To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Taxotere Plus Doxorubicin Shows Significant Activity In Metastatic Breast Cancer URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/D3ABE.htm Doctor's Guide December 15, 1998
SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Dec. 15, 1998 -- Researchers from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) reported today that the combination of two chemotherapeutic agents, Taxotere (docetaxel) plus doxorubicin, is highly active for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. The physicians were so encouraged by the results with this combination that they have launched a national clinical trial comparing it with a standard chemotherapy regimen in patients with early stage breast cancer. The researchers hope that this new regimen will increase the likelihood of curing early stage disease. "This trial demonstrated that Taxotere and doxorubicin is an active combination for patients suffering from advanced stage breast cancer," said Dr. Joseph Sparano, director of breast medical oncology at Montefiore Medical Center and the principle investigator of the trial. "The use of Taxotere with doxorubicin did not increase the risk of congestive heart failure, a potentially serious complication of doxorubicin therapy. An increase in the risk of heart failure has been seen when other effective drugs are combined." The research involved 54 patients with metastatic breast cancer that had spread beyond the breast to other organs of the body. Fifty-seven percent of patients responded to the therapy and the response has lasted an average of at least nine months. Only four percent of patients developed congestive heart failure, a rate of heart failure that is expected for the amount of doxorubicin that patients received. "This regimen was the most effective one in this type of breast cancer that we have tested over the past five years in ECOG," Dr. Sparano said. "We hope that this regimen will more effectively kill microscopic cancer cells after surgery and therefore increase the likelihood of being cured." The ECOG trial that Dr. Sparano referred to is a newly opened national clinical trial that will involve nearly 3,000 women with early stage breast cancer. The trial is supported by the National Cancer Institute. Other groups currently participating in this trial include the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the Southwest Oncology Group. Each year, about 180,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the leading cause of death in women ages 40 to 50, accounting for 20 percent of all deaths in this age group. About 70,000 women each year develop early stage breast cancer, the type of breast cancer that is being included in the trial. Related Links: Taxotere --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.