Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (caelyx) in metastatic breast cancer: a community-based observation study.
OBJECTIVE
Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has improved therapy options significantly, as it causes less myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting, and alopecia than conventional doxorubicin, while maintaining efficacy. The goal of this survey was to determine whether the use of PLD in a community-based patient group is comparable regarding chemotherapeutic doses and side effects to preselected study patients.


METHODS
100 questionnaires were randomly sent to Swiss oncologists in private practices, general hospitals and university hospitals.


RESULTS
The patient cohort was heterogeneous with respect to prior treatments. PLD was an active agent in metastatic breast cancer and was well tolerated by the majority of patients. The most common non-hematological side effects were hand-foot syndrome (HFS) and mucositis while only patients receiving a dose of 50 mg/m(2) (recommended dose) experienced grade 4 HFS. The reported mean dose of PLD was 38.5 mg/m(2).


CONCLUSIONS
This community-based observational study supports previous reports indicating that PLD at a median dose of < or =40 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks is an active, well-tolerated agent in non-selected, pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Salzberg
Marc
M
Pharma Brains, Basel, Switzerland.
Thurlimann
Beat
B
Hasler
Ursula
U
Delmore
Geoffrey
G
von Rohr
Albert
A
Thurlimann
Annatina
A
Ruhstaller
Thomas
T
Stopatschinskaja
Shanna
S
von Moos
Roger
R
D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D008081:Liposomes; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin