Carboplatin plus gemcitabine repeating doublet therapy in recurrent breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The combination of cisplatin plus gemcitabine is active in metastatic breast cancer. Carboplatin plus gemcitabine, widely used in ovarian and non-small-cell lung cancers, has also been used in breast cancer. This trial examined the efficacy and toxicity of split-dose carboplatin plus gemcitabine in advanced breast cancer.

Patients and methods: Patients with measurable disease, recurrent after adjuvant and < or = 1 previous treatment for systemic disease, received carboplatin area under the curve = 2.0 (Calvert) plus gemcitabine 800 mg/m2, both drugs administered days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Of 15 patients accrued, 13 are fully evaluable.

Results: There were 2 complete (13.3%) and 6 partial (40%) responses, for an overall response rate by intention to treat of 53.3% (95% CI, 28%-82%). The median time to progression was 4.5 months (95% CI, 2.03-6.97 months), and median overall survival was 28.8 months (95% CI, 9.4-48.2 months). There were 2 patients with grade 3 (13.3%) anemia, 7 patients with grade 3 (46.6%) and 4 patients (26.6%) with grade 4 neutropenia, 4 patients with grade 3 (26.6%) and 3 patients (20%) with grade 4 thrombocytopenia.

Conclusion: The repeating doublet of split-dose carboplatin plus gemcitabine reveals activity comparable to that of cisplatin plus gemcitabine, is well tolerated, and warrants evaluation in patients with recurrent breast cancer.