Aims and background: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of the carboplatin and oral etoposide combination in patients with advanced breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines.
Methods: Twenty-seven patients were treated with a maximum of 6 cycles of carboplatin (300 mg/m2) and etoposide (200 mg/m2) every 4 weeks. Prior treatment with an anthracycline was given as adjuvant in 17 patients and as first line treatment for advanced disease in 10 patients.
Results: Only 12 (44%) patients completed all 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The median administered dose of carboplatin was 72 mg/m2/week and of etoposide 143 mg/m2/week. Two (7.5%) complete and 4 (15%) partial responses were observed. Both complete responses occurred in patients who received only mitoxantrone-containing adjuvant treatment, and lasted for 36 and 92+ weeks. The main toxicities included anemia (56%), leukopenia (56%), nausea/vomiting (50%) and alopecia (79%).
Conclusions: The combination of carboplatin and oral etoposide is effective and should probably be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to anthracyclines.