Phase II study with etoposide in previously untreated advanced breast cancer

A phase II study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of etoposide used as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast carcinoma. A total of 20 patients received 230 mg/m2 i.v. etoposide per day for 3 days (total, 690 mg/m2 per course) every 4 weeks. A total of 95 courses were given. Observed responses included 3 partial remissions (PR) and 14 cases of stable disease (NC). The median duration of response was 6 (PR) and 5.6 months (NC). Contrary to the severe hematological toxicity in heavily pretreated patients described in previous studies, no substantial problems were observed in this trial. No dose reduction was necessary, and only once did leukopenia lead to a 1-week delay in therapy. An increase in platelets up to a maximum of 685,000/mm3 was seen in all patients, particularly in those with bone metastases. No relation to the quality of remission or pretreatment was seen. Nausea, vomiting, and fatique were mild and transient, but alopecia occurred in all cases. One patient developed nonfatal anaphylactic shock after etoposide treatment.