Primary systemic chemotherapy with sequential, dose-dense epirubicin and docetaxel for inoperable, locally advanced inflammatory breast cancer: a phase II study

Acta Oncol. 2005;44(3):248-54. doi: 10.1080/02841860510029725.

Abstract

Sequential, dose-dense epirubicin plus docetaxel was evaluated as primary systemic therapy for women with inoperable, locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) or inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Patients (LABC n=27; IBC n=7) received 3 cycles of epirubicin 120 mg/m2 every 2 weeks followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel 100 mg/m2 every 2 weeks, with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Grade 3-4 toxicities were observed in 21 of 195 cycles (10.8%). Grade 3 anemia and leukopenia each occurred in 1% of cycles. Following chemotherapy, all patients underwent surgery. Eight patients (23.5%) had a clinical complete response and 15 (44.1%) had a partial response. In patients with IBC, median skin thickness decreased from 5.85 mm (range: 3.1-6.2 mm) to 4 mm (range: 2.7-5.1 mm) (p<0.005). Sequential, dose-dense epirubicin plus docetaxel achieved a high response rate among patients with LABC or IBC with only moderate toxicity.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia / chemically induced
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Docetaxel
  • Epirubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Epirubicin / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Leukopenia / chemically induced
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Remission Induction
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage*
  • Taxoids / adverse effects

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Taxoids
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Docetaxel
  • Epirubicin