MITOXANTRONE IN ELDERLY WOMEN WITH ADVANCED BREAST-CANCER - A PHASE-II STUDY

Comorbidity has important implications in older breast cancer patients . Whether elderly patients are more likely to have a decreased toleran ce to antineoplastic agents is still a question of debate. Chemotherap y-naive women with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer aged g reater than or equal to 68 years entered a phase II trial of Mitoxantr one given day 1 q 21 days. The dose of the drug was dependent on perfo rmance status (PS) and number of ''minor'' comorbid conditions: patien ts with ECOG PS = 2 and/or greater than or equal to 2 comorbid conditi ons received 10 mg/m(2) and those with PS <2 and <2 comorbid condition s received 14 mg/m(2). Twenty-seven patients, median age 77 years (ran ge 68-86), received a median number of 5 courses (range 1-9). All 27 p atients were evaluable for toxicity and 23 cases (patients receiving a t least 3 courses) were evaluable for response. Partial response was o bserved in 6/23 cases (26%) and median duration of response was 6 mont hs (range 3-9). Median overall survival was 8 months (range 2-34). Amo ng cases receiving 10 mg/m(2), 4 PR, 4 SD and 2 P were observed an inc ases treated with 14 mg/m(2), 2 PR, 5 SD and 6 occurred. Treatment was well tolerated and no grade 4 toxicity was encountered. Mitoxantrone is an effective and well-tolerated regimen in elderly breast cancer pa tients presenting with comorbid conditions.