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FEC Chemotherapy
FEC is a combination chemotherapy regimen that uses three cytotoxic agents to damage cancer cell DNA and inhibit cell division.
FEC is a combination chemotherapy regimen that uses three cytotoxic agents to damage cancer cell DNA and inhibit cell division. Used for Breast cancer (adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment), Early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer.
At a glance
| Generic name | FEC Chemotherapy |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Hoffmann-La Roche |
| Drug class | Combination chemotherapy regimen |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
FEC combines fluorouracil (a thymidylate synthase inhibitor), epirubicin (a topoisomerase II inhibitor and DNA intercalator), and cyclophosphamide (an alkylating agent). Together, these agents attack cancer cells through multiple mechanisms: fluorouracil disrupts nucleotide synthesis, epirubicin intercalates into DNA and prevents replication, and cyclophosphamide cross-links DNA strands. The combination is designed to provide synergistic cytotoxic effects against rapidly dividing cancer cells.
Approved indications
- Breast cancer (adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment)
- Early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer
Common side effects
- Neutropenia
- Anemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Alopecia
- Mucositis
- Cardiotoxicity (epirubicin-related)
- Fatigue
Key clinical trials
- Proteomic Signature in Breast Cancer: Correlation With Tumor Response to Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy (NA)
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Fluorouracil and/or Pegfilgrastim in Treating Women With Node-Positive Breast Cancer (PHASE3)
- Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in HER2 Positive Breast Cancer, TRAIN-2 (PHASE3)
- Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Nab-paclitaxel in Women With HER2-negative High-risk Breast Cancer (PHASE3)
- Neoadjuvant Therapy in TRIPle Negative Breast Cancer With antiPDL1 (PHASE3)
- Investigating the Biological Effects of the Addition of Zoledronic Acid to Pre-operative Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer (PHASE2)
- Study in Participants With Early-Stage or Locally Advanced Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER) 2-Positive Breast Cancer to Evaluate Treatment With Trastuzumab Plus (+) Pertuzumab + Docetaxel Compared With Trastuzumab + Placebo + Docetaxel (PHASE3)
- A Study of Bevacizumab (Avastin) in Combination With Neoadjuvant Treatment Regimens in Participants With Primary Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) Negative Breast Cancer (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |