Clinical activity of cisplatin and prolonged oral administration of etoposide in previously treated, anthracycline-resistant, metastatic breast cancer patients: a phase II study.

BACKGROUND

This phase II study evaluates the antitumor activity and tolerance of cisplatin and prolonged oral administration of etoposide in metastatic breast cancer previously exposed to anthracyclines.

PROCEDURE

Twenty-seven patients with metastatic breast cancer who developed tumor progression following anthracyclines wer e entered in the study. The patients were treated with combination chemotherapy of cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) IV day 1 and oral etoposide 50 mg/m(2) days 1-17. Cycles were repeated every 29 days.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients were evaluated for toxicity and response. Complete remission was observed in 1 of 26 (4%) patients and partial remission in 12 of 26 (46%). Median duration of response was seven months. Pain relief was noted in 9 of 15 (60%) of the symptomatic patients. Myelosuppression was the major toxicity encountered and four (15%) patients required hospitalization for granulocytopenic fever. Nonhematologic toxicity was mild.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of cisplatin with prolonged oral etoposide is active and tolerable in the management of patients with relapsed metastatic breast cancer previously treated with an anthracycline-based regimen.