Adding adjuvant CMF chemotherapy to either radiotherapy or tamoxifen: are all CMFs alike? The International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG)

Patient-centered dosing: oncologists' perspectives about treatment-related side effects and individualized dosing for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

PURPOSE

Although metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is treatable, it is not curable and most patients remain on treatment indefinitely. While oncologists commonly prescribe the recommended starting dose (RSD) from the FDA-approved label, patient tolerance may differ from that seen in clinical trials. We report on a survey of medical oncologists' perspectives about treatment-related toxicity and willingness to discuss flexible dosing with patients.

METHODS

We disseminated a confidential survey via social media/email in Spring 2021. Eligible respondents needed to be US-based medical oncologists with experience treating patients with MBC.

RESULTS

Of 131 responses, 119 were eligible. Physicians estimated that 47% of their patients reported distressing treatment-related side effects; of these, 15% visited the Emergency Room/hospital and 37% missed treatment. 74% (n = 87) of doctors reported improvement of patient symptoms after dose reduction. 87% (n = 104) indicated that they had ever, if appropriate, initiated treatment at lower doses. Most (85%, n = 101) respondents did not believe that the RSD is always more effective than a lower dose and 97% (n = 115) were willing to discuss individualized dosing with patients.

CONCLUSION

Treatment-related side effects are prevalent among patients with MBC, resulting in missed treatments and acute care visits. To help patients tolerate treatment, oncologists may decrease initial and/or subsequent doses. The majority of oncologists reject the premise that a higher dose is always superior and are willing to discuss individualized dosing with patients. Given potential improvements regarding quality of life and clinical care, dose modifications should be part of routine shared decision-making between patients and oncologists.

Fluoropyrimidine Cardiotoxicity: Incidence, Outcomes, and Safety of Rechallenge

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Fluoropyrimidine (FDP) chemotherapy regimens used in the treatment of solid tumors such as breast, gastrointestinal, and hepatobiliary malignancies have led to significant survival benefits. However, FDP cardiotoxicity can lead to premature termination of FDP-based chemotherapy treatments. Resuming these crucial therapies after initial FDP cardiotoxicity can be challenging for patients and healthcare providers.

RECENT FINDINGS

Symptomatic cardiotoxicity occurs in up to 35% of patients treated with FDP-based chemotherapy. The most common symptom is chest pain, but palpitations, dyspnea, myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest can also occur. Several large studies have attempted to discern clinical and genetic risk factors in those who develop FDP cardiotoxicity. With cardiac risk factor optimization and aggressive pre-treatment with anti-anginal agents, rechallenging with FDP is possible and allows patients to resume optimal cancer-directed treatment. FDP cardiotoxicity remains a poorly understood identity. We highlight several recent publications attempting to define the risk factors associated with developing FDP cardiotoxicity. The management of FDP cardiotoxicity and consideration of rechallenge of FDP-based regimens highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary partnership between oncologists and cardiologists/cardio-oncologists.

A Retrospective Analysis of Metronomic Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and Fluorouracil (CMF) Versus Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide (TC) as Adjuvant Treatment in Early Stage, Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Anthracycline and taxane-based doublets have largely replaced cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) as preferred regimens in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Metronomic CMF is associated with improved tolerability over anthracycline or taxane-based regimens. Previously, there have been no direct comparisons between taxane-based regimens and CMF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 98 breast cancer patients treated at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance from February 2015 through December 2018 that received either metronomic CMF or docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC) as adjuvant therapy for early-stage, hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer. The primary outcome assessed was disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS), dose intensity, and adverse effects.

RESULTS

With an average follow-up of 35.9 and 28.2 months for CMF and TC, respectively, there was no significant difference in DFS or OS between the chemotherapy regimens. DFS at 3 years was 96.7% vs. 94.3% and OS 96.7% vs. 100% for CMF and TC, respectively. There were more dose delays in the CMF group, but on average, patients receiving either regimen achieved a dose intensity ≥85%. There was a trend towards increased hospitalization or emergency department utilization (23.1% vs. 10.6%) and Grade 4 toxicities (9.6% vs. 4.3%) with TC vs. CMF.

CONCLUSION

Metronomic CMF offers equivalent survival outcomes to TC and remains a viable option in the adjuvant treatment of HR+/HER2- breast cancer. There was a trend towards increased Grade 4 toxicities and hospitalizations with TC, suggesting that metronomic CMF may offer a more tolerable treatment option while maintaining excellent disease outcomes.

The Results of Chemotherapy with Two Variants of Intravenous CMF in Patients with Early Stage Breast Carcinoma; Does Dose Density Matter?

No direct comparisons can be made in early stages of breast cancer, between the intravenous combinations of: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil; named modified versions of CMF with the classical oral version of CMF. Since these modifications have different dose intensities and densities, the outcomes for their subsequent treatments may be varied, and not produce the same results. Despite that, classical CMF has been commonly replaced with intravenous modifications. This study aimed to assess the results of treatment with two common intravenous modification of CMF chemotherapy; to represent the most effective and successful substitute of classical CMF. Five hundred patients in two groups were eligible to take part in the experiment. For two hundred and twenty-nine patients in the group CMF 1&8, chemotherapy was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 28 days for six cycles consisting of: cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² , methotrexate 40 mg/m² , fluorouracil 600 mg/m² . In the group CMF 1 which consisted of 271 patients, chemotherapy was administered with all the same drugs and doses, however, it was only administered on day 1 and repeated at 21-day intervals for six cycles. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), the prognostic factors and other probable interventional factors were then compared between the two groups. The 5-year OS rate of 87.5% and 10-year OS rate of 82% in the group CMF 1&8 were statistically significantly better than 5-year OS of 84% and 10-year OS of 61.5% in the group CMF 1 (p = 0.01). The 5-year and 10-year DFS rates were 76% and 60% respectively, in the group CMF 1&8 compared with 77% and 54% respectively in the group CMF 1 (p = 0.8). Two groups were comparable regarding their distribution of different prognostic factors and other probable interventional factors. Considering 30% higher dose density of drugs in the protocol of CMF 1&8, the improving outcome can be related to the efficacy of dose-dense chemotherapy. Therefore, this intravenous modification is the better substitute of classical CMF.

Chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced cancer: A pilot study in Institute of Oncology Bucharest

Objectives

First objective was better understanding of the indications of chemotherapy in elderly with advanced cancer, tolerability and toxicity of chemotherapy in this age group. The second objective was to define current practice in chemotherapy for elderly people with advanced cancer for a selected group of patients treated in Institute of Oncology Bucharest (IOB).

Materials and Methods

The study makes a clinical analysis of medical records of 27 patients from the archive of Institute of Oncology Bucharest treated by the same doctor. Patients were selected according to: age ≥ 65 years, ECOG performance status 0–1, normal blood counts and blood biochemistry, histological confirmation of the diagnosis of cancer, patients should received at least 3 cycles of chemotherapy. We extract characteristics of the patients to see if they were a homogeneous group of patients and to compare them with data from the literature. Overall survival was calculated by the Kaplan Meyer curve.

Results

295 patients more then 65 years were treated in our site in 2 years 2011, 2012. 93 patients received chemotherapy and only 27 patients were enrolled in this study following inclusion criteria. Common sites of cancer were lung and breast. The most used cytostatics for lung cancer was gemcitabine and carboplatine and cyclophosphamide, metotrexat and 5 fluorouracil for breast cancer. Toxicity was mild with the prevalence of hematologic toxicity. Overall survival without taking into account the type of cancer was 27.7 month.

Conclusions

For selected patients, chemotherapy was well tolerated and appears to prolong survival regardless of the location of cancer. The relatively small number of elderly patients who received chemotherapy is probably due to lack of compliance to treatment, the increased number of co-morbidities and evaluation of performance status only by the ECOG index known not to be good enough to establish the indication of chemotherapy.

Persistence, adherence, and toxicity with oral CMF in older women with early-stage breast cancer (Adherence Companion Study 60104 for CALGB 49907)

BACKGROUND

Cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil (CMF) is often selected as adjuvant chemotherapy for older patients with early-stage breast cancer due to perceived superior tolerability. We sought to measure persistence with CMF, adherence to oral cyclophosphamide, and the association of these with toxic effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

CALGB 49907 was a randomized trial comparing standard chemotherapy (CMF or AC, provider/patient choice) with capecitabine in patients aged ≥65 with stage I-IIIB breast cancer. Those randomized to standard therapy and choosing CMF were prescribed oral cyclophosphamide 100 mg/m(2) for 14 consecutive days in six 28-day cycles. Persistence was defined as being prescribed six cycles of at least one of the three CMF drugs. Adherence was the number of cyclophosphamide doses that women reported they had taken divided by the number prescribed. Persistence and adherence were based on case report forms and medication calendars.

RESULTS

Of 317 randomized to standard chemotherapy, 133 received CMF. Median age was 73 (range 65-88). Seventy-one percent submitted at least one medication calendar; 65% persisted with CMF. Non-persistence was associated with node negativity (P = 0.019), febrile neutropenia (P = 0.002), and fatigue (P = 0.044). Average adherence was 97% during prescribed cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported adherence to cyclophosphamide was high, but persistence was lower, which may be attributable to toxic effects.

CMF revisited in the 21st century

Over the last 35 years, classical CMF (combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil) has been a milestone in the adjuvant treatment of women with breast cancer. However, after an early burst of success lasted just over 10 years, classical CMF has been supplanted by 'third-generation' regimens containing taxanes and anthracyclines. Questions have been raised in the past years concerning the true effectiveness of adjuvant CMF for specific subgroups of patients and particularly, recent retrospective data support the fact that the CMF might have a role in the treatment of patients with triple-negative breast cancer. One possible justification for supporting this role of CMF may be sought in the mechanism of action of drugs used in the regimen, as triple-negative cells may be sensitive to alkylating agents that cause double-strand breaks in DNA. The lesson learned from the CMF could lead us to identify new combinations of drugs that could include the optimal chemotherapy backbone for triple-negative breast cancer such as platinum compounds or alkylating agents or Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. In conclusion, although we have learned a lot from the use of CMF, many questions are still open and hopefully stimulate our thinking, as clinicians, leading us to find new and more effective ways to treat breast cancer.

The effects of cyclophosphamide on hippocampal cell proliferation and spatial working memory in rat

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapy used in combinations that are associated with cognitive impairment. In the present study male Lister-hooded rats (n = 12) were used to investigate the effects of chronic administration of CP (30mg/kg, 7 i.v. doses, or an equivalent volume of saline) on performance in the novel location recognition (NLR) task and on the proliferation and survival of hippocampal cells. The survival of hippocampal cells dividing at the beginning of treatment was significantly reduced by CP. However, no difference was seen between CP treated and control groups for the number of cells proliferating 7 days after the final injection and both groups performed equally well in the NLR task. These results indicate that the given dose of CP acutely reduces the survival of newly born hippocampal cells. However, it does not have a longer term effect on spatial working memory or hippocampal proliferation, suggesting that CP is less neurotoxic than other chemotherapies with which it is used in combination.

Is there a standard type and duration of adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer?

Adjuvant chemotherapy clearly reduces the odds of subsequent breast cancer recurrence, metastases, and mortality. There are three main areas of interest regarding adjuvant chemotherapy: (1) Should everyone receive it? (2) Is there an optimal regimen for everyone or selected individuals at this time? And (3) Can we improve on existing regimens? A multitude of investigations from around the world have addressed the three questions raised above. Increasingly we are able to identify both those patients most likely to need adjuvant chemotherapy (prognosis) and, perhaps, those most likely to benefit from it (prediction). In this regard, web-based, multi-factorial calculators, best exemplified by Adjuvant!, permit a patient and her caregiver to estimate her absolute odds of benefit from chemotherapy, thus better informing women in their assessment of benefits and risks (http://www.adjuvantonline.com/index.jsp). The answer to the next question, whether there is an optimal regimen, dose, and schedule of adjuvant chemotherapy, is, frankly, "no". Clinical research over the last four decades has strongly suggested the following principles: In summary, it is clear that adjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial for women with early stage breast cancer, and it is clear that selected regimens, based on specific agents, cumulative and cycle-specific dose, and schedule may affect the relative efficacy. It is not clear which patients are most likely to benefit from any adjuvant chemotherapy at all, or from specific strategies. Thus, at this time there is no single standard type or duration of adjuvant chemotherapy, and physicians should choose from regimens that have proven benefit as demonstrated in randomized Phase III trials.

Clinically significant drug-drug interactions between oral anticancer agents and nonanticancer agents: a Delphi survey of oncology pharmacists

BACKGROUND

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can lead to adverse clinical outcomes, particularly in oncology, because of the narrow therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic agents and because patients with cancer are at a high risk due to polypharmacy and age-related organ dysfunction. In a previously published study, drug profiles were developed based on primary and tertiary literature reviews for a list of clinically significant DDIs involving 28 oral anticancer agents (OAAs).

OBJECTIVE

This study was based on a Delphi survey of oncology pharmacists; the survey results were used to develop a consensus list of clinically significant DDIs involving OAAs and nonanticancer agents.

METHODS

In this study, the DDI profiles previously developed were updated, and the DDI pairs that were listed both in the 2009 Drug Interaction Facts (DIF) and the Thomson Micromedex DrugDex System compendia and that also met the predetermined criteria for clinical significance were selected for further evaluation. In a 2-round, electronically administered Delphi survey of oncology pharmacists, a 5-point Likert scale (1-5, where 1 = strongly agree and 5 = strongly disagree) was used to evaluate the DDI pairs based on 8 clinical aspects (clinical importance; irreversible morbidity and mortality; quality of data; quantity of data; patient's organ functions; comorbid conditions; awareness of interaction; and management burden). International pharmacists who specialized in oncology pharmacy practice and had > or =5 years of practice experience were eligible to participate.

RESULTS

Nine of the 23 surveyed pharmacists responded, giving a response rate of 39.1%. A total of 37 DDI pairs were selected from DIF and DrugDex and evaluated by the survey respondents, resulting in the identification, via consensus, of 12 clinically significant DDI pairs. The clinical aspects with the most DDIs that reached consensus of agreement were clinical importance (82.9%) and awareness of interaction (73.2%).

CONCLUSION

An expert panel identified 12 clinically significant DDIs involving OAAs.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Older Adults with Breast Cancer: Making the Standard a Standard

Muss HB, Berry DA, Cirrincione CT et al.: Adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with early-stage breast cancer. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 2055–2065 (2009). To date, only two prospective trials evaluating adjuvant therapy for breast cancer in older adults have been published. The second and more recent trial, Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 49907, provides substantial evidence supporting the use of standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimens (doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide or cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil) as opposed to simplified oral regimens (capecitabine). In this trial, both the risk of relapse (hazard ratio: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.38–3.17; p < 0.001) and the risk of death (hazard ratio: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.11–3.08; p = 0.02) were significantly higher with capecitabine compared with standard chemotherapy. The current review explores both the implications and potential caveats of this innovative trial. CALGB 49907 represents a paradigm for further studies of adjuvant cancer therapy in older adults.

Adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil in premonopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer: indirect comparison of dose and schedule in DBCG trials 77, 82, and 89

A significant reduction in the risk of recurrence and death was achieved three decades ago with adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with operable breast. The major pivotal trials used oral cyclophosphamide (C) days 1-14 with intravenous methotrexate (M) and fluorouracil (F) on days 1 and 8, repeated every 28 days. The classical CMF has later been modified as concerns dose and schedule, without formal comparisons in randomised trials between the classical CMF and the modifications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Classical CMF was used in the first adjuvant chemotherapy trial performed by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG), and two succeeding randomised trials in premenopausal patients with node positive breast cancer used three-weekly or four-weekly intravenous CMF in one of the treatment arms.

RESULTS

Between November 1977 and January 2001 these trials included 2 213 patients who in addition to surgery and radiotherapy received CMF. Ten-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 48% following classical CMF, 45% following four-weekly and 47% following three-weekly CMF. Major differences in patient characteristics were observed across these three cohorts, and a multivariate analysis was performed adjusting for the known prognostic factors. In the adjusted analysis a 30% increase in the risk of recurrence was observed for two the intravenous regimens as compared to classical CMF. As concerns survival a significant 40% increase in the risk of death was observed with the four-weekly regimen, while a similar risk of death was observed with the three-weekly intravenous. Classical CMF was associated with a higher risk of amenorrhoea, and this may at least in part explain an observed interaction between age and efficacy.

DISCUSSION

This cross trial comparison suggests a detrimental effect in premenopausal patients with node positive breast cancer when shifting from classical CMF to intravenous regimens with lower dose-intensity. Caution is required in the interpretation of these results due to the non-experimental study design.

The Role of Supportive Therapy in the Era of Modern Adjuvant Treatment - Current and Future Tools

Recent advances in adjuvant treatment of breast cancer have improved progression-free and overall survival. Optimal management of treatment-induced side effects has therefore gained further importance. This review cannot provide a comprehensive overview of treatment-related toxicity and its management, but focuses on important new developments in the field of supportive therapy. Erythropoietins, while highly effective in treating chemotherapy-induced anaemia, may have detrimental effects on outcome, and should only be used with the aim to reduce the number of whole blood transfusions. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors were a prerequisite for development of dose-dense regimens, and are also necessary in many anthracycline/taxane combination regimens. A potential tumour-stimulating effect was not proven in solid cancers. For side effects of conventional chemotherapy, such as mucositis, nausea, or diarrhoea, regularly updated guidelines may improve symptom control. Overall, modern supportive treatment tools will further reduce treatment-related mortality and help increase quality of life.

B-vitamin intake, one-carbon metabolism, and survival in a population-based study of women with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among women. Given its important role in DNA methylation and synthesis, one-carbon metabolism may affect breast cancer mortality. We used a population-based cohort of 1,508 women with breast cancer to investigate possible associations of dietary intake of B vitamins before diagnosis as well as nine polymorphisms of one-carbon metabolizing genes and subsequent survival. Women newly diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer in 1996 to 1997 were followed for vital status for an average of 5.6 years. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between dietary intakes of B vitamins (1,479 cases), genotypes ( approximately 1,065 cases), and all-cause as well as breast cancer-specific mortality. We found that higher dietary intake of vitamin B(1) and B(3) was associated with improved survival during the follow-up period (P(trend) = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). Compared with the major genotype, the MTHFR 677 T allele carriers have reduced all-cause mortality and breast cancer-specific mortality in a dominant model [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 0.69 (0.49-0.98) and 0.58 (0.38-0.89), respectively]. The BHMT 742 A allele was also associated with reduced all-cause mortality [hazard ratio, 0.70 (0.50-1.00)]. Estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status modified the association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and survival (P = 0.05). The survival associations with one-carbon polymorphisms did not differ with the use of chemotherapy, although study power was limited for examining such effect modification. Our results indicate that one-carbon metabolism may be an important pathway that could be targeted to improve breast cancer survival.

Polychemotherapy for early breast cancer: results from the international adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Survival of patients with early-stage breast cancer is improved following treatment with single-modality tamoxifen, ovarian ablation or suppression, or chemotherapy. The Adjuvant Breast Cancer Trials were designed to ascertain any additional benefits of combined treatment.

METHODS

The Adjuvant Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Trial was a randomized phase III trial in which patients with early-stage breast cancer who were receiving prolonged (5 years) tamoxifen treatment, with or without ovarian ablation or suppression, were randomly assigned to standard chemotherapy versus none. Trial endpoints included relapse-free and overall survival. Hazard ratios (HRs) were derived from Cox models, and all statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Between 1992 and 2000, 1991 patients between the ages of 26 and 81 years were randomly assigned (987 to chemotherapy, 1004 to no chemotherapy) from 106 UK and 16 non-UK centers. Nine hundred seven (92%) patients received chemotherapy as allocated (87% received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil; 11% received anthracycline-containing regimens). A total of 244 of the 619 premenopausal patients received elective ovarian ablation or suppression. Chemotherapy improved relapse-free survival (relapse in the chemotherapy group versus no-chemotherapy group, 298 events versus 332 events, HR = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73 to 1.01; P = .06) and overall survival (death from any cause in the chemotherapy group versus no-chemotherapy group, 243 events versus 282 events, HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.70 to 0.99; P = .03) after adjustment for nodal status, estrogen receptor status, and age. Subgroup analyses showed that the benefit of chemotherapy was greatest in younger women (<50 years) and in particular for premenopausal women not receiving ovarian ablation or suppression.

CONCLUSION

Modest yet sustainable benefits for chemoendocrine therapy occur in women with breast cancer. However, the full impact on overall survival may not emerge for several years.

Improved outcome from substituting methotrexate with epirubicin: results from a randomised comparison of CMF versus CEF in patients with primary breast cancer

We compared the efficacy of CEF (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil) against CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil) in moderate or high risk breast cancer patients. We randomly assigned 1224 patients with completely resected unilateral breast cancer to receive nine cycles of three-weekly intravenous CMF or CEF. Patients were encouraged to take part in a parallel trial comparing oral pamidronate 150 mg twice daily for 4 years versus control (data not shown). Substitution of methotrexate with epirubicin significantly reduced the unadjusted hazard for disease-free survival (DFS) by 16% (hazard ratio 0.84; 95% CI; 0.71-0.99) and for overall survival by 21% (hazard ratio 0.79; 95% CI; 0.66-0.94). The risk of secondary leukaemia and congestive heart failure was similar in the two groups. Overall CEF was superior over CMF in terms of DFS and OS in patients with operable breast cancer without subsequent increase in late toxicities.

Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil as adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The National Epirubicin Adjuvant Trial (NEAT) and the BR9601 trial examined the efficacy of anthracyclines in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer.

METHODS

In NEAT, we compared four cycles of epirubicin followed by four cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) with six cycles of CMF alone. In the BR9601 trial, we compared four cycles of epirubicin followed by four cycles of CMF, with eight cycles of CMF alone every 3 weeks. The primary end points were relapse-free and overall survival. The secondary end points were adverse effects, dose intensity, and quality of life.

RESULTS

The two trials included 2391 women with early breast cancer; the median follow-up was 48 months. Relapse-free and overall survival rates were significantly higher in the epirubicin-CMF groups than in the CMF-alone groups (2-year relapse-free survival, 91% vs. 85%; 5-year relapse-free survival, 76% vs. 69%; 2-year overall survival, 95% vs. 92%; 5-year overall survival, 82% vs. 75%; P<0.001 by the log-rank test for all comparisons). Hazard ratios for relapse (or death without relapse) (0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58 to 0.82; P<0.001) and death from any cause (0.67; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.82; P<0.001) favored epirubicin plus CMF over CMF alone. Independent prognostic factors were nodal status, tumor grade, tumor size, and estrogen-receptor status (P<0.001 for all four factors) and the presence or absence of vascular or lymphatic invasion (P=0.01). These factors did not significantly interact with the effect of epirubicin plus CMF. The overall incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher with epirubicin plus CMF than with CMF alone but did not significantly affect the delivered-dose intensity or the quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Epirubicin plus CMF is superior to CMF alone as adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00003577 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Phase II trial of 10-EDAM in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

This phase II trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of 10-Ethyl-10-Deaza-Aminopterin (10-EDAM), a folate antagonist, in metastatic breast cancer patients who had received no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen.

METHODS

Fifty-five patients were treated on an initial weekly dose 80 mg/m(2) of 10-EDAM. Patients who had received a prior chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant setting (group 1) were considered separately from patients who had received a prior chemotherapy regimen in the metastatic setting (group 2).

RESULTS

The response rate for both groups combined was 18%, and median time to progression was 3 months. Median overall survival was 12 months. Treatment was associated with common chemotherapy-related toxicities, such as 25% grade three or four neutropenia and 20% grade three or four stomatitis.

CONCLUSION

In patients with metastatic breast cancer who had received one prior chemotherapy regimen, 10-EDAM was well tolerated. In general, while definite antitumor activity was documented, time to progression was brief.

Breast Cancer in Limited-Resource Countries: Treatment and Allocation of Resources

Treating breast cancer under the constraints of significantly limited health care resources poses unique challenges that are not well addressed by existing guidelines. We present evidence-based guidelines for systematically prioritizing cancer therapies across the entire spectrum of resource levels. After consideration of factors affecting the value of a given breast cancer therapy (contribution to overall survival, disease-free survival, quality of life, and cost), we assigned each therapy to one of four incremental levels--basic, limited, enhanced, or maximal--that together map out a sequential and flexible approach for planning, establishing, and expanding breast cancer treatment services. For stage I disease, basic-level therapies are modified radical mastectomy and endocrine therapy with ovarian ablation or tamoxifen; therapies added at the limited level are breast-conserving therapy, radiation therapy, and standard-efficacy chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil [CMF], or doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide [AC], epirubicin and cyclophosphamide [EC], or 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide [FAC]); at the enhanced level, taxane chemotherapy and endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists; and at the maximal level, reconstructive surgery, dose-dense chemotherapy, and growth factors. For stage II disease, the therapy allocation is the same, with the exception that standard-efficacy chemotherapy is a basic-level therapy. For locally advanced breast cancer, basic-level therapies are modified radical mastectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CMF, AC, or FAC), and endocrine therapy with ovarian ablation or tamoxifen; the therapy added at the limited level is postmastectomy radiation therapy; at the enhanced level, breast-conserving therapy, breast-conserving whole-breast radiation therapy, taxane chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors or LH-RH agonists; and at the maximal level, reconstructive surgery and dose-dense chemotherapy and growth factors. For metastatic or recurrent disease, basic-level therapies are total mastectomy for ipsilateral in-breast recurrence, endocrine therapy with ovarian ablation or tamoxifen, and analgesics; therapies added at the limited level are radiation therapy and CMF or anthracycline chemotherapy; at the enhanced level, chemotherapy with taxanes, capecitabine, or trastuzumab, endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors, and bisphosphonates; and at the maximal level, chemotherapy with vinorelbine, gemcitabine, or carboplatin, growth factors, and endocrine therapy with fulvestrant. Compared with the treatment of early breast cancer, the treatment of advanced breast cancer is more resource intensive and generally has poorer outcomes, highlighting the potential benefit of earlier detection and diagnosis, both in terms of conserving scarce resources and in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality. Use of the scheme outlined here should help ministers of health, policymakers, administrators, and institutions in limited-resource settings plan, establish, and gradually expand breast cancer treatment services for their populations.

The choice of systemic adjuvant therapy in receptor-positive early breast cancer

Patients with endocrine-responsive breast cancer represent a distinct population for which tailored adjuvant treatments are needed. Endocrine therapy is mandatory for this population. For premenopausal patients, ovarian ablation or tamoxifen can be recommended; the combination of both, as well as the combination of ovarian ablation and aromatase inhibitors is under investigation. For postmenopausal patients, tamoxifen for 5 years is the 'standard of care'. Anastrozole can be recommended for patients with a contraindication to tamoxifen. The addition of 5 years of letrozole after 5 years of tamoxifen has yielded benefits in terms of disease-free survival. The sequential use of tamoxifen and exemestane was superior to tamoxifen for 5 years. However, in both studies, long-term toxicity is still not fully evaluated. The addition of chemotherapy to endocrine treatment can be recommended for patients at high risk of relapse and in young patients. Chemotherapy should consist of 3-6 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil or of an anthracycline-containing regimen. The addition of taxanes cannot be routinely recommended in this population. Endocrine treatment should start after completion of chemotherapy.

The role of the liposomal anthracyclines and other systemic therapies in the management of advanced breast cancer

For patients whose breast cancers are not responsive to endocrine therapy, there are a large number of cytotoxic drugs that will induce a response. In spite of the introduction of new, very active drugs such as the taxanes, vinorelbine, capecitabine, gemcitabine, and trastuzumab, the anthracyclines are still as active as any--and more active than most--drugs used to treat breast cancer. Their inclusion in combinations to treat early and advanced disease prolongs survival. However, they cause nausea, vomiting, alopecia, myelosuppression, mucositis, and cardiomyopathies. There is no evidence that increasing the dose of conventional anthracyclines or any other of the cytotoxics beyond standard doses will improve outcomes. Schedule may be more important than dose in determining the benefit of cytotoxics used to treat breast cancer. Weekly schedules and continuous infusions of 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin may have some advantages over more intermittent schedules. Liposomal formations of doxorubicin reduce toxicity, including cardiotoxicity; theoretically they should also be more effective because of better targeting of tumor over normal tissues. Both pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil/Caelyx [PLD]) and liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet [NPLD]) appeared to be as effective as conventional doxorubicin and much less toxic in multiple phase II and phase III studies. PLD has been evaluated in combinations with cyclophosphamide, the taxanes, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and trastuzumab, and NPLD has been evaluated in combination with cyclophosphamide and trastuzumab. Both liposomal anthracyclines are less cardiotoxic than conventional doxorubicin. The optimal dose of PLD is lower than that of conventional doxorubicin or NPLD. Patients treated with PLD have almost no alopecia, nausea, or vomiting, but its use is associated with stomatitis and hand-foot syndrome, which can be avoided or minimized with the use of proper dose-schedules. In contrast, the optimal dose-schedule of NPLD is nearly identical to that of conventional doxorubicin. The toxicity profile of NPLD is similar to that of conventional doxorubicin, but toxicities are less severe and NPLD is better tolerated than conventional doxorubicin at higher doses.

Comments on the St. Gallen Consensus 2003 on the Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer

This final paper of the proceedings of the recent Eighth St. Gallen Conference 2003 on the Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer comments on the Consensus Paper put forth by the international expert panel and emphasizes new information, that has emerged during the 2 years since the seventh such meeting in 2001. More than 3200 breast cancer specialists from various medical fields-coming from 75 countries and all six continents-have attended the meeting and the process of scientific consensus development. Recommendations for patient care are so critically dependent on assessment of endocrine responsiveness that the importance of high-quality steroid hormone receptor determination and standardized quantitative reporting cannot be overemphasized. The Panel modified and simplified the risk categories so that only endocrine receptor-absent status was sufficient to reclassify an otherwise low-risk, node-negative disease into the category of average risk. Absence of steroid hormone receptors was also recognized as indicating endocrine non-responsiveness. Some important areas highlighted especially in the 2003 consensus include: recognition of the separate nature of endocrine non-responsive breast cancer, both invasive cancers and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); improved understanding of the mechanisms of acquired endocrine resistance, offering exciting prospects for extending the impact of successful sequential endocrine therapies; presentation of high-quality evidence indicating that chemotherapy and tamoxifen should be used sequentially rather than concurrently; availability of a potential alternative to tamoxifen for treatment of postmenopausal women with endocrine responsive disease; promise of newly defined prognostic and predictive markers.

Meeting highlights: updated international expert consensus on the primary therapy of early breast cancer

This account of the highlights of the eighth St Gallen (Switzerland) meeting in 2003 emphasizes new information that has emerged during the 2 years since the seventh meeting in 2001. This article should be read in conjunction with the report of that earlier meeting. Recommendations for patient care are so critically dependent on assessment of endocrine responsiveness that the importance of high-quality steroid hormone receptor determination and standardized quantitative reporting cannot be overemphasized. The International Consensus Panel modified the risk categories so that only endocrine receptor-absent status was sufficient to reclassify an otherwise low-risk, node-negative disease into the category of average risk. Absence of steroid hormone receptors also was recognized as indicating endocrine nonresponsiveness. Some important areas highlighted at the recent meeting include: (1) recognition of the separate nature of endocrine-nonresponsive breast cancer-both invasive cancers and ductal carcinoma-in-situ; (2) improved understanding of the mechanisms of acquired endocrine resistance, which offer exciting prospects for extending the impact of successful sequential endocrine therapies; (3) presentation of high-quality evidence indicating that chemotherapy and tamoxifen should be used sequentially rather than concurrently; (4) availability of a potential alternative to tamoxifen for treatment of postmenopausal women with endocrine-responsive disease; and (5) the promise of newly defined prognostic and predictive markers.

Treatment of breast cancer in countries with limited resources

Early and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer is important for optimizing treatment. Local treatment of early stage breast cancer involves either mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery followed by whole-breast irradiation. The pathologic and biologic properties of a woman's breast cancer may be used to estimate her probability for recurrence of and death from breast cancer, as well as the magnitude of benefit she is likely to receive from adjuvant endocrine therapy or cytotoxic chemotherapy. Ovarian ablation or suppression with or without tamoxifen is an effective endocrine therapy in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer in premenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive or ER-unknown breast cancer. In postmenopausal women with ER- and/or progesterone receptor (PR)-positive or PR-unknown breast cancer, the use of tamoxifen or anastrozole is effective adjuvant endocrine therapy. The benefit of tamoxifen is additive to that of chemotherapy. Cytotoxic chemotherapy also improves recurrence rates and survival, with the magnitude of benefit decreasing with increasing age. Substantial support systems are required to optimally and safely use breast-conserving approaches to local therapy or cytotoxic chemotherapy as systemic therapy. Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) accounts for at least half of all breast cancers in countries with limited resources and has a poor prognosis. Initial treatment of LABC with anthracycline-based chemotherapy is standard and effective. Addition of a sequential, neoadjuvant taxane thereafter increases the rate of pathologic complete responses. Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy may benefit postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive LABC. After an initial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the use of local-regional surgery is appropriate. Most women will require a radical or modified radical mastectomy. In those women in whom mastectomy is not possible after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the use of whole-breast and regional lymph node irradiation alone is appropriate. In those women who cannot receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy because of resource constraints, mastectomy with node dissection, when feasible, may still be considered in an attempt to achieve local-regional control. After local-regional therapy, most women should receive additional systemic chemotherapy. Women with LABC that has a positive or unknown hormone receptor status benefit from endocrine therapy with tamoxifen. The treatment of LABC requires multiple disciplines and is resource intensive. Efforts to reduce the number of breast cancers diagnosed at an advanced stage thus have the potential to improve rates of survival while decreasing the use of limited resources.

Concurrent sequencing of full-dose CMF chemotherapy and radiation therapy in early breast cancer has no effect on treatment delivery

With the increasing use of breast-conserving therapy plus systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of early breast cancer, the optimal sequencing of radiation therapy and chemotherapy remains controversial. Sequencing of therapy may influence not only treatment delivery, but control rates, complications and cosmesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether concurrent sequencing of standard doses of CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil) and adjuvant radiation therapy for early breast cancer impacted on optimum treatment delivery. As both an intravenous (i.v.) 3-week regimen and classic (standard) CMF were utilised in this study, both types of CMF were compared. The effect of sequencing on complications and treatment delays were also assessed. 116 patients treated with CMF chemotherapy and adjuvant tangent breast radiation were studied. 73 patients were treated prospectively with concurrent therapy and were retrospectively compared with a matched group of 40 patients treated with sequential or sandwich therapy. All patients had stage 1 or 2 cancers. There were no planned dose reductions introduced for either treatment modality. Concurrent sequencing had no impact on the ability to deliver optimum radiation or chemotherapy doses. There was no significant difference in acute Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) skin reactions or complications between the two groups. Although small, there was a significant delay (1.32 days (0-15 versus 0.36 (0-7)) in the concurrent group (P=0.03) in the delivery of radiation therapy. Sequencing had no significant effect on haematological parameters. 'Standard' CMF had a more profound effect on treatment delivery than i.v. CMF (Radiation delay 2.2 days versus 0.26, P=0.002, % chemotherapy delivered 93% versus 99% P=0.000004). At a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, there was no difference in the cosmetic scores between the two groups. Both local and distant control rates were excellent. This study has shown that standard radiation therapy can be delivered safely concurrently with CMF chemotherapy. Whether this approach may lead to better control rates in the future needs further study.

Risk factors for locoregional recurrence among breast cancer patients: results from International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials I through VII

PURPOSE

To explore prognostic factors for locoregional failures (LRF) among women treated for invasive breast cancer within clinical trials of adjuvant therapies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 5,352 women who were treated with a modified radical mastectomy and enrolled in one of seven International Breast Cancer Study Group randomized trials. A total of 1,275 women with node-negative disease received either no adjuvant therapy or a single cycle of perioperative chemotherapy, and 4,077 women with node-positive disease received adjuvant chemotherapy of at least 3 months' duration and/or tamoxifen. Median follow-up is 12 to 15.5 years.

RESULTS

In women with node-negative disease, factors associated with increased risk of LRF were vascular invasion (VI) and tumor size greater than 2 cm for premenopausal and VI for postmenopausal patients. Of the 1,275 patients, 345 (27%) met criteria for the highest risk groups, and the 10-year cumulative incidences of LRF with or without distant metastases were 16% for premenopausal and 19% for postmenopausal women. For the node-positive cohort, number of nodes and tumor grade were factors for both menopausal groups, with additional prediction provided by VI for premenopausal and tumor size for postmenopausal patients. Of the 4,077 patients, 815 (20%) met criteria for the highest risk groups, and 10-year cumulative incidences were 35% for premenopausal and 34% for postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSION

LRFs are a significant problem after mastectomy alone even for some patients with node-negative breast cancer, as well as after mastectomy and adjuvant treatment for some subgroups of patients with node-positive disease. In addition to number of positive lymph nodes, predictors of LRF include tumor-related factors, such as vascular invasion, higher grade, and larger size.

Goserelin versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil as adjuvant therapy in premenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer: The Zoladex Early Breast Cancer Research Association Study

PURPOSE

Current adjuvant therapies have improved survival for premenopausal patients with breast cancer but may have short-term toxic effects and long-term effects associated with premature menopause.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Zoladex Early Breast Cancer Research Association study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of goserelin (3.6 mg every 28 days for 2 years; n = 817) versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy (six 28-day cycles; n = 823) for adjuvant treatment in premenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer.

RESULTS

Analysis was performed when 684 events had been achieved, and the median follow-up was 6 years. A significant interaction between treatment and estrogen receptor (ER) status was found (P =.0016). In ER-positive patients (approximately 74%), goserelin was equivalent to CMF for disease-free survival (DFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.20). In ER-negative patients, goserelin was inferior to CMF for DFS (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.44). Amenorrhea occurred in more than 95% of goserelin patients by 6 months versus 58.6% of CMF patients. Menses returned in most goserelin patients after therapy stopped, whereas amenorrhea was generally permanent in CMF patients (22.6% v 76.9% amenorrheic at 3 years). Chemotherapy-related side effects such as nausea/vomiting, alopecia, and infection were higher with CMF than with goserelin during CMF treatment. Side effects related to estrogen suppression were initially higher with goserelin, but when goserelin treatment stopped, reduced to a level below that observed in the CMF group.

CONCLUSION

Goserelin offers an effective, well-tolerated alternative to CMF in premenopausal patients with ER-positive and node-positive early breast cancer.

Chemotherapy versus hormonal adjuvant treatment in premenopausal patients with breast cancer

Comparisons between the effects exerted by adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF)-based polychemotherapy and endocrine treatment in premenopausal breast cancer patients are validly drawn in the presence of steroid hormone receptor responsiveness. First, ovarian ablation still remains to show activity compared with chemotherapy in large patient groups. Second, tamoxifen is at least as active in this cohort and, by comparison, produces a significant effect in mortality reduction. Third, induction of reversible amenorrhoea by LHRH analogue administration has shown comparable effects in terms of recurrence-free survival. Finally, recent European investigations have indicated significant recurrence reductions with LHRH analogue-tamoxifen combination strategies. In conclusion, various endocrine treatment modalities have been substantiated as equiefficient to polychemotherapy. Tamoxifen added to a LHRH analogue further diminishes the recurrence rates and now appears to be a valid treatment alternative. We argue that selection of adjuvant systemic therapy for premenopausal breast cancer patients be increasingly guided by knowledge of the steroid hormone receptor levels.

Feasibility of a dose-intensive CMF regimen with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as adjuvant therapy in premenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer

Our aim was to study the feasibility of an intensified intravenous CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil) schedule with the aim to escalate dose intensity (DI). Twenty-three premenopausal breast cancer patients received 6 cycles of adjuvant CMF intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor days 9-18. Endpoints were DI and toxicity. Twenty-one out of 23 patients (91%) received the projected total dose and reached > or =85% of the projected DI. Compared to 'classical' CMF, all patients reached > or = 111% DI. Nine patients received the planned schedule without delay. Thirteen patients (57%) were treated for infection and four patients (17%) were hospitalized for febrile neutropenia. Twelve patients received red blood cell transfusions (52%). Radiation therapy (n = 6) had no adverse impact on dose intensity or haematological toxicity. This dose-intensified CMF schedule was accompanied by enhanced haematological toxicity with clinical sequelae, namely fever, intravenous antibiotics and red blood cell transfusions, but allows a high dose intensity in a majority of patients.

Randomized 2 x 2 trial evaluating hormonal treatment and the duration of chemotherapy in node-positive breast cancer patients: an update based on 10 years' follow-up. German Breast Cancer Study Group

PURPOSE

In 1984, the German Breast Cancer Study Group started a multicenter randomized trial to compare six versus three cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) starting perioperatively and to investigate the additional effect of tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment in node-positive breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1984 to 1989, 473 patients were randomized from 41 institutions. After a median follow-up of approximately 10 years for overall survival (OS) and 9 years for event-free survival (EFS), the treatment groups were compared with respect to OS and EFS. Results based on a median follow-up of 56 months have been published earlier.

RESULTS

Estimated cumulative locoregional incidence rate after 10 years was 19.9%; the corresponding rate of distant recurrences was 41.3%. Concerning duration of chemotherapy, we did not find any difference between six and three cycles of CMF (EFS: relative risk [RR] in multivariate analysis = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 1.21 OS: RR = 0.90; 95% CI, = 0.69 to 1.18). Treatment with tamoxifen resulted in an improvement in outcome (EFS: RR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.07, OS: RR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.0) although it proved not significant. Number of positive lymph nodes and progesterone receptor were the dominant prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we observed some tendency in favor of hormonal treatment, which is in agreement with the literature. Concerning duration of chemotherapy, the results of this study provide further evidence that a reduction to three cycles of CMF is possible without increasing the risk of recurrence or death. For a definitive conclusion, however, further investigations are required.

Tamoxifen in high-risk premenopausal women with primary breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Report from the Danish Breast Cancer co-operative Group DBCG 82B Trial

Following modified radical mastectomy, pre- and perimenopausal (amenorrhoea for < 5 years) patients with stage II or III breast cancer received CMF (cyclophosphamide 600, methotrexate 40, 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) every 4 weeks, 9 cycles). The effect on recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of the addition of adjuvant tamoxifen (TAM) to adjuvant chemotherapy was examined by randomisation either to no additional treatment (n = 314), or concurrently TAM 30 mg daily for 1 year (n = 320). 40% had positive, 12% negative and 48% unknown receptor status. One year after surgery 21% versus 35% (CMF + TAM versus CMF) were still menstruating (P < 0.01). With a median follow-up of 12.2 years there was no difference in RFS (10-year RFS 34% versus 35%, P = 0.81) or OS (45% versus 46%, P = 0.73). In a Cox proportional hazards model, tumour size, number of metastatic lymph nodes, frequency of metastatic nodes in relation to total number of nodes removed, degree of anaplasia, age, and menostasia within the first year after operation were significant independent prognostic factors for RFS, and the same factors except age for OS. No significant interactions with TAM were seen. Thus, in this group of pre- and perimenopausal high-risk early breast cancer patients with heterogeneous receptor status given CMF i.v., concurrent TAM for 1 year did not improve the outcome. These results do not exclude that receptor positive patients may benefit from adjuvant TAM for longer periods given sequentially to chemotherapy.

Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and Fluorouracil (CMF) Regimen

The increasing complexity of cancer chemotherapy makes it mandatory that pharmacists be familiar with these highly toxic agents. This column reviews various issues related to the preparation, dispensing, and administration of cancer chemotherapy, both commercially available and investigational.

Mortality during adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. International Breast Cancer Study Group

Combined chemotherapy for early breast cancer with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil has low associated mortality, but related deaths were seen among women aged 65 years or older in International Breast Cancer Study Group trials.