A Phase II Randomized Crossover Study of Liposomal Doxorubicin Versus Weekly Docetaxel in the First-line Treatment of Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer

PurposeWe aim to compare the efficacy and toxicity of liposomal doxorubicin and weekly docetaxel as first-line treatments for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).Patients and MethodsPatients who had received no previous chemotherapy for MBC were eligible. Previous hormonal therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy were allowed. Patients were randomized to receive liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 intravenously [I.V.] every 28 days or weekly docetaxel 36 mg/m2 I.V. days 1, 8, and 15, repeated every 28 days. Patients with objective response or stable disease after 2 cycles continued treatment until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. At progression, patients were allowed to cross over to the other regimen. The trial was designed to detect a true difference of 10% in response rate with an 80% power.ResultsBetween March 2001 and July 2007, 102 patients were randomized. The 2 groups had similar demographics; 68% of patients had received previous adjuvant chemotherapy. Liposomal doxorubicin and weekly docetaxel produced similar objective response rates (28% vs. 31%), disease control rates (48% vs. 44%), and progression-free survival (6.5 months vs. 5.5 months). Both agents were well tolerated. Both agents produced crossover responses as second-line treatment (liposomal doxorubicin, 35%; weekly docetaxel, 14%).ConclusionLiposomal doxorubicin is well tolerated and has activity similar to weekly docetaxel in the first-line treatment of patients with MBC.