A weekly schedule of epirubicin in pretreated advanced breast cancer.

Abstract

Epirubicin is an analogue of doxorubicin with a similar activity but less toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of a weekly schedule of epirubicin. Fifty-three patients with metastatic breast cancer, pretreated and/or with a low performance status, were treated with 25 mg/m2/week of the drug. Of the 49 evaluable patients, 3 achieved a complete response (6.1%) and 21 a partial response (42.8%) with a median duration of 6.3 months. Median survival was significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders: 15.2 vs 6.0 months (P < 0.005). Furthermore, a marked improvement in performance status was observed (ECOG scale). No cardiologic toxicity was observed, and gastrointestinal toxicity was low. Epirubicin administered weekly represent a valid alternative to conventional treatments.