Weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Docetaxel (Taxotere) has demonstrated high antitumour activity in first- and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. This study analysed the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel given weekly.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer received docetaxel, 35 mg/m2 weekly for six weeks, followed by two weeks without treatment. Additional cycles (three weeks' treatment, two weeks' rest) were given until disease progression. All patients had received prior chemotherapy: 32 and 5 patients had received prior anthracycline-containing and taxane-containing regimens, respectively. Docetaxel was administered for a total of 359 doses (median 9. range 6-22).


RESULTS
There was one complete response (3%), 11 partial responses (31%), 17 patients with stable disease (49%) and six with disease progression (17%). Overall response rate was 34% (95% confidential interval (95% CI): 18%-51). Median survival was 307 days; median progression-free survival was 2.6 months (range 1.5 to > or = 5.5 months). Three patients showed grade 3 neutropenia. 14 showed grade 3 alopecia, and various grade 1-2 non-haematological toxicities were observed. Treatment was delayed in two patients due to haematotoxicity. and stopped in one patient due to painful nail toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly administration of docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 is effective and of low toxicity in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Stemmler
H J
HJ
Department of Internal Medicine III Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich Germany.
Gutschow
K
K
Sommer
H
H
Malekmohammadi
M
M
Kentenich
C H
CH
Forstpointner
R
R
Geuenich
S
S
Bischoff
J
J
Hiddemann
W
W
Heinemann
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel