Cisplatin & IV Etoposide combination in the treatment of advanced breast cancer pretreated with anthracyclines

Background: Aims of this study was to determine the benefit of cisplatin and i.v etoposide combination in treatment of advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients who were pretreated with anthracyclines, as an alternative to the newer, more expensive, and unavailable anticancer drugs like Taxanes, carboplatin, and gemcitabine. Patients and methods: The study was performed in the period from March 2010 to June 2016, 235 patients were given cisplatin 50mg/m and etoposide 100mg /m for 6 cycles. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the site of metastasis (vertebral metastases, liver metastases, loco-regional metastases, and pleuro-pulmonary metastases). Results: Evaluation of treatment was considered on two levels: Whole 235 patient level, and patient-group level. On whole patient level: Response to Treatment was 65.1%, which is higher than similar responses in many other studies. While on patient-group level: response to treatment was highest in patients with vertebral secondaries 75.3%. There was drug toxicity in all groups of patients. Some patients did not continue the treatment protocol because of bad performance status, toxicity and death. Conclusion: In comparison with other regimes of chemotherapy cisplatin and i.v etoposide are still useful anticancer drugs in the management of advanced breast cancer.