title: Multicenter phase II study of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in combination with vinorelbine as first-line treatment in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This multicenter phase II trial was conducted to analyze the clinical activity and toxicity of the combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine as first-line treatment in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2002 to August 2004, 42 patients with metastatic breast cancer were recruited for treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1 and vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the patients in this trial was 68 years (range 60-82). 40% of patients had 2 or more sites of metastasis, 33 (78%) had predominantly visceral metastasis, and 7 (16%) mostly bone metastasis. Just 2 (5%) patients had only lymphogenous or soft tissue metastasis. All patients had an ECOG performance status of 0-1, but 70% of the patients had relevant comorbidities. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall clinical response rate was 36%, the complete response rate was 2%, and the rate of partial remissions was 34%; stable disease occurred in 30%, and progressive disease was observed in 36%. Median duration of response was 10 months. Median time to progression was 4 months, and median overall survival time was 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine is an active and well tolerated regimen in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer in first-line treatment.
authors.affiliation: Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 3rd Medical Department with Hematology, Medical Oncology, Hemostaseology, Rheumatology and Infectious Disease and Laboratory of Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research, Müllner Hauptstrasse 48, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mlineritsch
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schabel-Moser
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridrik
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moik
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russ
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rass
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greil
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D000077235:Vinorelbine