title: Single-agent pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer: results of an Austrian observational trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In advanced breast cancer, multiple sequential lines of treatments are frequently applied. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has a favourable toxicity profile and can be used in first or higher lines of therapy. PLD has demonstrated response activity even after prior anthracycline exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  129 consecutive patients with advanced breast cancer, of whom the majority had been massively pretreated, received PLD as monotherapy within licensed approval, for which efficacy and toxicities were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a routine therapy setting, PLD was administered in a slightly reduced dose (median, 40 mg/m2 per cycle). Response rate (complete and partial remission) was 26%, and stable disease was observed in 19% of patients. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5.8 months and 14.2 months, respectively. There was no difference in terms of response and PFS, no matter if patients had already received anthracycline treatment. Interestingly, PFS proved similar regardless whether PLD was administered as palliative therapy in first, second or third line. Furthermore, PFS and OS were similar in patients with response or stable disease, underscoring the view that disease stabilization is associated with a profound clinical benefit. The most common side effects reported were palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (17%), exanthema (14%) and mucositis (12%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efficacy and toxicity data in these "real life" patients permit the conclusion that PLD is a valuable option in the treatment of advanced breast cancer even in heavily pretreated patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V/Hematology-Oncoloy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, Innsbruck, Austria. michael.fiegl@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiegl
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mlineritsch
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hubalek
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pluschnig
authors.forename: Günther G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Steger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001317:Austria; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010166:Palliative Care; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin