Epirubicin plus low-dose trastuzumab in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2008;
115:131-6. [PMID:
18791821 DOI:
10.1007/s10549-008-0048-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2008] [Accepted: 04/29/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
This phase II study, evaluated the activity and cardiotoxicity of first-line epirubicin plus low-dose trastuzumab (LD-T) in patients with HER2 positive MBC.
METHODS
Patients received epirubicin 90 mg/sqm every 3 weeks plus weekly LD-T (2 mg/kg loading dose, then 1 mg/kg). After 6/8 cycles of epirubicin, single agent trastuzumab was continued. Cardiotoxicity was defined as signs or symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF), or >or=15% decline in LVEF without symptoms, or <15% LVEF decline to less than 50%, without symptoms.
RESULTS
Forty-five patients were enrolled. Twenty-three received prior adjuvant anthracyclines. Overall response rate was 61.4%. The median time to progression was 7.4 months and the median survival was 32.8 months. Two (4.5%) patients developed CHF.
CONCLUSIONS
Epirubicin plus LD-T is an active regimen, however, the relatively high rate of cardiotoxicity together with the availability of less cardiotoxic and active trastuzumab-containing combinations precludes further evaluation of this regimen.
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