Docetaxel/gemcitabine: salvage chemotherapy in anthracycline-pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer.
Docetaxel (Taxotere) and gemcitabine (Gemzar) are active agents against breast cancer. Several phase I studies evaluated different schedules of their combination and clearly demonstrated that docetaxel and gemcitabine can be safely combined in either an every 3-week schedule or in a weekly and biweekly schedule. The toxicity profiles of these combinations were mainly grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and asthenia. Phase I studies also suggested that the docetaxel/gemcitabine combinations are active regimens in pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer. Three phase II studies of patients previously treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy reported a mean objective response rate of 46% and a mean overall survival of 13.5 months. Two of these trials enrolled patients with anthracycline-resistant or anthracycline-refractory disease; the objective responses using docetaxel/gemcitabine combination were 36% to 55% and 54%, respectively. It is noteworthy that objective responses were also achieved with this regimen in some patients who progressed while receiving taxane-based, front-line chemotherapy. These efficacy results were obtained with a mild toxicity profile. Adverse events were of short duration and easily manageable. Further studies are needed to evaluate this combination as front-line chemotherapy as well as second-line in well-defined subgroups of patients with advanced breast cancer. Furthermore, the combination should be compared with other more standard or investigational regimens.
Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. georgoul@med.uch.gr
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Georgoulias
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D043823:Taxoids; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine