Treatment Information

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Breast Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy, Biologic therapy.

Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Survival: monthsCountry:Sweden
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Stockholm
Treatments:Chemotherapy, Biologic therapyHospital:Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Feb 2012

Description:

Patients:
This phase III study involved women with advanced breast cancer who were separated into two separate treatment groups. Group A consisted of 296 patients with a median age of 54 years. Group B had 297 patients with a median age of 56 years.

Treatment:
Patients in group A were treated with the biologic therapy agent sunitinib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets blood supply to the tumor) and the chemotherapy agent docetaxel.

Group B was treated with docetaxel alone.

Toxicities:
In group A there were 6 treatment-related deaths, the causes of which included heart attack and pulmonary embolism. Fatigue and hand-foot skin reaction were also reported.

The most severe treatment-related toxicities in group B were grade 4 nerve disorders and fatigue.

Results:
The median overall survival for group A was 24.8 months. For group B, the median overall survival was 25.5 months.

Support:
Several of the authors were employed by or received funding from pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, the makers of sunitinib.

Correspondence: Dr. Jonas Bergh; email: [email protected]



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