Updated 12-year results of a randomized clinical trial comparing standard-dose to high-dose myeloablative chemotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer with more than three positive nodes (LN+)

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549 Aims: We conducted a multicenter randomized trial comparing sequential adjuvant standard-dose with high-dose chemotherapy in breast cancer patients younger than 60 years, with 4 or more positive nodes. Patients: Following surgery, patients were stratified by number of positive nodes (4–9 or 9), and randomly assigned to either conventional Epi–CMF (3 courses of epirubicin 120 mg/m2, followed by 6 courses of CMF), or high-dose chemotherapy (HDS) with stem cells support (one course of cyclophosphamide 7 g/m2, followed by one course of methotrexate 8 g/m2 with leukovorin rescue, by two courses of epirubicin 120 mg/m2, and by one course of thiotepa 600 mg/m2 plus melphalan 160–180 mg/m2 with stem cell autografting). Tamoxifen (20 mg/d × 5 yr) was also planned regardless of menopausal and receptor status. The study was designed with a power of 80% to detect a 15% increase in progression-free survival at 5 years in the HDS arm. Results: Of the initially enrolled 398 patients, 16 were ineligible, and the remaining 382 patients (Epi–CMF: 197 patients, HDS: 185 patients) were analyzed according to intent-to- treat. One patient treated with HDS (0.5%) died of interstitial pneumonia. With a median follow-up of 136 months, the 12-year progression-free survival rates were 44% and 52% for the Epi–CMF and the HDS groups, respectively, and the overall survival rates were 51% and 60%, respectively. However, among the 68 patients younger than 36 years, and the 189 patients with 4–9 LN+, those in the HDS group showed a trend for a progression-free survival advantage (HR 0.76 and 0.74, respectively). Conclusions: In the intent-to-treat analysis the 9% overall survival advantage associated with the HDS regimen failed to reach statistical significance in a study powered to detect a 15% difference. To reliably define the role of high-dose therapy, meta-analysis of patient data from all relevant randomized trials (such as that planned by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group) is needed. Supported in part by AIRC and Pharmacia & Upjohn, Milano, Italy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.