wothdrawal of sponsor

This is an open phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the non pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet®), trastuzumab (Herceptin®), and docetaxel (Taxotere®) combination as first-line treatment of patients with metastatic HER2/neu positive breast cancer.

Phase II non comparative study, assessing the safety (primarily cardiac safety) and efficacy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2/neu positive breast cancer not yet treated with chemotherapy for metastatic disease.

Myocet and Taxotere will be given for a maximum of 6 cycles, Herceptin treatment for 1 year is recommended.

Endpoints: cardiotoxicity (left ventricular ejection fraction decrease and/or symptoms of heart failure), serious other toxicity, disease progression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women with histologically documented metastatic or locally advanced metastatic HER2/neu positive breast cancer at 1st line of palliative chemotherapy.
• In the case of previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy with anthracyclines or taxanes, this must have been completed more than 12 months before inclusion.
• In the case of previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy, cumulative anthracycline dose ≤ 240 mg/m2 of doxorubicin or 450 mg/m2 of epirubicin or 75 mg/m2 of mitoxantrone on inclusion.
• Previous endocrine therapy is authorized (endocrine therapy other than goserelin must be stopped before starting treatment).
• Previous radiotherapy is authorized, if discontinued ≥ 4 weeks prior to inclusion in the study and if < 10% of the bone marrow was within the irradiated area.
• Age ≥ 18 years.
• Performance status 0,1, or 2.
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months.
• Evaluable disease.
• Normal LVEF (multigated acquisition [MUGA] scan or echocardiography).
• Normal haematological, hepatic and renal parameters: neutrophils ≥ 1.5 x 10^9/l; platelets ≥ 100 x 10^9/l; hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 6 mmol/L; total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); transaminases ≤ 2.5 x ULN; alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 x ULN; creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN.
• Dated and signed written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
• History of other cancer, except for cervical carcinoma in situ treated by cone resection or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.
• History of congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction ≤ 1 year; cardiac function: NYHA ≥ 2 or LVEF < 50%.
• Uncontrolled significant heart disease, such as unstable angina.
• Poorly controlled hypertension.
• Performance status 3, 4.
• Symptomatic or progressive brain metastases.
• Active infection or other serious underlying disease.
• Concomitant participation in other clinical trials.
• Pregnant women or nursing mothers; patients of childbearing potential without effective contraception.
• Absolute medical contraindication to the use of corticosteroid premedication.
• Allergy to polysorbate 80, doxorubicin, or egg lecithin.
• NCI-CTC grade > 1 peripheral neuropathy.
• Patients not able to comply with regular medical follow-up