PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - ARDAVANIS, A.
AU  - TRYFONOPOULOS, D.
AU  - ORPHANOS, G.
AU  - IOANNIDIS, G.
AU  - KARAMOUZIS, M.
AU  - RIGATOS, G.
TI  - First-line Chemotherapy with Fluorouracil-Epirubicin-Navelbine (FEN) Combination in Advanced Breast Cancer
DP  - 2005 Nov 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 4493--4498
VI  - 25
IP  - 6C
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/6C/4493.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/6C/4493.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2005 Nov 01; 25
AB  - Background: A phase II study was carried out to determine the safety and efficacy of the combination of vinorelbine, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil (FEN) as first-line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer (BC). Patients and Methods: Thirty-four women with advanced BC, aged 32-75 years (median 59), previously untreated for recurrence, were enrolled in the study. The treatment consisted of fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 on day 1, epirubicin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, every 3 weeks, up to a maximum of 9 cycles. Results: The efficacy appeared favourable with 18 objective responses (3 complete and 15 partial) and 9 disease stabilizations, giving an overall response rate of 53% (95% CI: 36-70). The median progression-free and overall survival was 6 and 18 months, respectively (95% CI: 4.8-7.8 and 16.2-22.2, respectively). Toxicity was acceptable; the main grade 3/4 toxicity was alopecia in 94% of patients, neutropenia in 44% and less frequently gastrointestinal toxicity (9%), anaemia (6%), mucositis (6%), thrombocytopenia (3%) and diarrhoea (3%). No treatment-related death occurred. Conclusion: Our results suggest that FEN, as first-line chemotherapy, is an active and well-tolerated treatment for patients with advanced breast cancer. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved