A phase III adjuvant randomised trial of 6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil-epirubicine-cyclophosphamide (FEC100) versus 4 FEC 100 followed by 4 Taxol (FEC-T) in node positive breast cancer patients (Trial B2000).

BACKGROUND: Standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for patients with node positive (N+) breast cancer consisted of anthracycline followed by taxane. The European Association for Research in Oncology embarked in 2000 on a phase III trial comparing 6 cycles of FEC100 versus 4 FEC100 followed by 4 Taxol. Primary end-point was disease free survival. Secondary end-points were overall survival, local recurrence free interval, metastases free interval and safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2000 and December 2002, 837 patients were randomised between 6FEC100 for 6 cycles (417patients) or FEC100 for 4 cycles then Taxol 175mg/m(2)/3 weeks for 4 cycles (4FEC100-4T) (420 patients). One thousand patients had been planned initially but the trial was closed earlier due to slow accrual. RESULTS: Hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.99 for disease-free survival (DFS) (95%CI: 0.77-1.26; p=0.91), and 0.85 for overall survival (OS) (95%CI: 0.62-1.15; p=0.29). Nine-year DFS were 62.9% versus 62.5% for 6FEC100 and 4FEC100-4T, respectively. Nine-year OS were 73.9% versus 77% for 6FEC100 and 4FEC100-4T, respectively. Toxicity analyses based on 803 evaluable patients showed that overall grade 3-4 toxicities were similar in both arms (63% versus 58% for 6FEC100 arm and 4FEC100-4T arm, respectively; p=0.16). CONCLUSION: In this trial replacing the last 2 FEC100 cycles of 6FEC100 regimen by 4 Taxol does not lead to a discernable DFS or OS advantage. The lack of a significant difference between the randomised treatment arms may however be due to a lack of power of this trial to detect small, yet clinically worthwhile, treatment benefits.

A prospective, observational study describing the haematological response in patients undergoing chemotherapy treated by tri-weekly darbepoetin alfa for anaemia.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective, observational study investigated the haematological response to darbepoetin alfa (DA) administered every three weeks for the treatment of anaemia. Response was also assessed according to baseline characteristics including iron, folate and vitamin B12 status. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Anaemic adult patients with malignant non-myeloid cancer, starting or having already undergone chemotherapy received DA on day of inclusionand were followed up for up to 24 weeks. Concentration of haemoglobin (Hb), as well as iron, vitamin B12 and folate status where available, were recorded at inclusion, after a treatment period of 9 weeks and up to a maximum of 24 weeks or cessation of DA treatment, whichever was sooner. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure assessed in this study was the percentage of patients reaching a Hb concentration of at least 11 g/dL at least once at any time during the study. RESULTS: A total of 2912 patients were included. The mean Hb concentration increased from 10.0 g/dL at inclusion to 11.4 g/dL at 9 weeks and 11.8 g/dL at 24 weeks. In 74.6% of patients the target Hb level of 11.0 g/dL or above was reached. After initiation of DA treatment, 9.5% of patients required a blood transfusion by week 9, and 5.6% thereafter. Vitamin B12 and folate status were unknown for 80.3% of patients and the iron status for 73.2% of patients. Compared with patients who remained untreated for vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, a higher percentage of patients with vitamin status within normal limits achieved the target Hb concentration. However, achievement of target Hb level appeared not to be affected by iron status. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the mean Hb level increased in anaemic cancer patients treated with DA and the majority of patients achieved the target Hb level. In contrast to the recommendations of guidelines (EORTC) encouraging the measurement of iron and vitamin levels, the present study demonstrated that data were not routinely collected for these factors.

Dose-dense adjuvant chemotherapy in node-positive breast cancer: docetaxel followed by epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (T/EC), or the reverse sequence (EC/T), every 2 weeks, versus docetaxel, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (TEC) every 3 weeks. AERO B03 randomized phase II study.

BACKGROUND: Adding a taxane to anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy prolongs survival in node-positive patients but optimal dose and schedule remain undetermined. This study aimed to select a dose-dense regimen for further assessment in phase III studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine patients with node-positive invasive breast adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to docetaxel (Taxotere) (T) 75 mg/m2, epirubicin (E) 75 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide (C) 500 mg/m2 (TEC)x6, every 3 weeks; E 100 mg/m2, C 600 mg/m2 x 4, then T 100 mg/m2 x 4 (EC-->T) or the reverse sequence (T-->EC), every 2 weeks, with pegfilgrastim support. The primary end point was the incidence of grade 4 toxicity. RESULTS: Dose intensity was almost doubled with dose-dense regimens, compared with TEC. Twenty-seven patients experienced grade 4 toxicity: 26%, 40% and 18% with TEC, EC-->T and T-->EC, respectively, mainly neutropenia, but febrile neutropenia occurred only in 11%, 10% and 3%. Grade 3-4 nail disorders, hand-foot syndrome and peripheral neuropathy occurred in 46%, 73% and 68% of patients with TEC, EC-->T and T-->EC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-dense regimens yield more frequent and severe nonhematological toxic effects than standard dose TEC regimen. Though grade 4 toxicity rates appear acceptable with the T-->EC regimen, the incidence of grade 3-4 events makes it difficult to recommend either dose-dense regimen for further investigation.

Multicenter phase II-III study of oxaliplatin plus cyclophosphamide vs. cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide in chemonaive advanced ovarian cancer patients.

PURPOSE: A phase II-III randomised study to compare safety and efficacy of an oxaliplatin/cyclophosphamide (OXAC) combination, vs. the reference combination of cisplatin/cyclophosphamide (CPC), in untreated advanced ovarian cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 182 patients were enrolled, of whom 177 were treated: 86 with OXAC (130 mg/m2 oxaliplatin two-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion, 1,000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide two-hour i.v. infusion), and 91 with CPC (100 mg/m2 cisplatin one-hour i.v. infusion. 1,000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide two-hour i.v. infusion). Treatment cycles were repeated every three weeks (maximum of six cycles). RESULTS: The main toxicities, which were significantly less severe in the OXAC arm, were myelosuppression and vomiting, including (OXAC vs CPC, % patients): grade 3-4 leukopenia (37% vs. 56%), and anaemia (7% vs. 32%), with blood transfusions in 8% vs. 21%. In the OXAC arm, 64% of surgically assessable patients and 33% of clinically assessable patients achieved an objective response. In the CPC arm, 67% patients achieved a surgical response and 42% achieved an objective clinical response. In the OXAC and CPC arms, median progression free-survival was 13.0 and 13.3 months, and overall survival was 36.0 and 25.1 months respectively, without statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The activity and time-related parameters of the OXAC and CPC combinations in advanced ovarian cancer patients, are comparable. Combined with the better safety profile of the oxaliplatin-containing regimen, this confirms the interest of oxaliplatin combined with active new agents in this indication.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) continuous intravenous infusion compared with bolus administration. Final results of a randomised trial in metastatic colorectal cancer.

The aim of this Phase III, balanced randomised trial was to compare continuous intravenous infusion (CVI) of 5-FU with bolus (B) administration for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). One hundred and fifty-five non-pretreated patients were randomised to receive CVI 5-FU at a dose of 750 mg/m2/day (d), 7 d every 21 d (n = 77), or bolus 5-FU 500 mg/m2/d x 5 d every 28 d (n = 78). Incremental dose escalation at 50 mg per step was recommended in the absence of toxicity. All the patients had measurable metastatic disease (M), particularly, liver and a good performance status (WHO grade 0-1). Dose intensity was significantly higher in CVI than in the bolus group: 1369 mg/m2/week versus 558 mg/m2/week (P = 0.0001). Grade II-IV stomatitis was more frequent in the CVI group (31% versus 9%; P < 0.0001) as was hand and foot syndrome (14% versus 3%; P < 0.001). Diarrhoea (22% versus 12%) and grade III granulocytopenia (2% versus 6%) were comparable. Responses were more frequent in the CVI (26%) than in the bolus group (13%) (P < 0.04); progression-free survival was higher for the CVI group (P = 0.04), but there was no statistical difference in overall survival (median: 10 months (m) compared to 9 m), and 1 year survival (SD) 42% (6%) versus 40% (6%). In the multivariate analysis, survival was better for patients with a good PS, well-differentiated adenocarcinomas and a primary tumour without serosal extension. In conclusion, with a higher dose intensity, CVI 5-FU improved tumour control, but not overall survival.

Ondansetron compared with granisetron in the prophylaxis of cyclophosphamide-induced emesis in out-patients: a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, parallel-group study. Emesis Study Group for Ondansetron and Granisetron in Breast Cancer Patients.

This is the first double-blind clinical trial in a homogenous group of patients to compare the recommended dosing schedules of ondansetron and granisetron in the control of prolonged emesis after cyclophosphamide-containing chemotherapy (48% CMF, 35% EC) for breast cancer. A total of 514 patients were recruited. Of the 488 patients included in the intent-to-treat analyses, 167 were randomised to group A [8 mg ondansetron intravenously (i.v.) + placebo by mouth (p.o.) before chemotherapy + 8 mg ondansetron p.o. twice daily (b.d.) until day 5], 155 to group B (placebo i,.v. + 8 mg ondansetron p.o. before chemotherapy + 8 mg ondansetron p.o. b.d. until day 5) and 166 to group C (3 mg granisetron i.v. + placebo p.o. before chemotherapy + placebo p.o. b.d. until day 5). On study day 1, the groups were comparable with respect to the proportion of patients experiencing up to 2 emetic episodes (group A: 89%; B: 86%; C: 91%) and in the severity of nausea (no nausea; group A: 51%; B: 55%; C: 54%). Over the 5-day study period significantly more patients were rescued or withdrawn due to lack of response after the granisetron regimen (26%) than after the i.v. + p.o. ondansetron regimen (11%; p < 0.001). Since there was no difference in these parameters on day 1, this reflects differences on days 2-5 and was also reflected in the all-oral ondansetron group over this period (group B: 12%; C: 22% on days 2-5). A significant difference in the severity of nausea after i.v. and p.o. ondansetron compared with granisetron was also observed over the 5-day study period (p = 0.009). This was reflected in a numerical difference in favour of the all-p.o. ondansetron regimen compared with the granisetron regimen (no nausea; group A: 33%; B: 34%; C: 25%). Again these differences reflected differences in nausea control on days 2-5, since no differences were observed on day 1. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for prognostic factors also revealed a significant difference (p = 0.011) in favour of the i.v. + ondansetron group compared with the granisetron group when complete plus major response was compared over days 2-5. No significant differences in the safety profiles of the three treatment groups were observed. There were no severe or unexpected drug-related adverse events and as is well established for the serotonin receptor antagonists, mild constipation (mean 8%) and mild headache (mean 8%) were most commonly reported.

Phase II trial of 7-day continuous 5-fluorouracil infusion in the treatment of advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Thirty-eight patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma were entered on a phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in continuous infusion, using a portable pump. Half of the patients had been pretreated (n = 19) and 16 of them had received intravenous bolus 5-FU alone or in combination. At the first cycle patients received continuous intravenous 5-FU at the dose of 650 mg/m2 per day for 7 consecutive days. Doses were escalated during the following cycles and adjusted according to the toxicities encountered in the previous cycle. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks. A mean dose of 750 mg/m2/day (500-1,000) was administered for a mean number of 10 (1-25) cycles. We observed 1 complete response, 7 partial responses for a response rate of 21 +/- 13% (CI95%), 16 had stable disease (42%) and 14 a progression (37%). In 2 patients subsequently the residual tumors could be excised after chemotherapy. Median survival was 13.5 months. Toxicity was: grade 2 leukopenia in 1 patient (3%), mucositis grade 2-4 in 11 patients (29%), diarrhea grade 2-3 in 7 patients (18%), and hand and foot syndrome in 12 patients (31%). There was a correlation between the mean dose administered and the responses. However no clear correlation was found between toxicity and tumoral response for the first two cycles. These results confirm the limited efficacy of continuous intravenous 5-FU and its good tolerance in ambulatory patients.