Abstract P3-14-18: Dose-dense neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer. Long term results of a cooperative retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Dose-dense chemotherapy results in better overall (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) in women with hormone receptor-negative early breast cancer as shown with a systematic review and meta-analysis by Bonilla et al (JNCI 2010). Aim of our study was to compare neoadjuvant dose-dense chemotherapy with standard dose schedule in T4 patients in terms of DFS and OS, according to hormone-receptor status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: we analysed, retrospectively, 160 consecutive T4 patients, of median age 52 ys (range 29-73) who received neoadjuvant anthra-based chemotherapy with and without taxanes, observed from 1989 to 2009; 74 patients (46%) received dose-dense schedule (q14) and 86 (54%) conventional dose (q21); 68 (42%) patients were ER-negative (32 q14; 36 q21) and 92 (58%) patients were ER-positive (42 q14; 50 q21). No Trastuzumab was allowed during neoadjuvant treatment.

RESULTS: at a median follow-up of 130 months (range 8-241 months), overall, 10 y DFS was 41.9% and 30.2% on q14 and q21 schedules, respectively (p = 0.085); 10 y OS was 48.6% on q14 and 44.2% on q21 schedule, (p = 0.343). ER-negative patients who received q14 schedule had better DFS (46.9%) than those on q21 schedule (16.7%), (p = 0.007) [Relative Risk 0,63 and Odds Ratio 0,22] and better OS (50%) than those on q21 schedule (30.6%) (p = 0.083) [Relative Risk 0,61 and Odds Ratio 0,44]. DFS and OS did not differ on q14 and q21 schedules in ER- positive patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with published data and suggest that there is no appreciable survival benefit from increasing dose density among T4 ER-positive patients. Dose-dense neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be justified in LABC patients with T4 ER-negative tumors.

 DFS OS  q 14q 21pq 14q 21pER-46,9%16,7%0.00750%30,6%0.083ER+38,1%40,0%0.51247,6%54,0%0.344

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-14-18.

Multicenter randomized clinical trial on high-dose epirubicin plus cis-platinum versus vinorelbine plus cis-platinum in advanced non small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

High dose Epirubicin (HD-EPI) (>90 mg/m2) and Vinorelbine (VNR) demonstrated antitumor activity as single agent (about 20%) in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. This trial compares these two agents combined with cisplatin (CP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From August 1992 to February 1996, 228 patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC were randomized to receive either EPI 120 mg/m2 as i.v. bolus plus Cisplatin (CP) 60 mg/m2 on day 1 (regimen A) or VNR 25 mg/m2 as i.v. bolus on day 1 and 8 plus CP 60 mg/m2 on day 1 (regimen B). Both treatments were recycled every 21 days up to a maximum cumulative dose of EPI of 840 mg/m2 or 12 cycles. Eligible patients were 212 and 198 patients were evaluable for objective response (95 in arm A and 103 in arm B). The main characteristics of eligible patients were: male/female 179/33; median age 61 (42-72); median Karnofsky PS 80 (70-100); stage IIIA 12%, stage IIIB 40%, stage IV 41%, recurrence 7%; histotype: epidermoid 48%, adenoca 36%, others 16%.

RESULTS

The following response rates were observed in regimens A and B, respectively; CR, 1 and 2%, PR, 32 and 25% (P = 0.4567). Median CR + PR duration was 9 and 8 months, respectively. Median survival was 10.5 and 9.6 months, respectively. Grade III-IV leucopenia occurred in 38 and 21% in arm A and arm B, respectively(P = 0.01), thrombocytopenia in 6 and 0% (P = 0.02), anemia in 8 and 7% (n.s.). Non-hematological toxicity was moderate and the only difference between the treatments was alopecia (88 vs. 33% in arm A and B, respectively). Supraventricular arrhythmia occurred in three patients on regimen A; a >15% LVEF absolute decrease was observed in 9 (22.5%) and three (14%) patients on arm A and arm B, respectively (n.s.). No congestive heart failure was observed.

CONCLUSION

HD-EPI+CP and VNR+CP are both active combinations in advanced NSCLC with a similar response rate, response duration and survival but regimen A was significantly more toxic (myelosuppression and alopecia).