title: Docetaxel in the community setting: an analysis of 377 breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel (Taxotere) in the UK. UK Study Group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given as first- or second-line chemotherapy docetaxel appears to have great potential in advanced breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and seventy-seven locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer patients received docetaxel (Taxotere) as part of a named patient programme under the care of 108 oncologists from 61 cancer units across the UK. The recommended starting dose was 100 mg/m2, but patients at higher risk of toxicity started at 75 mg/m2. All patients received corticosteroid premedication. The modal number of prior chemotherapy regimens was 2 (range 1-7). 342 patients (91%) had at least one prior anthracycline-based regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response was graded according to the managing clinician's best judgement without formal criteria. The overall response rate (ORR) was 46% among the 331 evaluable patients. 46% among the 299 patients who were anthracycline resistant and 35% among the 82 patients who were anthracycline refractory (progressive disease being the best response obtained to the most recent anthracycline containing regimen). One hundred and ninety-three patients started at the full dose of 100 mg/m2 with an ORR of 55% and 129 started at 75 mg m2 with an ORR of 33%. In October 1997, some two years after the programme had started, 26 of 377 patients were still alive, although no complete remissions have lasted to this date. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis yielded a median survival of 194 days (95% CI: 178-218 days). Haematological parameters were checked before each course of docetaxel and additionally as clinically indicated. The safety data confirmed that docetaxel has a manageable, predictable side effect profile; 29 of 377 (7.7%) patients were hospitalised as a result of neutropenic sepsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this named patient programme over a two year timespan confirm that docetaxel is an effective chemotherapy option in patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer, including an 'anthracycline refractory' population.
authors: Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, France.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: O'Brien
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Leonard
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Barrett-Lee
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Eggleton
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Bizzari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043823:Taxoids
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel