Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC): a salvage regimen for advanced breast cancer patients who have failed anthracycline and/or taxane therapy.

• Main Authors: Imjai Chitapanarux, Vicharn Lorvidhaya, Pimkhuan Kamnerdsupaphon, Ekkasit Tharavichitkul, Hongsin Trakultivakorn, Areewan Somwangprasert, Somsak Sumitsawan, Songphol Srisukho, Keerati Watcharachan, Vimol Sukthomya
• Format: Journal
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Medicine
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=33745515798&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/61519
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

BACKGROUND: In clinical studies of both heavily and minimally pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer, the combination of Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC), given in a variety of schedules and doses, has demonstrated moderate safety and efficacy in both heavily and minimally pretreated advanced breast cancer with response rate from 29-63% (median 46%). METHODS: We evaluated the activity and toxicity of another GC regimen (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) days 1, 8 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 1 every 3 weeks) in 30 breast cancer patients who failed chemotherapy with anthracycline and/or taxanes as adjuvant or neoadjuvant, or primary therapy. RESULTS: We obtained overall response in 15 of 29 evaluable patients (52%), with responses occurring in all subgroups of disease (unresectable locally advanced, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis). Toxicity was primarily hematologic, with grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 37% and 17% of patients, respectively. The only grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicity was grade 3 nausea/vomiting in 12% of patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that gemcitabine plus cisplatin appears to be effective and has an acceptable toxicity profile in anthracycline and/or taxane pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer.