EC (Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide) Followed by T (Docetaxel) Versus ET (Epirubicin, Docetaxel) Followed by X (Capecitabine) as Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Node Positive Operable Breast Cancer Patients

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose This is a prospective, randomised phase III trial, to compare the efficacy and safety profiles of two types of adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for HER2 negative, node positive breast cancer patients. Control Arm: This includes 4 cycles of EC 90/600 mg/m2 day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by 4 cycles of T 100 mg/m2 day 1 every 3 weeks. Experimental Arm: This includes 4 cycles of ET 90/75 mg/m2, day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by 4 cycles of capecitabine 1250 mg/m2, twice a day, via oral intake, for 14 days, and then a one-week rest period. Premenopausal women with hormone receptor positive tumours must receive 5 years of tamoxifen after the end of chemotherapy. Postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive tumours can receive tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors (or both) after the end of chemotherapy. Patients may receive radiotherapy when clinically indicated. Estimation of the 5-year disease-free survival in the control arm is 72%. The experimental arm is expected to increase the 5-year disease-free survival by 7% (up to 79%). With an alpha error of 0.05 and 80% power, 592 patients per arm are needed. Assuming a 17% post-randomization drop-out, 691 patients per arm are needed.
ConditionBreast Cancer
InterventionDrug: epirubicin
Drug: docetaxel
Drug: capecitabine
PhasePhase 3
SponsorSpanish Breast Cancer Research Group
Responsible PartySpanish Breast Cancer Research Group
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00129935
First ReceivedAugust 11, 2005
Last UpdatedFebruary 6, 2007
Last verifiedFebruary 2007

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateAugust 11, 2005
Last Updated DateFebruary 6, 2007
Start DateFebruary 2004
Estimated Primary Completion DateFebruary 2012
Current Primary Outcome Measures5-year disease-free survival
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Overall survival
  • Toxicity
  • Quality of life
  • Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as treatment predictive factors
  • Molecular prognostic markers in tissue

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleEC (Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide) Followed by T (Docetaxel) Versus ET (Epirubicin, Docetaxel) Followed by X (Capecitabine) as Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Node Positive Operable Breast Cancer Patients
Official TitleMulticenter, Randomized Phase III Trial to Compare Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide (EC) Followed by Docetaxel (T) to Epirubicin and Docetaxel (ET) Followed by Capecitabine (X) as Adjuvant Treatment for Operable, Node Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Brief Summary
This is a prospective, randomised phase III trial, to compare the efficacy and safety
profiles of two types of adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for HER2 negative, node positive
breast cancer patients.

Control Arm: This includes 4 cycles of EC 90/600 mg/m2 day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by 4
cycles of T 100 mg/m2 day 1 every 3 weeks.

Experimental Arm: This includes 4 cycles of ET 90/75 mg/m2, day 1 every 3 weeks, followed by
4 cycles of capecitabine 1250 mg/m2, twice a day, via oral intake, for 14 days, and then a
one-week rest period.

Premenopausal women with hormone receptor positive tumours must receive 5 years of tamoxifen
after the end of chemotherapy.

Postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive tumours can receive tamoxifen or
aromatase inhibitors (or both) after the end of chemotherapy.

Patients may receive radiotherapy when clinically indicated. Estimation of the 5-year
disease-free survival in the control arm is 72%. The experimental arm is expected to
increase the 5-year disease-free survival by 7% (up to 79%). With an alpha error of 0.05 and
80% power, 592 patients per arm are needed. Assuming a 17% post-randomization drop-out, 691
patients per arm are needed.
Detailed DescriptionNot Provided
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 3
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
ConditionBreast Cancer
InterventionDrug: epirubicin
Drug: docetaxel
Drug: capecitabine
Study Arm (s)Not Provided

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment1382
Estimated Completion DateFebruary 2012
Estimated Primary Completion DateNot Provided
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Written informed consent.

- Histological diagnosis of operable invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast (T1-T3).
Tumours must be HER2 negative. Time window between surgery and study randomization
must be less than 60 days.

- Surgery must consist of mastectomy or conservative surgery with axillary lymph node
dissection. Margins free of disease and ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) are
required. Lobular carcinoma is not considered a positive margin.

- Positive axillary lymph nodes defined as at least 1 out of 10 nodes with presence of
disease. If sentinel node technique is used, sentinel node can be the only node
affected. Patients belonging to the following classifications are eligible: pN1a,
pN2a, pN3a.

- Status of hormone receptors in primary tumour. Results must be available before the
end of adjuvant chemotherapy.

- Patients must not present evidence of metastatic disease. Status of HER2 in primary
tumour, known before randomization. Patients with immune histochemistry (IHC) 0 or +1
are eligible. For patients with ICH 2+, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is
mandatory and result must be negative.

- Age >= 18 and <= 70 years old.

- Performance status (Karnofsky index) >= 80.

- Normal electrocardiogram (EKG) in the 12 weeks prior to randomization. If needed,
normal cardiac function must be confirmed by left ventricular ejection fraction
(LVEF).

- Laboratory results (within 14 days prior to randomization):

- Hematology: neutrophils >= 1.5 x 10^9/l; platelets >= 100 x 10^9/l; hemoglobin
>= 10 mg/dl;

- Hepatic function: total bilirubin <= 1 upper normal limit (UNL); SGOT and SGPT
<= 2.5 UNL; alkaline phosphatase <= 2.5 UNL. If values of SGOT and SGPT > 1.5
UNL are associated to alkaline phosphatase > 2.5 UNL, patient is not eligible;

- Renal function: creatinine <= 175 mmol/l (2 mg/dl); creatinine clearance >= 60
ml/min;

- Pharmacogenetics: one blood sample is needed for SNP assessment.

- Complete stage workup during the 12 weeks prior to randomization (mammograms are
allowed within a 20 week window). All patients must have a bilateral mammogram,
thorax x-ray, abdominal echography and/or computed tomography (CT)-scan. If bone
pain, and/or alkaline phosphatase elevation, a bone scintigraphy is mandatory. This
test is recommended for all patients. Other tests: as clinically indicated.

- Patients able to comply with treatment and study follow-up.

- Negative pregnancy test done in the 14 prior days to randomization.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Prior systemic therapy for breast cancer.

- Prior therapy with anthracyclines or taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel) for any
malignancy.

- Prior radiotherapy for breast cancer.

- Bilateral invasive breast cancer.

- Pregnant or lactating women. Adequate contraceptive methods must be used during
chemotherapy and hormone therapy treatments.

- Any T4 or M1 tumour.

- Axillary lymph nodes: patients belonging to the following classifications are
excluded: pN1b, pN1c, pN2b, pN3b, pN3c.

- HER2 positive breast cancer (IHC 3+ or positive FISH result).

- Pre-existing grade >= 2 motor or sensorial neurotoxicity (National Cancer Institute
Common Toxicity Criteria version 2.0 [NCI CTC v-2.0]).

- Any other serious medical pathology, such as congestive heart failure; unstable
angina; history of myocardial infarction during the previous year; uncontrolled HA or
high risk arrhythmias.

- History of neurological or psychiatric disorders, which could preclude the patients
from free informed consent.

- Active uncontrolled infection.

- Active peptic ulcer; unstable diabetes mellitus.

- Previous or current history of neoplasms different from breast cancer, except for
skin carcinoma, cervical in situ carcinoma, or any other tumour curatively treated
and without recurrence in the last 10 years; ductal in situ carcinoma in the same
breast; lobular in situ carcinoma.

- Chronic treatment with corticosteroids.

- Contraindications for corticosteroid administration.

- Concomitant treatment with raloxifene, tamoxifen or other selective estrogen receptor
modulators (SERMs), either for osteoporosis treatment or for prevention. These
treatments must stop before randomisation.

- Concomitant treatment with other investigational products; participation in other
clinical trials with a non-marketed drug in the 20 previous days before
randomization.

- Concomitant treatment with another therapy for cancer.

- Males.
GenderFemale
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesSpain

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00129935
Other Study ID NumbersGEICAM 2003-10
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeNot Provided
Information Provided BySpanish Breast Cancer Research Group
Study SponsorSpanish Breast Cancer Research Group
CollaboratorsSanofi
Hoffmann-La Roche
Pfizer
Investigators Study Chair: Miguel Martín, MD., PhD. Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM)
Verification DateFebruary 2007

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM)
San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain, 28700