Dose-Dense ETC in Early BC

SAN ANTONIO–A GermanAGO Group multicenter randomizedphase III trial by Volker J. Moebus, MD,et al has confirmed the benefit of dosedense(DD) ETC chemotherapy in highriskearly breast cancer (abstract 53). The1,284 patients enrolled had ≥ 4 positiveaxillary nodes (median, 8). DD therapycomprised 3 cycles of epirubicin (Ellence)at 150 mg/m2, paclitaxel (Taxol) at 225mg/m², and cyclophosphamide (C) at2,500 mg/m² q2wk with G-CSF support.Conventional therapy was 4 cycles of Eand C at standard dosages, followed by 4courses of T (at 175 mg/m²) q3wk. Morethan 80% of patients received theplanned number of cycles of therapy.

In the DD arm, the relapse-free survivalrate was 70%, vs 62% with conventionaltherapy (P = .029). Overall survivalwas 82% with DD therapy vs 77%with conventional dosing (P = .029). Atotal of 182 patients in the DD armrelapsed vs 226 patients on standardtherapy (HR 0.72, P = .00079). No severecardiotoxicity or unusual toxicitiesoccurred.