Analysis of survival following treatment of tumour-induced hypercalcaemia with intravenous pamidronate (APD).

The outcome of 114 patients with tumour-induced hypercalcaemia (TIH) treated between January 1992 and June 1993 with intravenous pamidronate (APD) was retrospectively analysed. The median overall survival was 55 days (range 3 days to > 21 months): 86 days if systemic anti-cancer therapy was available and only 35 days if not (P < 0.001). Survival was also significantly better for those who became normocalcaemic post APD (53 days vs 19 days, P < 0.001). There was no survival difference with respect to patient sex, age, tumour type, treatment of bone metastases with radiotherapy, initial calcium level, initial dose of APD or time from tumour diagnosis to first TIH. In those patients in whom systemic anti-cancer therapy is available, treatment with APD improves survival, but in all other patients the primary aim of treatment should be symptom control. This study confirms the dismal prognosis of TIH

A phase II trial of a biweekly combination of paclitaxel and gemcitabine in metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Many emerging new drugs have recently been trialled for treatment of early and advanced breast cancer. Among these new agents paclitaxel and gemcitabine play a crucial role, mostly in patients with relapsed and metastatic disease after failure of chemotherapy with antracyclines. METHODS: A phase II study was started in order to evaluate the activity and toxicity of a combination of paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a biweekly schedule on metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with antracyclines. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients received paclitaxel (150 mg/mq) by 3-hours infusion, followed by gemcitabine (2000 mg/mq) given as a 60 min i.v. infusion (day 1–14) for a maximum of eight cycles. In all patients treatment was evaluated for toxicity and efficacy; four patients (16%) achieved a complete response, 12 (48%) a partial response giving an overall objective response rate of 64%. Stable disease was documented in 5 patients (20%) and progressive disease occurred in 4 patients (16%). CONCLUSION: The schedule of treatment was safe and tolerable from a haematological and non-haematological point of view. These data confirm that the combination of gemcitabine and paclitaxel on a biweekly basis is an effective and well-tolerated regimen in breast cancer patients with prior therapeutic exposure to antracyclines