[The feasibility of FEC (75) as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese breast cancer patients]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2005 Nov;32(12):1919-23.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Recently, high-dose FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) has been increasingly used in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in Japan. However, the safety and tolerability of high-dose FEC are not well evaluated in Japanese breast cancer patients. We studied the feasibility of FEC (75) (fluorouracil: 500 mg/m(2), epirubicin: 75 mg/m(2), and cyclophosphamide:500 mg/m(2), q 3 w, 6 cycles) as adjuvant chemotherapy for 59 primary breast cancer patients. Out of these patients, 56 (94.9%) finished 6 cycles-FEC. The mean epirubicin dose received was 431.7 mg/m(2) (95.9% of the intended dose of 450 mg/m(2)). Forty-five (76.2%) of 59 patients experienced neutropenia of grade 3 or 4, while the rates of febrile neutropenia (grade 3) and infection (grade 2) were 3.4% and 10.2%, respectively. Anemia (88.2%), fatigue (42.4%), nausea (40.6%), liver dysfunction (40.7%), and vomiting (18.7%) occurred, however most of them were mild and categorized into grade 1 or 2. No patients developed any cardiac failure symptoms. This study shows FEC (75) is well tolerable as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese breast cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Diarrhea / chemically induced
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Epirubicin / administration & dosage
  • Epirubicin / adverse effects
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects
  • Granisetron / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Vomiting, Anticipatory / etiology

Substances

  • Epirubicin
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Fluorouracil
  • Granisetron

Supplementary concepts

  • FEC protocol