Therapeutic efficacy of pirarubicin cyclophosphamide and doxifluridine in advanced and metastatic breast cancer

Twenty-four eligible patients (23 of whom were evaluated) with advanced and metastatic breast cancer were treated at the Saitama Cancer Center every 4 weeks with pirarubicin (30 mg/m2 i.v., day 1 and 8), cyclophosphamide (200 mg/m2 div, day 1 and 8) and doxifluridine (800 mg/day po, day 1-14). The 23 evaluable patients had a median age of 49.7 years (range 35.3-72.1) and underwent a median number of 3 cycles (range 2-5). Grade 4 leukopenia (10/24 patients) was the dose-limiting factor and led to infection in one patient. Four complete responses and 7 partial responses with a median duration of 12.1 months (range 2.6-61.0) were achieved, resulting in an overall response rate of 47.8%. The 50% survival duration was 22.9 months.