title: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (caelyx) in metastatic breast cancer: a community-based observation study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Pharma Brains, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Salzberg
authors: Beat
authors: B
authors: Thurlimann
authors: Ursula
authors: U
authors: Hasler
authors: Geoffrey
authors: G
authors: Delmore
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: von Rohr
authors: Annatina
authors: A
authors: Thurlimann
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Ruhstaller
authors: Shanna
authors: S
authors: Stopatschinskaja
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: von Moos
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D008081:Liposomes; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin