FEC (5-fluorouracil-epirubicin-cyclophosphamide) monthly versus FEC weekly in metastatic breast cancer. First results of a randomized trial.

Patients (n = 174) with metastatic breast cancer previously untreated with anthracycline cytotoxic agents were randomized into two groups: Group 1 received FEC (5-flourouracil 500 mg/m2, epirubicin 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2) once every fourth week and group 2 received the treatment once weekly in the same monthly dosage. Treatment was recommended to continue until disease progression or to a cumulative epirubicin dose of 1 000 mg/m2, but could be discontinued at any time at the patient's request or at the treating physician's judgement. An interim analysis was made when 131 patients were evaluable for response, and 128 patients for toxicity. Hematological toxicity was significantly more severe in the monthly group, as was nausea and vomiting. Of the monthly treated patients 76% had total alopecia compared to 14% in the weekly group. There were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence of mucositis. Monthly FEC gave significantly higher response rate than weekly treatment (52...