Cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and cisplatin (CEP) in advanced breast cancer: preliminary results

Twenty-five patients with advanced breast cancer were treated every 28 days with Cisplatin, 30 mg/m2 iv on days 1,3,5; Epirubicin, 40 mg/m2 iv on day 1; Cyclophosphamide, 200mg/m2 iv on days 1,3,5. Partial remission was achieved by 7 patients (33%), all of whom had been untreated with chemotherapy. Overall toxicity was moderate but manageable. Severe haematological toxicity was experienced by 5 patients (20%) with grade III anemia; 2 patients had grade II oral mucositis; 4 had grade II diarrhoea Moderate nausea and vomiting were seen in all patients. Although they are only preliminary, our results suggest that this treatment had considerable activity as first line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer and deserves further evaluation.