FAC (FLUOROURACIL, DOXORUBICIN, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE) AS 2ND LINE CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC BREAST-CANCER PROGRESSING UNDER FEC (FLUOROURACIL, EPIRUBICIN, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE) CHEMOTHERAPY

Background: The cross-over resistance between different anthracyclines in breast carcinoma has not been largely evaluated in clinical trials . Patients and methods: Nineteen patients with metastatic breast cance r who had failed prior first line FEC chemotherapy (fluorouracil 500 m g/m(2), epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2), every 4 we eks) were treated with a combination of fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2), doxo rubicin 50 mg/ m(2) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks (FA C). Results: Five patients achieved partial responses, ranging in dura tion from 5 to 8 months. The main toxicity was cardiac, with congestiv e heart failure documented in five patients. Conclusion: The findings indicate an absence of cross-resistance of doxorubicin in some epirubi cin-resistant patients.