RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and efficacy of high-dose epirubicin combined with cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil for advanced breast cancer. METHODS: Thirty two cases with stage III and IV breast cancer were treated with epirubicin (EPI) 90-110 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide (CTX) 600 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) 900 mg/m2 every 21 days. The therapeutic effect was compared with that in patients treated with low-dose EPI(50 mg/m2). RESULTS: The response rate (RR) in patients treated with high-dose EPI was 71.9% (CR = 4, PR = 19) which was significantly better than that in the low-dose EPI-treated patients (CR = 2, PR = 5). The therapeutic effect was slightly better in patients initially diagnosed than in patients in recurrence (RR: 80% vs 68.2%) the median remission and surriving peroid was 7.4 months and 12.5 months, respectively. The major side effect was leukopenia. Mild to moderate GI tract side effects were obsevved. There was no significant cardiotoxicity. CONCLUSION: High-dose EPI combined with CTX, 5-Fu is a safe and effective regimen for patients with advanced breast cancer worthy of further clinical trial.