Phase I trial of adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil (CEF) for stage II breast cancer

Epirubicin is a new anthracycline with a potentially more favorable toxicity profile than the parent compound, doxorubicin. Accordingly, the feasibility and toxicity of 6 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (C), epirubicin (E), and 5-fluorouracil (F) were assessed in 10 patients with Stage 2 (node positive) breast cancer. Doses of C and F were 600 mg/m² and E was 75 mg/m². Moderate granulocytopenia (median count = 610/mm³) occurred on day 14 of the first 21 day treatment course and was the main toxicity encountered with treatment, although there were no episodes of granulocytopenic fever. Grade 3 or 4 vomiting occurred in 40% and significant alopecia in 30% of patients. Four patients experienced transient asymptomatic decreases in calculated radionuclide cardiac ejection fraction of ≥ 10% but no signs or symptoms of cardiac failure were observed. If epirubicin proves to be less cardiotoxic than doxorubicin, this combination would merit further evaluation as potential adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer.