Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
A dose-dense strategy has been considered to improve results of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. This randomised phase II trial investigated the feasibility of this approach with sequential anthracyclines and taxanes-based chemotherapy.Methods
Patients with high-risk node-positive breast cancer were treated with three cycles of fluorouracil 500 mg m(-2), epirubicin 100 mg m(-2), cyclophosphamide 500 mg m(-2) (FEC 100) followed by three cycles of docetaxel 100 mg m(-2) delivered at 2-weekly intervals supported by primary prophylaxis with filgrastim. All patients were randomised to either uninterrupted treatment (arm A) or to have a 2-week additional period of rest between the FEC and docetaxel (arm B). The primary endpoint was the rate of success of chemotherapy delivery. Using a two-stage Fleming design, 120 patients were required with one interim analysis.Results
In March 2005, enrolment was stopped into arm A after the observation of severe skin toxicities. Following the planned interim analysis, the study was closed because of the high rate of grade 3/4 skin toxicities in both arms (arm A: 32.4% and arm B: 18.9%).Conclusion
Sequential dose-dense FEC 100 followed by docetaxel 100 mg m(-2) is not feasible. Feasibility still depends largely on several factors including the choice of drugs, dosage and sequence of administration.
SUBMITTER: Brain E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3242527 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Brain E E Levy C C Serin D D Roché H H Spielmann M M Delva R R Veyret C C Mauriac L L Rios M M Martin A L AL Jimenez M M Asselain B B Gauthier M M Bonnetain F F Fumoleau P P
British journal of cancer 20111018 10
<h4>Background</h4>A dose-dense strategy has been considered to improve results of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. This randomised phase II trial investigated the feasibility of this approach with sequential anthracyclines and taxanes-based chemotherapy.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients with high-risk node-positive breast cancer were treated with three cycles of fluorouracil 500 mg m(-2), epirubicin 100 mg m(-2), cyclophosphamide 500 mg m(-2) (FEC 100) followed by three cycles of docetaxel 100 m ...[more]