Non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide or docetaxel as first-line therapy in metastatic breast cancer: a retrospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin play a central role in the management of advanced breast cancer. Unfortunately, the clinical benefits of anthracyclines are limited by cardiotoxicity that can lead to the development of potentially fatal congestive heart failure. In order to limit anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity, liposomal formulations of doxorubicin have been developed. This retrospective analysis evaluated the experience obtained with non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as first-line therapy in 34 patients with metastatic breast cancer.


METHODS
Patients received non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in combination with either cyclophosphamide (n = 14) or docetaxel (n = 20) for up to eight cycles, and efficacy and safety were assessed according to standard criteria.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 71%. The median progression-free survival was 8 months in patients receiving non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide and 13.8 months in those receiving non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus docetaxel (P = 0.2). The most commonly observed toxicities were grade 1-2 leucopenia, alopecia, nausea and vomiting; no grade 3-4 toxicities were observed. Overall, three patients (9%) experienced grade 1 cardiac toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the use of non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as an alternative to conventional doxorubicin formulations in combination regimens for the first-line therapy of metastatic breast cancer.
Livi
Lorenzo
L
Department of Radiotherapy-Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. l.livi@dfc.unifi.it
Meattini
Icro
I
Cardillo
Carla De Luca
Cde L
Mangoni
Monica
M
Greto
Daniela
D
Petrucci
Alessia
A
Rampini
Andrea
A
Bruni
Alessio
A
Galardi
Alessandra
A
Cataliotti
Luigi
L
Biti
Giampaolo
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008081:Liposomes; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D008081:Liposomes; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide