title: Paclitaxel and doxorubicin in metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: For the past decades the anthracyclines have been regarded as among the most active drugs for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. However, the 5-year survival rate in patients with stage IV breast cancer continues to be below 20%, and new active drugs and drug combinations clearly must be explored. Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) has been demonstrated to be highly effective in treating patients with advanced breast cancer, including those with anthracycline-resistant breast cancer, a fact that has led to efforts to combine paclitaxel and anthracyclines. Several studies aiming to define the optimal dose and schedule of combination paclitaxel/doxorubicin have now been completed or are ongoing. Phase I/II studies have yielded encouraging preliminary response rates but quite variable toxicity profiles depending on the schedule used. These clinical trials involving combination paclitaxel/doxorubicin are reviewed, with special emphasis on the short-infusion trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gehl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boesgaard
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paaske
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dombernowsky
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D017239:Paclitaxel