gemcitabine + epirubicin + docetaxel

A three-drug cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen combining gemcitabine, epirubicin, and docetaxel, investigated primarily as neoadjuvant/primary systemic therapy for breast cancer. Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog antimetabolite that inhibits DNA synthesis via incorporation of its diphosphate and triphosphate metabolites, depleting deoxynucleotide pools and causing chain termination. Epirubicin is an anthracycline that intercalates DNA, inhibits topoisomerase II, and generates free radicals leading to DNA damage. Docetaxel is a taxane that stabilizes microtubules and prevents depolymerization, arresting mitosis. Phase I/II studies in operable or locally advanced breast cancer used gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 with epirubicin and docetaxel on day 1 every 21 days, often with growth factor support; reported objective response rates ~72%–92% and pathologic complete response rates ~19%–26%, with major toxicities including grade 3/4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia.[1][2][4]

Other names

GEDoc