Doxil ®
Reduces Heart Complications Associated with Treatment in Breast
Cancer
According to a recent article published in The Annals of Oncology,
the chemotherapy agent Doxil ® (doxorubicin HCL liposome
injection) reduces side effects to the heart that may be caused
by the commonly used chemotherapy agent doxorubicin (Adriamycin ®).
The group of chemotherapy agents referred to as the anthracyclines
are among the most active agents for the treatment of breast
cancer. Unfortunately, anthracyclines are also associated
with causing damage to the heart, a side effect that may result
in reductions of treatment doses. The side effects to the
heart caused by anthracyclines may also become a chronic,
life-threatening complication. Patients who are treated with
anthracyclines often have their heart monitored prior to and
during treatment to ensure prompt intervention should these
side effects occur. Researchers have been evaluating ways
in which to lessen the incidence or severity of heart complications
caused by anthracyclines while maintaining their effectiveness
in fighting cancer.
Doxil ® is an anthracycline agent that is approved for
the treatment of ovarian cancer and AIDS-related Kaposi's
sarcoma. Doxil ® is comprised of the anthracycline doxorubicin
that has been encapsulated in a ?fatty layer?, as well as
had the addition of molecules called methoxypolyethylene glycol.
Overall, these modifications allow for a more continual and
sustained release of the chemotherapy agent and reduce its
ability to be detected by the immune system. Researchers speculated
that through these modifications in Doxil ®, side effects
caused by doxorubicin could be reduced, as patients are not
exposed to such high levels of the active agent to achieve
optimal anti-cancer activity.
Recently, researchers conducted an international clinical
trial to directly compare Doxil ® to doxorubicin in the
treatment of advanced breast cancer. This trial included 509
women with metastatic breast cancer who had not received prior
therapy. Approximately half of the patients were treated with
doxorubicin, and the other half were treated with Doxil ®
and were directly compared. The risk of heart complications
caused by therapy was 3 times higher in the group of patients
treated with doxorubicin, compared to those treated with Doxil ®.
However, patients treated with Doxil ® had higher rates
of mouth inflammation or mouth sores, pain, redness, tenderness
and/or peeling of the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
There were no differences in anti-cancer response rates, time
to cancer progression and survival between the two groups
of patients.
The researchers concluded that Doxil ® reduces the risk
of heart complications caused by doxorubicin without compromising
anti-cancer efficacy in the treatment of advanced breast cancer,
and may be considered as an alternative chemotherapy agent
in the treatment of breast cancer. Patients with breast cancer
who are to be treated with doxorubicin may wish to speak with
their physician about the risks and benefits of treatment
with Doxil ® or the participation in a clinical trial further
evaluating Doxil ® or other novel treatment approaches.
Two sources of information regarding ongoing clinical trials
include the National Cancer Institute ( cancer.gov) and www.cancerconsultants.com.
Perosnalized clinical trial searches are also performed at
cancerconsultants.com.
Reference: O?Brien MER, Wigler N, Inbar M, et al. Reduced
Cardiotoxicity and Comparable Efficacy in a Phase III Trial
of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin HLC: CAELYX/Doxil ®)
Versus Conventional Doxorubicin for First-Line Treatment of
Metastatic Breast Cancer. Annals of Oncology. 2004:15:440-449.
© CancerConsultants.com
|
