%0 Journal Article
%T A multicentric observational trial of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for metastatic breast cancer
%A Jens Huober
%A Werner Fett
%A Arnd Nusch
%A Michael Neise
%A Marcus Schmidt
%A Arthur Wischnik
%A Steffen Gerhardt
%A Thomas Goehler
%A Hans-Joachim L¨ąck
%A Andreas Rost
%J BMC Cancer
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2407-10-2
%X Eligible patients had metastatic breast cancer and were treated with PLD according to the dose and schedule determined by their physician as part of routine practice. The primary objectives were to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of PLD therapy.125 patients were assessable. Median age was 62 years, 78% had performance status 0-1, and 60% had estrogen-receptor-positive disease. PLD treatment was second- or third-line in 69% of patients. Prior anthracyclines (adjuvant or metastatic) had been used in 56% of patients. The majority of patients (79%) received PLD every 4 weeks at a median dose of 40 mg/m2. Overall response rate was 43% in all patients and 34% in those previously treated with anthracyclines. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were skin toxicity/hand-foot syndrome (6%), and leukopenia (3%).This observational study supports the activity and tolerability of PLD in metastatic breast cancer as demonstrated in PLD clinical trials.Anthracyclines are highly active as single agents in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer; however, their use is limited by acute toxicities and the potential for cumulative cardiac damage. The concern for cardiotoxicity is heightened in patients who have already received an anthracycline in the adjuvant setting [1].The development of liposomal anthracyclines has resulted in an improved safety profile and comparable efficacy to conventional anthracyclines. In a phase III trial comparing pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) to conventional doxorubicin as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC), no significant difference occurred between arms in progression-free or overall survival [2]. However, cardiotoxicity was significantly reduced with PLD, along with alopecia, nausea/vomiting, and neutropenia. Hand-foot syndrome (HFS), stomatitis, and mucositis were increased with PLD. Clinical trials suggest these toxicities are dose-dependent [3,4].Additional clinical trials have demonstrated the activity of PLD in pa
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/10/2