Treatment Information

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Breast Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy.

Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Survival: monthsCountry:Netherlands
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Rotterdam
Treatments:ChemotherapyHospital:Erasmus University Medical Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Oct 2005

Description:

Patients: This Phase II/III study involved 216 women with metastatic breast cancer who were randomly assigned into two groups. Group B had 107 women (median age 54). Metastatic sites included viscera, bone, lung, and liver, with 47 patients having metastases in three or more organs.

Treatment: For Group B, treatment consisted of three chemotherapeutic agents: fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide.

Toxicity: For Group B, grade 3-4 toxicities include neutropenia, vomiting, nausea, and infection.

Results: Patients in Group A had a significantly longer overall survival (22.6 months) than patients in Group B (16.2 months). Sixty-three Group A patients had a response to treatment, while forty Group B patients responded. The authors concluded, "[Docetaxel/doxorubicin] seems to be a valid option for first-line therapy in patients with MBC, especially for patients with rapidly advancing visceral disease."

Support: Aventis Pharmaceuticals financially supported this study, and one of the authors is an employee. Aventis manufactures and markets docetaxel.

Correspondence: Marijke Bontenbal, MD, PhD




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