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Case Reports
. 2018;94 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):34-44.
doi: 10.1159/000489067. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Eribulin Treatment in Patients with Liver Metastatic Breast Cancer: Eight Italian Case Reports

Guido Giordano  1   2 , Antonio Febbraro  3 , Erica Quaquarini  4 , Anna Turletti  5 , Rebecca Pedersini  6 , Mimma Raffaele  7 , Federica Villa  8 , Rosalba Rossello  9 ; The Italian Eribulin Working Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Case Reports

Eribulin Treatment in Patients with Liver Metastatic Breast Cancer: Eight Italian Case Reports

Guido Giordano et al. Oncology. 2018.

Abstract

Liver metastases are very common in metastatic breast cancer (MBC); current treatments for these lesions are based on systemic chemotherapy, endocrine- or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy, and palliative therapy. However, no standard approach has been clearly identified for second and further chemotherapy lines in MBC patients. In the phase III clinical trial EMBRACE, eribulin was particularly effective in reducing liver lesions and improving both overall survival and progression-free survival in liver MBC patients. In this series, we collected 8 case reports of Italian clinical practice in which eribulin has shown significant efficacy in reducing liver metastases in MBC patients: complete response was reported in 2 patients, and 4 patients achieved partial response. The treatment was well tolerated, thus confirming that eribulin is a suitable therapeutic option for elderly patients and for those who have metastatic HER2-negative disease. In the setting of MBC, the sequencing of therapeutic agents should consider expected response, side effects, tumor characteristics, and patient's preferences, in order to successfully tailor the most appropriate therapy beyond earlier lines.

Keywords: Eribulin; Liver metastasis; Metastatic breast cancer; Quality of life.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
PET-CT (August 2014) shows multiple liver lesions, the biggest measuring 39 mm, in the right liver (SUV max. 17.5).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
PET-CT (April 2015) after 8 cycles of eribulin shows dimensional reduction of the hepatic lesions (10 mm, SUV max. 8).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
a CT scan showing liver metastasis before eribulin treatment; the white arrow indicates the lesion. b Complete liver response after 6 cycles of eribulin treatment.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
CT scans before starting eribulin (April 2014) and during treatment (December 2014).
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
CT scans of liver lesions in IV and VII segments.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
CT scans at baseline and after 9 cycles of eribulin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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