Fifteen-year median follow-up results after neoadjuvant doxorubicin, followed by mastectomy, followed by adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) followed by radiation for stage III breast cancer: a phase II trial (CALGB 8944).

PURPOSE: To describe long-term results of a multimodality strategy for stage III breast cancer utilizing neoadjuvant doxorubicin followed by mastectomy, CMF, and radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with biopsy-proven, clinical stage III breast cancer and adequate organ function were eligible. Neoadjuvant doxorubicin (30 mg/m(2) days 1-3, every 28 days for 4 cycles) was followed by mastectomy, in stable or responding patients. Sixteen weeks of postoperative CMF followed (continuous oral cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg/day); methotrexate (0.7 mg/kg IV) and fluorouracil (12 mg/kg IV) weekly, weeks 1-8, and than biweekly, weeks 9-16). Radiation therapy followed adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Clinical response rate was 71% (79/111, 95% CI = 62-79%), with 19% complete clinical response. Pathologic complete response was 5% (95% CI = 2-11%). Median follow-up is 15.6 years. Half of the patients progressed by 2.2 years; half died by 5.4 years (range 6 months-15 years). The hazard of dying was greatest in the first 5 years after diagnosis and declined thereafter. Time to progression and overall survival were predicted by number of pathologically involved lymph nodes (TTP: HR [10 vs. 1 node] 2.40, 95% CI = 1.63-3.53, P < 0.0001; OS: HR 2.50, 95% CI = 1.74-3.58, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: After multimodality treatment for locally advanced breast cancer, long-term survival was correlated with the number of pathologically positive lymph nodes, but not to clinical response. The hazard of death was highest during the first 5 years after diagnosis and declined thereafter, indicating a possible intermediate endpoint for future trials of neoadjuvant treatment.

Prospective, randomized comparison of high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support versus intermediate-dose chemotherapy after surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in women with high-risk primary breast cancer: a report of CALGB 9082, SWOG 9114, and NCIC MA-13.

PURPOSE: The prognosis for women with primary breast cancer involving multiple axillary nodes remains poor. High-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support produced promising results in initial clinical trials conducted at single institutions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven hundred eighty-five women aged 22 to 66 years with stage IIA, IIB, or IIIA breast cancer involving 10 or more axillary lymph nodes were randomized after surgery and standard adjuvant chemotherapy to either high-dose cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and carmustine (HD-CPB) with stem-cell support or intermediate-dose cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and carmustine (ID-CPB) with G-CSF support but without stem cells. Planned treatment for all patients included locoregional radiation therapy. Hormone-receptor-positive patients were to receive 5 years of tamoxifen. Event-free survival (EFS) was the primary end point. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 7.3 years. Event-free survival was not significantly different between the two treatment groups (P = .24). The probability of being free of an event at 5 years with HD-CPB was 61% (95% CI, 56% to 65%), and was 58% (95% CI, 53% to 63%) for ID-CPB. Thirty-three patients died of causes attributed to HD-CPB, compared with no therapy-related deaths among women treated with ID-CPB. Overall survival for the two arms was identical at 71% at 5 years (P = .75). CONCLUSION: HD-CPB with stem-cell support was not superior to ID-CPB for event-free or overall survival among all randomized women with high-risk primary breast cancer.

Phase III study of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil (CAF) plus leucovorin versus CAF for metastatic breast cancer: Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9140.

PURPOSE: To determine whether biochemical modulation with LV (leucovorin) enhances the efficacy of CAF (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil) against metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with histologically confirmed stage IV breast cancer, Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) performance status 0 to 2, and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease were randomly assigned to receive CAF (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 day 1, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 day 1, and fluorouracil [FU] 200 mg/m2 intravenous bolus days 1 to 5) with or without LV (LV 200 mg/m2 over 30 minutes days 1 to 5 given 1 hour before FU). RESULTS: Two hundred forty-two patients were randomly assigned to treatment; 124 patients had visceral crisis and 40 patients had a CALGB performance status score of 2. The median follow-up was 6 years. The two study arms were similar with regard to serious adverse events; four patients died from treatment-related causes, two patients on each study arm. Predictive variables for time to treatment failure and survival were visceral disease and performance status. The overall response rate was 29% for CAF versus 28% for CAF plus LV. The median time to treatment failure (9 months) and median survival (1.7 years) did not differ by treatment arm. CONCLUSION: Modulation of CAF with LV improved neither response rates nor survival among women with metastatic breast cancer, compared with CAF alone. Multivariate analyses confirmed the prognostic importance of performance status and visceral crisis. However, the overall and complete response rates, response durations, time to treatment failure, and survival were the same in the two treatment arms.

Circulating HER-2/erbB-2/c-neu (HER-2) extracellular domain as a prognostic factor in patients with metastatic breast cancer: Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study 8662.

PURPOSE: The HER-2/erbB-2/c-neu (HER-2) proto-oncogene is a M(r) 185,000 transmembrane tyrosine kinase that is amplified and/or overexpressed by 20-40% of breast cancers. HER-2 has been associated with worse prognosis and resistance or sensitivity to specific treatment. We evaluated circulating levels of extracellular domain of HER-2 (ECD/HER-2) in metastatic breast cancer patients and investigated the prognostic and predictive significance of circulating HER-2 levels regarding endocrine therapy or chemotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Plasma samples from 242 patients were assayed for circulating ECD/HER-2 levels, using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. ECD/HER-2 was correlated with clinical data gathered from these patients while they were participating in prospective Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) therapeutic protocols for metastatic breast cancer. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (37%) of 242 patients had elevated ECD/HER-2 levels (> or =10.5 ng/ml). ECD/HER-2 was significantly associated with tumor burden, progesterone receptor levels, and presence of visceral metastases. Patients with elevated pretreatment levels had a significantly shorter OS but not time-to-progression than did those with ECD/HER-2 levels <10.5 ng/ml in univariate analysis. In univariate but not multivariate subset analyses, among patients treated with endocrine therapy (megestrol acetate), elevated initial ECD/HER-2 was associated with worse OS compared with nonelevated patients. However, among patients treated with chemotherapy (mainly anthracycline-containing regimens), OS did not differ significantly. Rates of response to either endocrine therapy or chemotherapy were similar for patients with elevated and nonelevated ECD/HER-2 levels. CONCLUSIONS: ECD/HER-2 levels are elevated in 35-40% of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Elevated ECD/HER-2 levels are associated with a poorer prognosis in these patients. However, no predictive role for ECD/HER-2 was identified, either for endocrine therapy or for anthracycline-based chemotherapy in the metastatic setting.

HER-2/neu and p53 expression versus tamoxifen resistance in estrogen receptor-positive, node-positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE: An association between the overexpression of proto-oncogene HER-2/neu and resistance to tamoxifen in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive primary and metastatic breast cancer has been suggested. We examine a possible interaction between HER-2/neu or p53 expression and tamoxifen effectiveness in patients with ER-positive, node-positive disease treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil in a large adjuvant chemotherapy trial (Cancer and Leukemia Group B [CALGB] 8541). Tamoxifen assignment was not randomized-physician discretion was used for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Trial protocol then specified assignment to postmenopausal women with ER-positive tumors, although not all took tamoxifen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CALGB 8541 assessed HER-2/neu expression in patients with ER-positive disease by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and amplification by differential polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IHC assessed expression of p53. Univariate and multivariate proportional hazards models assessed tamoxifen-HER-2/neu status interactions and tamoxifen-p53 status interactions. RESULTS: HER-2/neu status was available for 651 patients with ER-positive disease; 650, 608, and 353 patients were assessed by IHC, PCR, and FISH, respectively. Approximately one half received tamoxifen. Reduction in risk of disease recurrence or death resulting from tamoxifen was approximately 37% (32% with overexpression and 39% with normal expression of HER-2/neu; n = 155 by IHC). The tamoxifen-HER-2/neu status interaction was not significant in multivariate analysis of all three HER-2/neu assessment methods. Tamoxifen-p53 interaction did not significantly predict outcome. CONCLUSION: Disease-free and overall survival benefit of tamoxifen in patients with ER-positive, node-positive breast cancer does not depend on HER-2/neu or p53 status. Our data suggest that neither HER-2/neu nor p53 expression should be used to determine assignment of tamoxifen.

Purchasing oncology services. Kerr L. White Institute/American Cancer Society Task Force on Purchasing Oncology Services.

BACKGROUND: A multidisciplinary panel representing various stakeholders in the health care delivery and oncology services marketplace was convened to develop specific criteria for healthcare purchasers to consider when evaluating the structures and processes of health plans. These rank ordered criteria also can be used by oncologic service providers and health plan designers as a yardstick for the services they offer. METHODS: A multidisciplinary 31-member Task Force was assembled by the Kerr L. White Institute and the American Cancer Society in March 1997. Task Force members were selected for their ability to offer expert insight as purchasers, suppliers, policymakers, consumers, or stakeholders in the health care marketplace. A preference-weighted majority voting rule was used to identify the three most important recommendations of the 10 that were generated through a modified Delphi technique. To test the practicality of the top three recommendations, leaders of large managed care organizations (MCOs) were surveyed; the results of this survey then were compared with the results of the Task Force survey. RESULTS: The three most important recommendations from the Task Force were that health plans provide access to: 1) comprehensive cancer care, 2) preventive and screening services, and 3) second opinions and treatment options supported by scientific evidence. The difference between the responses of the Task Force and the MCOs was that MCOs placed the highest importance on evidence-based decision-making, with their next three rankings coinciding with those identified by the Task Force. CONCLUSIONS: The value of these summary recommendations will be realized through their use by both purchasers and suppliers to influence the structure and content of the delivery of oncologic services.

Phase II study of weekly intravenous trastuzumab (Herceptin) in patients with HER2/neu-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

The HER2/neu proto-oncogene is overexpressed in 25% to 30% of patients with breast cancer. Trastuzumab (Herceptin; Genentech, San Francisco, CA), a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody with high affinity for the HER2 protein, inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells overexpressing HER2. In this phase II study the efficacy and toxicity of weekly administration of trastuzumab was evaluated in 46 patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpressed HER2. A loading dose of 250 mg trastuzumab was administered intravenously, which was followed by 10 weekly doses of 100 mg each. Upon completion of this treatment period, patients with no disease progression could receive a weekly maintenance dose of 100 mg. Patients in this trial had extensive metastatic disease, and most had received prior anticancer therapy. Ninety percent of patients achieved adequate serum levels of trastuzumab. Toxicity was minimal, and no antibodies against trastuzumab could be detected. Objective responses were observed in 5 of the 43 evaluable patients, which included 1 complete remission and 4 partial remissions, for an overall response rate of 11.6%. Responses were seen in mediastinum, lymph nodes, liver, and chest wall lesions. Minor responses (seen in 2 patients) and stable disease (14 patients) lasted for a median of 5.1 months. These results demonstrate that trastuzumab is well tolerated and clinically active in patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancers who have received extensive prior therapy. The regression of human cancer through the targeting of putative growth factor receptors such as HER2 warrants further evaluation of trastuzumab in the treatment of breast cancer.

Dose-response trial of megestrol acetate in advanced breast cancer: cancer and leukemia group B phase III study 8741.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether dose escalation of megestrol acetate (MA) improves response rate and survival in comparison with standard doses of MA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred sixty-eight patients with metastatic breast cancer, positive and/or unknown estrogen and progesterone receptors, zero or one prior trial of hormonal therapy, and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease were prospectively randomized into three groups. The groups of patients received either MA 160 mg/d (one tablet per day), MA 800 mg/d (five tablets per day), or MA 1,600 mg/d (10 tablets per day). RESULTS: Patient characteristics were well balanced in the three treatment groups. Three hundred sixty-six patients received treatment and were included in the analyses. The response rates were 23%, 27%, and 27% for the 160-mg, 800-mg, and 1,600-mg arms, respectively. Response duration correlated inversely with dose. Median durations of response were 17 months, 14 months, and 8 months for the 160-mg, 800-mg, and 1,600-mg arms, respectively. No significant differences in the treatment arms were noted for time to disease progression or for survival; survival medians were 28 months (low dose), 24 months (mid dose) and 29 months (high dose). The most frequent and troublesome toxicity, weight gain, was dose-related, with approximately 20% of patients on the two higher-dose arms reporting weight gain of more than 20% of their prestudy weight, compared with only 2% in the 160-mg dose arm. CONCLUSION: With a median follow-up of 8 years, these results demonstrate no advantage for dose escalation of MA in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Phase II trial of topotecan in advanced breast cancer: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B study.

The topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan had demonstrated good antitumor activity in several murine tumor systems and in human clonogenic assays by 1993. In that year, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) began a phase II trial to determine its activity in patients with breast cancer who had previously received one course of chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer. Between April 1993 and June 1994, 53 patients of performance status 0-2 entered the study, of whom 47 were eligible and 40 were evaluable. Topotecan was given at a dose of 1.5 mg/m2 over 30 minutes daily for 5 days every 21 days. In the absence of progression or withdrawal of consent, therapy was continued indefinitely. The median age was 58 years (range 30-79). There were no complete responses and four partial responses, resulting in an objective response rate of 10% (95% CI: 3-24%). Responses were noted in lymph nodes, liver, and skin. The median duration of response was 5 months. The median survival was 12 months. Life-threatening toxicities were almost exclusively hematologic. However, myelosuppression was not cumulative. It was concluded that topotecan has only modest activity among women with advanced breast cancer who have previously received one course of chemotherapy. Given its modest activity and predominant hematologic toxicity, it does not appear to be a promising drug for either single-agent or combination chemotherapy in the salvage setting of advanced breast cancer.

Safety and efficacy of using a single agent or a phase II agent before instituting standard combination chemotherapy in previously untreated metastatic breast cancer patients: report of a randomized study--Cancer and Leukemia Group B 8642.

PURPOSE: We undertook a prospective, randomized phase III trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using a phase II agent before initiating therapy with standard combination chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 365 women with measurable metastatic breast cancer, previously untreated with chemotherapy for their metastatic disease, were randomized to receive either immediate chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil (CAF) or up to four cycles of one of five sequential cohorts of single-agent drugs: trimetrexate, melphalan, amonafide, carboplatin, or elsamitrucin, followed by CAF. RESULTS: The toxicity of each single agent followed by CAF was comparable to that of CAF alone. The cumulative response rates for the single agent followed by CAF were not statistically different from those of CAF alone (44% v 52%; P = .24). However, in the multivariate analysis, patients with visceral disease had a trend toward lower response rates on the phase II agent plus CAF arm (P = .078). Although survival and response duration also were not statistically significantly different between the two study arms (P = .074 and P = .069, respectively), there was a suggestion of benefit for the CAF-only arm. CONCLUSION: The brief use of a phase II agent, regardless of its efficacy, followed by CAF resulted in response rates, toxicities, durations of response, and survival statistically equivalent to those seen with the use of CAF alone. These findings support the use of a new paradigm for the evaluation of phase II agents in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Antitumor activity of Herceptin in combination with STEALTH liposomal cisplatin or nonliposomal cisplatin in a HER2 positive human breast cancer model.

Single agent antitumor activity of Herceptin, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against HER2, has been demonstrated in numerous preclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, combination therapy with Herceptin and chemotherapy (CRx) has demonstrated additive antitumor activity in both preclinical models and early clinical trials. STEALTH (pegylated) liposomal (PL) cisplatin, also known as SPI-077, is currently in clinical trials for a variety of solid tumors. The three studies reported here discuss the antitumor activity of the combination of Herceptin and nonliposomal cisplatin or PL-cisplatin in two xenograft tumor models, initiated from the cell lines, BT474 and MDA453, that overexpress the oncogene, HER2. Herceptin alone had significant antitumor activity in all three experiments (p < 0.0001). Nonliposomal cisplatin and PL-cisplatin were both effective antitumor agents but, at tolerable dose levels, PL-cisplatin was superior to nonliposomal cisplatin (p < 0.0003). The effect of combining Herceptin with the chemotherapeutic cisplatin or PL-cisplatin, was most significant at moderate doses of H (0.5 mg/kg, p < 0.0001), but tended to be greater than either agent alone in all experiments. The combination of PL-cisplatin with Herceptin had statistically similar antitumor activity to that of nonliposomal cisplatin with Herceptin in all experiments. We conclude that combination therapy with PL-cisplatin and Herceptin results in significant antitumor activity with the potential for reducing toxicity in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Cardiac effects of adjuvant doxorubicin and radiation therapy in breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To assess the cardiac effects of two different cumulative doses of adjuvant doxorubicin and radiation therapy (RT) in breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred ninety-nine breast cancer patients were prospectively randomized to receive either five cycles (CA5) or 10 cycles (CA10) of adjuvant treatment with cyclophosphamide (500 mg/ m2) and doxorubicin (45 mg/m2) administered by intravenous bolus every 21 days. One hundred twenty-two of these patients also received RT. Estimates of the cardiac RT dose-volume were retrospectively categorized as low, moderate, or high. The risk of major cardiac events (congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction) was assessable in 276 patients (92%), with a median follow-up time of 6.0 years (range, 0.5 to 19.4). RESULTS: The estimated risk (95% confidence interval) of cardiac events per 100 patient-years was significantly higher for CA10 than for CA5 [1.7 (1.0 to 2.8) v 0.5 (0.1 to 1.2); P=.02]. The risk of cardiac events in CA5 patients, irrespective of the cardiac RT dose-volume, did not differ significantly from rates of cardiac events predicted for the general female population by the Framingham Heart Study. In CA10 patients, the incidence of cardiac events was significantly increased (relative risk ratio, 3.6; P < .00003) compared with the Framingham population, particularly in groups that also received moderate and high dose-volume cardiac RT. CONCLUSION: Conventional-dose adjuvant doxorubicin as delivered in the CA5 regimen by itself, or in combination with locoregional RT, was not associated with a significant increase in the risk of cardiac events. Higher doses of adjuvant doxorubicin (CA10) were associated with a threefold to fourfold increased risk of cardiac events. This appears to be especially true in patients treated with higher dose-volumes of cardiac RT. Larger studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results.

erbB-2, p53, and efficacy of adjuvant therapy in lymph node-positive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that high expression of the erbB-2 gene (also known as HER-2/neu and ERBB2) in breast cancer is associated with patient response to dose-intensive treatment with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and 5-flurouracil (CAF) on the basis of short-term follow-up of 397 patients (set A) with axillary lymph node-positive tumors who were enrolled in Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) protocol 8541. METHODS: To validate those findings, we conducted immunohistochemical analyses of erbB-2 and p53 protein expression in an additional cohort of 595 patients (set B) from CALGB 8541, as well as a molecular analysis of erbB-2 gene amplification in tumors from all patients (sets A and B). Marker data were compared with clinical, histologic, treatment, and outcome data. RESULTS: Updated analyses of data from set A (median follow-up, 10.4 years) showed an even stronger interaction between erbB-2 expression and CAF dose, by use of either immunohistochemical or molecular data. A similar interaction between erbB-2 expression and CAF dose was observed in all 992 patients, analyzed as a single group. However, for set B alone (median follow-up, 8.2 years), results varied with the method of statistical analysis. By use of a proportional hazards model, the erbB-2 expression-CAF dose interaction was not significant for all patients. However, in the subgroups of patients randomly assigned to the high- or the moderate-dose arms, significance was achieved. When patient data were adjusted for differences by use of a prognostic index (to balance an apparent failure of randomization in the low-dose arm), the erbB-2 expression-CAF dose interaction was significant in all patients from the validation set B as well. An interaction was also observed between p53 immunopositivity and CAF dose. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that patients whose breast tumors exhibit high erbB-2 expression benefit from dose-intensive CAF should be further validated before clinical implementation. Interactions between erbB-2 expression, p53 expression, and CAF dose underscore the complexities of predictive markers where multiple interactions may confound the outcome.

Dose and dose intensity as determinants of outcome in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B.

BACKGROUND: Both total dose and dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy are postulated to be important variables in the outcome for patients with operable breast cancer. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B study 8541 examined the effects of adjuvant treatment using conventional-range dose and dose intensity in female patients with stage II (axillary lymph node-positive) breast cancer. METHODS: Within 6 weeks of surgery (radical mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or lumpectomy), 1550 patients with unilateral breast cancer were randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms: high-, moderate-, or low-dose intensity. The patients received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and 5-fluorouracil on day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle, with 5-fluorouracil administration repeated on day 8. The high-dose arm had twice the dose intensity and twice the drug dose as the low-dose arm. The moderate-dose arm had two thirds the dose intensity as the high-dose arm but the same total drug dose. Disease-free survival and overall survival were primary end points of the study. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 9 years, disease-free survival and overall survival for patients on the moderate- and high-dose arms are superior to the corresponding survival measures for patients on the low-dose arm (two-sided P<.0001 and two-sided P = .004, respectively), with no difference in disease-free or overall survival between the moderate- and the high-dose arms. At 5 years, overall survival (average +/- standard error) is 79% +/- 2% for patients on the high-dose arm, 77% +/- 2% for the patients on the moderate-dose arm, and 72% +/- 2% for patients on the low-dose arm; disease-free survival is 66% +/- 2%, 61% +/- 2%, and 56% +/- 2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the conventional dose range for this chemotherapy regimen, a higher dose is associated with better disease-free survival and overall survival.

Sixteen-week multidrug regimen versus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil as adjuvant therapy for node-positive, receptor-negative breast cancer: an Intergroup study.

PURPOSE: The Intergroup conducted this breast cancer adjuvant trial to compare an investigational 16-week regimen with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil (5-FU; CAF). The 16-week regimen features greater doxorubicin and 5-FU dose-intensity than CAF and improved scheduling of antimetabolites with sequential methotrexate and 5-FU, as well as infusion 5-FU. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 646 node-positive, receptor-negative patients were randomly assigned to receive either the 1 6-week regimen or six cycles of CAF. Breast cancer outcomes included recurrence as well as disease-free and overall survival. Toxicity was evaluated by the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC). Treatment-related quality of life was assessed by the Breast Chemotherapy Questionnaire (BCQ) before, during, and 4 months after treatment in 163 patients. The trial was designed to use one-sided tests of significance for power calculations, but is now reported with both one-sided and the traditional two-sided tests of significance. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 3.9 years, the estimated 4-year recurrence-free survival rate was 67.5% with the 16-week regimen versus 62.7% with CAF (P = .19, two-sided; P = .095, one-sided). The estimated 4-year survival rate was 78.1% with the 16-week regimen versus 71.4% with CAF (P = .10, two-sided; P = .05, one-sided). CAF produced significantly higher grades of leukopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia, as well as liver and cardiac toxicity, whereas the 16-week regimen produced significantly higher grades of anemia, nausea, stomatitis, and weight loss, as well as skin and neurotoxicity. There were three treatment-related deaths with CAF but none with the 16-week regimen. During treatment, quality of life declined significantly more with the 16-week regimen than CAF, but by 4 months posttreatment, there was no difference. CONCLUSION: The 16-week regimen produced marginally better breast cancer outcomes than CAF with similar toxicity but a greater reduction in during-treatment quality of life. The 16-week regimen should not be used instead of a standard-dose regimen without careful consideration of the 16-week regimen's pros and cons, which include its complicated schedule. It should probably not be tested further, but its antimetabolite schedules and frequent drug administration (ie, dose density) should be considered in the development of new regimens.

The relationship between prognostic and predictive factors in the management of breast cancer.

The discovery of new prognostic factors proceeds at a much more rapid pace than our knowledge of how to properly utilize this information in the management of patients with breast cancer, especially those with early breast cancer that has not metastasized to regional lymph nodes. Prognostic factors provide information on how the patient is likely to do regardless of treatment. Predictive factors provide information on whether a patient is likely to benefit from therapy. Most factors identified to date provide prognostic information, but relatively few provide information that is truly helpful in making a therapeutic decision in the management of individual patients. In large part this is because there has been insufficient study of the factor, especially prospective evaluations of the factor. Unfortunately this has resulted in the premature use of this information under the general rubric that patients with a poor prognosis deserve more treatment in spite of the fact that there may be no benefit from that therapy in the poor prognostic group.

Race and survival from breast cancer: based on Cancer and Leukemia Group B trial 8541.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the prognostic significance of race and survival in stage II breast cancer among women treated with adjuvant chemotherapy in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) trial 8541. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1572 patients with node-positive breast cancer were entered in CALGB trial 8541. This study opened in January 1985 and randomized patients to receive "high-dose," "standard-dose," or "low-dose" adjuvant CAF (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil) chemotherapy. Patients were stratified according to treatment of the primary lesion (mastectomy or breast conservation), menopausal status, number of positive lymph nodes, and estrogen-receptor status. Twelve percent of the patients entered in this study were African-American, 84% were white, and 4% were of other racial backgrounds. RESULTS: African-Americans and whites were evenly distributed on all three arms. In a univariate analysis, African-Americans were more likely to have a reduced survival and shorter time to relapse than other patients. Race was moderately associated with tumor size, receptor status, and type of surgery. In a multivariate analysis, after adjusting for the dose of chemotherapy, number of lymph nodes, estrogen-receptor status, and age, race was no longer of prognostic significance. DISCUSSION: After adjustment for other well-recognized prognostic factors, race appears to have no independent prognostic significance for survival from stage II breast cancer among women receiving adjuvant CAF chemotherapy.

Repetitive cycles of cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, and carboplatin intensification with peripheral-blood progenitor cells and filgrastim in advanced breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: As an alternative to single-cycle cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, and carboplatin (CTCb) intensification, we evaluated the feasibility of administering one-quarter dose CTCb for four cycles with peripheral-blood progenitor-cell (PBPC) and filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF]) in advanced-stage breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1992 to August 1993, 20 stage IIIB (n = 7) and IV (n = 13) breast cancer patients received 78 cycles of induction with doxorubicin 90 mg/m2 by intravenous (IV) bolus with G-CSF 5 microg/kg/d by subcutaneous injection (SC) repeated every 14 to 21 days for four cycles. PBPC were collected by 2-hour single-blood volume leukapheresis on 2 consecutive days at the time of hematologic recovery from each cycle of doxorubicin. Eighteen patients received 61 cycles of intensification with cyclophosphamide 1,500 mg/m2, thiotepa 125 mg/m2, and carboplatin 200 mg/m2 by IV continuous infusion with G-CSF 10 microg/kg/d SC and PBPC support repeated every 21 to 42 days for four cycles. RESULTS: Twelve of 20 patients (60%) completed all four planned cycles of doxorubicin induction followed by four cycles of one-quarter dose CTCb intensification. Statistically significantly decreases in the yield of mononuclear cells (MNC) (median slope per day, -0.032; P = .03), granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) (median slope per day, -0.57; P = .0008), and burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) (median slope per day, -1.18; P = .006) were observed over the course of the eight leukaphereses. Of 18 patients who began CTCb, 12 (67%) completed four cycles. Six patients were removed from study during intensification: two for progressive disease (PD), one refused further treatment, and three for dose-limiting hematologic toxicity. A fourth patient fulfilled the criteria for dose-limiting hematologic toxicity after cycle 4. The toxicity of the multiple cycle CTCb intensification regimen consisted of grade IV leukopenia, grade IV thrombocytopenia, and febrile neutropenia in 100%, 100%, and 26% of cycles, respectively. The median duration of each CTCb cycle was 24 days (range, 18 to 63), and the median duration of an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < or = 500/microL and platelet count < or = 20,000/microL during each cycle was 6 days (range, 2 to 15) and 4 days (range, 0 to 38), respectively. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to administer repetitive cycles of one-quarter dose CTCb intensification with PBPC and G-CSF. Additional studies are required to determine whether multiple cycles of CTCb intensification might offer a therapeutic advantage over a single high-dose cycle.

Relationship between toxicity and obesity in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: results from cancer and leukemia group B study 8541.

PURPOSE: We examined data from a large clinical trial to determine if chemotherapy dosing according to actual body weight places obese patients at greater risk of toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) study 8541, a randomized study of schedule and dose of adjuvant cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil (CAF) for stage II breast cancer patients with positive regional lymph nodes, provided data on 1,435 women for analysis. Using body-mass index (BMI), we classified a woman as obese if her BMI was > or = 27.3 kg/m2; doses were considered weight-based if within 5% of values calculated using actual weight. Our primary analysis concerned toxicity risks during cycle 1. RESULTS: Among women who received weight-based doses of the most dose-intensive CAF regimen, 47% of obese and 51% of nonobese women experienced severe hematologic toxicity (grade > or = 3) during cycle 1 (P = .51, two-tailed). The overall risk ratio (obese v nonobese) of treatment failure among women who received weight-based doses during cycle 1 was 1.02 (95% confidence interval, 0.83 to 1.26), stratified by treatment and adjusted for number of positive nodes, menopausal status, hormone receptor status, and tumor size. The overall adjusted failure risk ratio (weight-based v reduced initial doses) was 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.53 to 1.00) among obese women. CONCLUSION: Obese patients initially dosed (within 5%) by actual weight did not experience excess cycle 1 toxicity or worse outcome compared with nonobese women dosed similarly. The data suggest that obese women who received reduced doses in cycle 1 experienced worse failure-free survival. We recommend that initial doses of CAF be computed according to actual body weight.