Oral administration of idarubicin as first line cytostatic therapy in patients with metastasized breast cancer and favourable prognosis. A trial of the phase II study group of the Association for Medical Oncology of the German Cancer Society.

Abstract	Idarubicin is a new anthracycline derivative with therapeutic efficacy in metastatic breast cancer. In a phase II trial we treated 23 patients with advanced breast carcinoma and favourable prognostic factors. Oral dose of idarubicin was 15 mg/m2 day 1-3 repeated every 3 weeks. All patients were pretreated with hormones. Idarubicin was administered as first line chemotherapy. 20 patients were evaluable for response: 3 patients achieved partial remission, 12 patients stable disease; tumour progression occurred in 5 patients. 3 patients were not evaluable for response because only 1 treatment cycle was administered. Main toxicites were leukopenia (median WHO-grade: 2,r:0-4), nausea and vomiting (median: 1,r:0-4) and alopezia (median: 1,r:0-3). 1 patient died in septic shock: Immediately after the administration of one idarubicine cycle, she was extensively irradiated because of bone metastasis. The fatal course of the disease in this patient does not depend only on the idarubicin therapy, but also on the extensive bone infiltration and on intensive radiation therapy. Idarubicin proved to be an effective drug in metastatic breast cancer with low systemic toxicity and the advantage of oral administration. The drug is an enrichment of therapeutic armament, especially in patients with soft tissue and bone metastasis.
Authors	K Possinger, H Wagner, P Worst, W Queisser, K Bremer, K Rieche, M Klee, M Westerhausen, R Donhuijsen-Ant, D Fritze
Journal	Onkologie (Onkologie) Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 31-4 (Feb 1991) ISSN: 0378-584X [Print] Switzerland
PMID	2057172 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)
Chemical References	Idarubicin
Topics	Administration, Oral Aged Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, mortality) Combined Modality Therapy Drug Evaluation Female Follow-Up Studies Humans Idarubicin (administration & dosage) Middle Aged Neoplasm Metastasis Survival Rate

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