Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of 6% miltefosine solution, a topical chemotherapy in cutaneous metastases from breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: To compare 6% miltefosine solution (Miltex; Asta Medica, Frankfurt, Germany), a new topical cytostatic drug, with placebo as palliative treatment for cutaneous metastases from breast cancer.

Patients and methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III study, a total of 52 patients with inoperable progressive skin lesions from histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer, not manageable by radiotherapy or systemic treatment, with superficial or flat skin lesions (estimated depth of invasion < or = 1 cm) were randomized to receive either 6% miltefosine solution or placebo. The solution was applied at the dose of 2 drops/10 cm(2), once daily during the first week and twice daily thereafter until treatment failure.

Results: Treatment groups were well balanced for patient characteristics at study entry except for a small difference in age. Time to treatment failure (TTF), the primary parameter of this study, showed miltefosine solution to be significantly superior to placebo (P = .007); the median TTF in the miltefosine solution group was nearly three times longer than that in the placebo group (56 days v 21 days). The rate of response based on intention to treat patients was 33.3% for miltefosine solution compared with 3.7% for placebo (P = .006). Cutaneous reactions were seen mainly in the miltefosine group, with the type and frequency similar to those observed in previous studies.

Conclusion: 6% Miltefosine solution is confirmed as an effective palliative treatment option for cutaneous metastases from breast cancer. Skin reactions, when present, are well tolerated and only occasionally require cessation of treatment.