Doxorubicin-docetaxel sequential schedule: results of front-line treatment in advanced breast cancer

We conducted a multi-institutional phase II study to evaluate the tolerability and activity of a sequential schedule of treatment with doxorubicin and docetaxel in chemotherapy-naive women with advanced breast cancer.

A total of 73 patients with PS (ECOG) 0-2, aged <70 years and adequate bone marrow, renal, liver and cardiac functions were included in the study (13 stage III B and 60 stage IV). The schedule of administration was doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 by intravenous (i.v.) 30 min injection on day 1 followed the day after by docetaxel 75 mg/m2, by i.v. 60 min infusion. Cycles were repeated every 28 days.

Overall, the median number of administered cycles was 6 (range 1-14). The most common toxicity was hematological, with 56.2% of the patients who experienced grade 3-4 neutropenia. However, febrile neutropenia occurred only in 2.8% of the cases. The median cumulative dose of doxorubicin was 350 mg/m2 (range 50-700 mg/m2). Eleven patients (15.4%) were documented to have >10% but <20% decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction. No case of congestive heart failure was recorded. No patient experienced treatment-related death. Among the 68 evaluable patients, the overall objective response rate was 73.5% (95% confidence limits: 63-84%): 10 patients (14.7%) obtained a complete remission and 40 (58.8%) had a partial response. Only 10 patients (14.7%) experienced progressive disease. The median duration of response was 10 months (2-54+).

This sequential treatment with doxorubicin and docetaxel is an effective, feasible and a well-tolerated regimen. The main toxicity was neutropenia. The lack of cardiotoxicity is an important advantage of such a doxorubicin-docetaxel combination and it justifies phase III comparative studies with other anthracyclines/taxanes containing schedules in both advanced and early-stage breast cancer.