Treatment Information

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Breast Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy.

Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom.

Survival: monthsCountry:United Kingdom
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:London
Treatments:ChemotherapyHospital:Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Nov 2005

Description:

Patients: This Phase III study involved 705 women (median age 54) with advanced breast cancer with metastases in bone, liver, lung, lymph nodes, and other tissues. Ninety-five women had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A had 352 women (median age 55).

Treatment: For Group A, treatment consisted of two chemotherapeutic agents: epirubicin and cyclophosphamide.

Toxicity: 38% of Group A patients reported grade 3-4 toxicities, including alopecia, nausea/vomiting, pain, and infection.

Results: For Group A (epirubicin and cyclophosphamide), the median overall survival was 14 months. For Group B (epirubicin and paclitaxel), the median overall survival was 13 months. The authors concluded, "The data demonstrate no additional advantage to using EP instead of EC as first-line chemotherapy for MBC in taxane-naive patients."

Support: The study was financially supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pharmacia Upjohn. Bristol-Myers Squibb manufactures and/or markets Paclitaxel and Cyclophosphamide and Pharmacia Upjohn manufactures and/or markets Epirubicin.

Correspondence: Ruth Langley, MD




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