Real-World Outcome of Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC): A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Cancer Center in India

Abstract

Introduction There is a paucity of data on platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer (ABC) from developing countries like India. Objectives The objectives were to analyze the efficacy and safety of platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with ABC. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of 35 patients with ABC who were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy (gemcitabine and carboplatin, [GC]) in a tertiary cancer center in India from August 2015 to November 2019. The inclusion criteria were patients with ABC, who had received palliative chemotherapy with GC. The exclusion criteria were patients who had received less than two cycles of GC and patients who received platinum-based chemotherapy for neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast. Results The median age was 45 years (range: 28–68 years). All patients were female (97%) except one male (3%). The histology was ductal carcinoma (77%), mixed (17%), and others (6%). Out of the 12 patients tested for breast cancer (BRCA) gene mutation, six patients had a BRCA mutation. Patients with metastatic and locally progressive disease were 91 and 9%, respectively. The median number of prior lines of systemic therapy for metastatic disease was 1 (range: 0–5). The median number of sites of metastasis was 2 (range: 0–5). Patients with visceral crises were 23%. The median number of cycles of GC chemotherapy received was 6 (range: 2–6). A dose reduction in chemotherapy was done in 74%. The responses among 34 evaluable patients were complete response (11%), partial response (24%), stable disease (41%), and progressive disease (24%). Grade 3 or more hematological and nonhematological toxicities were observed in 69 and 9%, respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 6 and 8 months, respectively. The 1-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 19 and 34%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that patients who had received more than 3 cycles had a better outcome. Conclusion GC was an active and well-tolerated regimen in ABC regardless of the receptor status. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted to assess the optimal regimen in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.