Carboplatin and oral etoposide in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracyclines.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy and toxicity of the carboplatin and oral etoposide combination in patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients were treated with a maximum of 6 cycles of carboplatin (300 mg/m2) and etoposide (200 mg/m2) every 4 weeks. Prior treatment with an anthracycline was given as adjuvant in 17 patients and as first line treatment for advanced disease in 10 patients.

RESULTS

Only 12 (44%) patients completed all 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The median administered dose of carboplatin was 72 mg/m2/week and of etoposide 143 mg/m2/week. Two (7.5%) complete and 4 (15%) partial responses were observed. Both complete responses occurred in patients who received only mitoxantrone-containing adjuvant treatment, and lasted for 36 and 92+ weeks. The main toxicities included anemia (56%), leukopenia (56%), nausea/vomiting (50%) and alopecia (79%).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of carboplatin and oral etoposide is effective and should probably be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracyclines.