title: A phase II study of paclitaxel in advanced breast cancer resistant to anthracyclines.
abstract: 33 women with advanced breast cancer resistant to anthracyclines were treated with paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 in a 3 h infusion every 3 weeks. The median age was 53 years (range 30-72) and the median performance status was 1 (range 0-2). 24 (73%) patients had visceral metastases while 22 (67%) had > or = two involved sites. 23 (70%) patients received anthracycline or mitoxantrone in an adjuvant setting and 21 (64%) for advanced disease. There were two (6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1-20%) complete responses (CRs) and 12 (36%, 95% CI 20-55%) partial responses (PRs). Median dose intensity of paclitaxel delivered was 58 mg/m2/week. Median time to progression was 24 weeks (range 4-61) and median survival was 41 weeks (range 8-66). Grade 3-4 toxicities included leucopenia (9%), stomatitis (3%), alopecia (91%), neurotoxicity (9%), infection (3%) and diarrhoea (3%). In conclusion, paclitaxel at a dose of 175 mg/m2 exhibits significant activity in advanced breast cancer resistant to anthracyclines.
authors.affiliation: AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanassiades
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bafaloukos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karakousis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dombros
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skarlos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel