Long-term cardiac toxicity after adjuvant epirubicin-based chemotherapy in early breast cancer: French Adjuvant Study Group Results

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare incidence and risk factors of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) in early breast cancer patients receiving (E+) or not (E−) epirubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients and methods: Among eight FASG trials, 3577 assessable patients were analyzed retrospectively: 2553 received epirubicin, 662 received hormonotherapy alone and 362 had no systemic treatment. Chemotherapy was FEC regimen in 86% of cases (fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide). Epirubicin cumulative dose was 27 kg/m². Conclusion: After a long-term follow-up, epirubicin-related LVD risk was acceptable (1.36%) with one toxic death (0.04%). In 78% of cases, LVD were transient or well controlled.