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What is the upper limits of anthracycline dose you are willing to give in a treatment-refractory metastatic breast cancer patient if the patient is responding to salvage weekly adriamycin after progression on multiple prior regimens?

Patient has hormone-refracatory disease, had high visceral burden (pulmonary mets, bone, lymph). Progressed on taxane, xeloda, gemcitabine. Now has marked response to weekly adriamycin, regression of all sites of disease.
1 Answer
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Medical Oncology · Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Answered on

I would not normally exceed 350-400 mg/m2. However, this is a tough situation in that the patient is treatment-refractory without many other great options and responding. According to the package insert, "the probability of developing impaired myocardial function based on a combined index of signs, symptoms and decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is estimated to be 1 to 2% at a total cumulative dose of 300 mg/m2 of doxorubicin, 3 to 5% at a dose of 400 mg/m2, 5 to 8% at 450 mg/m...

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