[Adjuvant epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by weekly paclitaxel for Japanese women with node-positive breast cancer: a multi-institutional feasibility study].

We evaluated the feasibility of epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide(EC)followed by weekly paclitaxel (wPTX) as an adjuvant therapy for node-positive breast cancer in a variety of practice settings. Thirty-two patients received EC (twenty-two: 75, 600 mg/m(2), ten: 90, 600 mg/m(2))every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. Twenty-eight of them received wPTX for 4 cycles subsequently, which were 3 consecutive weekly administrations with a following week pause per cycle. Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity included leukopenia(5 for E75C600, 6 for E90C600, 2 for wPTX), neutropenia(6 for E75C600, 8 for E90C600, 4 for wPTX), febrile neutropenia (1 for E90C600), anemia (1 for wPTX), and GOT/GPT elevation (1 for wPTX). Non-hematologic toxicity of more than grade 3 was not seen. There were seven treatment discontinuations, including four patients' refusal, two allergic reactions to paclitaxel, and one liver dysfunction. EC followed by wPTX can be safely performed with a little toxicity at doses of 75/90 mg/m(2), 600 mg/m(2) and 80 mg/m(2), respectively.