Single-agent paclitaxel as first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer: the British experience.
The efficacy and safety of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) was studied as first-line treatment for 30 consecutive patients with metastatic breast cancer. All patients had received adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 22 had prior hormonal therapy, and 26 had received previous adjuvant radiotherapy. Paclitaxel 225 mg/m2 was given as a 3-hour infusion without colony-stimulating factor support at 3-week intervals without excessive dose reduction or delays. The most common nonhematologic toxicities were alopecia (grade 3 in 29 patients) and peripheral neuritis (grade 2 or 3 in 14 patients). The objective response rate was 60% and responses were seen in all disease sites. The median duration of overall response was 30 weeks (range, 15 to 75+ weeks) and the estimated median survival time for all patients was 56 weeks (range, 1 to 82+ weeks). The response rate and survival times seen with single-agent paclitaxel are encouraging. Future studies must explore paclitaxel in combination with other regimens, with the hope that results will improve further.
Department of Oncology, North Middlesex Hospital, London, UK.
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Davidson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009443:Neuritis / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017697:Premenopause; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D006113:United Kingdom
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel