grade 3 nausea/vomiting in 12% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that gemcitabine plus cisplatin appears to be effective and has an acceptable toxicity profile in anthracycline and/or taxane pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer.
Chitapanarux
Imjai
I
Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. imjai@hotmail.com
Lorvidhaya
Vicharn
V
Kamnerdsupaphon
Pimkhuan
P
Tharavichitkul
Ekkasit
E
Trakultivakorn
Hongsin
H
Somwangprasert
Areewan
A
Sumitsawan
Somsak
S
Srisukho
Songphol
S
Watcharachan
Keerati
K
Sukthomya
Vimol
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000188:drug therapy; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017211:Treatment Failure; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D018943:Anthracyclines; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C080625:taxane; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine