PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - PATRIZIA VICI AU - PAOLO FOGGI AU - GIUSEPPE COLUCCI AU - ELISABETTA CAPOMOLLA AU - MARIO BRANDI AU - FRANCESCO GIOTTA AU - NICOLA GEBBIA AU - LUIGI DI LAURO AU - MARIA ROSARIA VALERIO AU - GIANCARLO PAOLETTI AU - FRANCA BELLI AU - CARMINE PIZZA AU - DIANA GIANNARELLI AU - MASSIMO LOPEZ TI - Sequential Docetaxel Followed by Epirubicin-Vinorelbine as First-line Chemotherapy in Advanced Breast Cancer DP - 2005 Mar 01 TA - Anticancer Research PG - 1309--1314 VI - 25 IP - 2B 4099 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/2B/1309.short 4100 - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/2B/1309.full SO - Anticancer Res2005 Mar 01; 25 AB - Background: This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and the tolerability of a sequential regimen of docetaxel followed by epirubicin-vinorelbine combination as first-line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Twenty-seven patients received docetaxel 100 mg/m2 (4 cycles) followed by 4 cycles of epirubicin 90 mg/m2 (day 1) combined with vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 (days 1 and 5), with cycles repeated every 3 weeks. G-CSF was administered during epirubicin-vinorelbine treatment. Results: There were 1 (3.7%) CR and 14 (51.9%) PR, for an overall response rate of 55.6% (95% CI, 36.9%-74.3%). Median time to response, time to progression and overall survival were 2, 9 and 25 months, respectively. The dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia (grade 3 to 4 in 85% of the patients). There was one toxic death due to neutropenic fever. Gastrointestinal side-effects were generally mild. According to the Simon two-stage design the response rate was considered unsatisfactory and patient accrual was terminated. Conclusion: This sequential regimen appears to be moderately effective; possibly, a modulation of the treatment based on objective responses instead of a fixed number of cycles may be more appropriate in order to obtain better results. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved