This open label trial randomised 235 women with metastatic breast cancer to receive either high-dose epirubicin 150 mg/m<sup>2</sup> and cyclophosphamide 1500 mg/m<sup>2</sup> with filgrastim support every 3 weeks for 3 cycles (HDEC) or standard dose epirubicin 75 mg/m<sup>2</sup> and cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 3 weeks for 6 cycles (SDEC).
In these studies, recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered to patients with metastatic breast cancer to increase the number of circulating stem cells.