Effect of adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy on cognitive function from the older patient's perspective.

Purpose: This longitudinal prospective study describes the older breast cancer patient's perception of the cognitive impact of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 50 patients > or =age 65 with stage I to III breast cancer enrolled in this IRB-approved prospective study. Of the 50, 3 refused postchemotherapy testing and 2 had a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) during therapy, leaving 45 evaluable patients.

A phase II trial of gemcitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with an anthracycline and taxane.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-agent gemcitabine for the treatment of patients with anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Eligible patients were required to have bidimensionally measurable MBC that had been treated with 2-4 prior chemotherapy regimens that included an anthracycline and a taxane. Gemcitabine was delivered at a dose of 800 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle until evidence of disease progression.

Phase II study of feasibility of dose-dense FEC followed by alternating weekly taxanes in high-risk, four or more node-positive breast cancer.

Purpose: To develop a potentially superior adjuvant chemotherapy regimen, we conducted a pilot study of dose-dense 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) followed by weekly alternating taxanes. The primary objective was to determine the feasibility of the regimen; the secondary objective was to estimate the disease-free and overall survival.

Experimental Design: Patients with >/=4 node-positive breast cancer were studied.