Phase II evaluation of liposomal doxorubicin combined with docetaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer
1112 Background: The combination of anthracyclines and taxanes are effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Liposomal doxorubicin has been shown to be as effective as doxorubicin with less toxicity and it can be combined safely with docetaxel. Methods: Monthly liposomal doxorubicin (30 mg/m2) in combination with weekly docetaxel (30 mg/m2) was evaluated in women with metastatic breast cancer. Cycles were continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Radiologic assessment was performed every two months. The primary outcome was time to progression. Secondary endpoints included overall response rate, median survival and toxicity. Results: Between 12/2002 and 9/2005, 12 women were enrolled and received this combination as front- line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. The mean age was 46.5 (31–60) years. Nine (75%) patients had tumors that were ER+ or PR+. Five (41.7%) women had tumors that over-expressed her-2/neu. Ten women had an EGOG performance status of 1. Two women had an ECOG performance status of 2. The median number of cycles received was 4 (1–12). Four (25%) women were taken off study due to intolerable toxicity and 7 (58.3%) due to progressive disease. One (8.3%) woman remains progression free. Ten (83.3%) women had a partial response, one (8.3%) woman had a mixed response and one (8.3%) was not evaluable for response to chemotherapy. The median time to progression was 21 (6–52) weeks. Three women remain alive with disease. One woman remains alive and progression-free. Ten (83%) patients experienced Grade 3/4 toxicities, including: stomatits 6 (50%), nausea/vomiting 1 (8.3%), neutropenia 3 (25%), infection 3 (25%), dyspnea 2 (16.7%), and PPE 1 (8.3). Conclusions: Monthly liposomal doxorubicin plus weekly docetaxel in women with metastatic breast cancer resulted in an encouraging response, but was difficult to tolerate. Further evaluation of this combination with improved supportive care may be warranted. [Table: see text]