title: The addition of paclitaxel to continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil is an active regimen for metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: Metastatic breast cancer is commonly thought to be incurable. Treatment advances have resulted in increased response rates, although such responses are often more palliative than curative. A regimen of continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil with paclitaxel was studied in patients with metastatic breast cancer and measurable disease. The induction therapy preceded high-dose ifosfamide, carboplatin, and melphalan in a phase I-II trial. Eighty-seven patients were enrolled in the trial. Forty-five received continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil as induction and 42 received 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel. The single-agent, continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil cohort had one complete response (2%) and eight partial responses (18%). The combination continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil and 3-hour paclitaxel regimen produced four complete responses (10%) and 17 partial responses (40%). The combination regimen of continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil with bolus paclitaxel was well tolerated and with a 50% response rate, is an active regimen for women with metastatic breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vredenburgh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coniglio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matters
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elkordy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Petros
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D005472:Fluorouracil