Liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet™) and conventional anthracyclines: A comparison

Abstract

The anthracyclines, doxorubicin and epirubicin, are highly efficacious antitumour agents commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer. However, anthracyclines are associated with the development of dose-dependent, cumulative, irreversible cardiomyopathy, which can lead to life-threatening congestive heart failure in some patients. MyocetTM is a novel liposome-encapsulated formulation of doxorubicin, which aims to improve the safety profile of doxorubicin while at least maintaining its proven antitumour efficacy. Comparative phase III trials in patients with metastatic breast cancer showed that Myocet-containing dose regimens are significantly less cardiotoxic than conventional doxorubicin. The antitumour efficacy of doxorubicin was retained in Myocet, as efficacy measures such as disease progression, time to treatment failure and overall survival showed no difference between the treatments. Myocet/cyclophosphamide combination therapy demonstrated significantly superior antitumour activity compared with epirubicin/cyclophosphamide, with significantly improved time to disease progression, time to treatment failure and duration of response. Development of cardiotoxicity was not different between the two treatments. Results from phase III studies suggest that Myocet is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for metastatic breast cancer, which could be used as an alternative to the conventional anthracyclines that are currently available. © 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.