Annals of Oncology Advance Access published online on September 14, 2007
Annals of Oncology, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdm378
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© 2007 European Society for Medical Oncology
Salvage chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: results of a phase II study with bendamustine
1 Department of Radiooncology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen
2 Department of Oncology and Hematology, University medical center Eppendorf, Hamburg
3 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
4 Department of Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
5 Breast Center, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland
* Correspondence to: Dr U. Reichmann, Department of Radiooncology, University of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Tel: +49-7071-2986142; Fax: +49-7071-295609; E-mail: ursula.reichmann{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de
Background: Bendamustine, a bifunctional alkylating agent with anticipated purin-like properties is active in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. This multicenter phase II trial defines the toxicity and activity of bendamustine in heavily pretreated patients.
Patients and methods: Fifty-one patients were included. Patients had a median number of 2 prior chemotherapeutic regimens for MBC (range 0–7) consisting of anthracyclines and taxanes: 26 patients (51%); anthracyclines: nine patients (17.6%); taxanes: seven patients (13.7%); others: five patients (9.8%). Bendamustine was administered four weekly at a dose of 120 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2.
Results: Fifty patients were assessable. Of total, 200 courses were administered. We observed no complete response (CR); 10 patients [20%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.0% to 33.7%] achieved a partial response (PR), 14 patients (28%) remained stable for at least 6 months resulting in a clinical benefit rate (CR + PR + stable disease) of 48% (95% CI: 33.7%to 52.6%). Median time to progression was 3.4 months (range 1–51.1). The median duration of remission was 6.6 months (range 1.8–48.7). The treatment was well tolerated with mainly hematologic toxic effects.
Conclusion: Single-agent bendamustine is an active treatment in patients with MBC independent of the previous treatment. The low toxicity profile favors its use as a single agent.
bendamustine, metastatic breast cancer
Received for publication April 23, 2007. Revision received June 24, 2007. Accepted for publication July 3, 2007.
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