title: Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC): a salvage regimen for advanced breast cancer patients who have failed anthracycline and/or taxane therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. imjai@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Imjai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chitapanarux
authors.forename: Vicharn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorvidhaya
authors.forename: Pimkhuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamnerdsupaphon
authors.forename: Ekkasit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tharavichitkul
authors.forename: Hongsin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trakultivakorn
authors.forename: Areewan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somwangprasert
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumitsawan
authors.forename: Songphol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srisukho
authors.forename: Keerati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watcharachan
authors.forename: Vimol
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sukthomya
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C080625:taxane; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine