383 Comparative study: Pirarubicin vs doxorubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil in the treatment of breast cancer

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) 1995-11, Vol.31, p.S83-S84
• Main Authors: Budišić, Z., Predrijevac, H., Podolski, P., Gošev, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/0959-8049(95)95636-K

Pirarubicin, an anthracycline antibiotic without significant cardiotoxicity in preclinical and clinical trials, showed equal antineoplastic effect but less alopecia than doxorubicin in patients with breast cancer. A prospective, randomised phase III study of FPC versus FAC in the treatment of advanced breast cancer was carried out in Croatia in 9 clinical centres during 2 years. A total of 94 patients was entered into the trial and 87 patients were evaluable for responses. The patients characteristic were well balanced: age < 72; PS 0−3; evaluable lesions; no prior anthracycline therapy; absence of cardiopathy. Patients were given cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m 2 each and either doxorubicin or pirarubicin 50 mg every three weeks-6 cycles. Efficacy: FAC group: CR −6/44, PR −15/44; FPC group: CR −7/43, PR −12/43; statistically N.S. Toxicity (myelosupression, nausea-vomiting, cardiotoxicity) was similar in both groups. Alopecia: FAC group: gradus 2 −8/43, gradus 3 −29/43; FPC group: gradus 2 −10/44, gradus 3 −11/44; P < 0.0000001 significantly favouring FPC. Pirarubicin gives better life quality to patients with advanced breast cancer and should be an anthracycline of choice in young, high risk patients with early breast cancer submitted to the adjuvant chemotherapy, causing less alopecia.