ABSTRACT
Background: Previous studies have shown that vinorelbine/capecitabine (NX) and docetaxel/capecitabine (TX) chemotherapy has a certain effect in advanced breast cancer. However, there are few clinical studies directly comparing TX and NX regimen chemotherapy, especially in patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline and taxane. The purpose of this Phase II study was to compare survival and side effects between patients with anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer treated with NX and those treated with TX chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: From February 2012 to March 2014, a total number of 97 patients were randomly assigned to NX (n = 55) or TX (n = 42). Baseline characteristics were relatively well-balanced in the two treatment arms. The clinical trial registration number (clincaltrials.gov) is NCT01635465. Results: After a median follow-up of 46.0 months, there was no significant difference between the NX and TX arms in objective response rate (17.9% vs. 21.1%; P = 0.686) and progression-free survival (6 months vs. 7 months; P = 0.560). The overall survival period of the TX arm was longer than that of the NX arm (32 months vs. 27 months) but without statistical significance. Both regimens were well-tolerated. The main toxicities were neutropenia, leukopenia, and anemia. In the TX arm, hand-foot syndrome occurred more frequently than in the NX arm (P < 0.01), but frequencies of other minor adverse effects were similar between the two arms. Conclusion: NX and TX regimens are both alternative treatments for patients with anthracycline- and taxane-resistant advanced breast cancer, but the safety profile was more favorable and manageable with the NX regimen. Trial Registrations: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01635465. Registered 09 July 2012
ABSTRACT
Antitumor effects of erythromycin and the related mechanism were investigated in the present study.Neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) were exposed to erythromycin at different concentrations for different durations.Cell proliferation was measured by cell counting,and cell viability was examined by MTT assay.Cell cycle phase distribution and the cytosolic calcium level were detected by flow cytometry.Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by the JC-1 probe staining and fluorescent microscopy.The expression of an oncogene (c-Myc) and a tumor suppressor [p21 (WAF1/Cipl)] proteins was analyzed by using Western blotting.Erythromycin could inhibit the proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.The cell cycle was arrested at S phase.Mitochon drial membrane potential collapsed and the cytosolic calcium was overloaded in SH-SY5Y cells when treated with erythromycin.The expression of c-Myc protein was down-regulated,while that of p21 (WAF1/Cip1) protein was up-regulated.It was concluded that erythromycin could restrain the proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells.The antitumor mechanism of erythromycin might involve regulating the expression ofc-Myc and p21 (WAF1/Cip1) proteins.