Gemcitabine plus cisplatin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin has proven effective as first-line chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer, inducing a response rate of 80% in one phase II study. Five additional studies in intensively pretreated breast cancer patients demonstrated a median response rate of 43% (range, 26%-50%). The toxicity profile was moderate, with thrombocytopenia and neutropenia as the main side effects. The gemcitabine/ cisplatin combination, therefore, offers a tolerable and effective treatment option, particularly for patients whose disease progressed after treatment with anthracyclines and/or taxanes.