[Weekly paclitaxel administration in the adjuvant therapy of primary breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate feasibility and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel administration in the adjuvant therapy of primary breast cancer.


METHODS
Thirty-one patients with primary breast cancer received sustained weekly infusion of paclitaxel at a dose of 90 mg/body for 6 weeks followed by a 2-week interval. This weekly schedule was repeated twice. Leukocytes were checked immediately before every infusion and the dose was reduced to 80 mg/body when grade 1 neutropenia occurred. All patients were assessable for feasibility and toxicity.


RESULTS
A total 349 weekly paclitaxel infusions were administrated to 31 patients (median, 12 infusions/patient). The median delivered dose-intensity was 88.0 mg/body/week (range 80 to 90). Therapy was well tolerated and completed in 27 patients. Four patients refused to continue the therapy because of nausea, fatigue, dizziness and weight gain. Grade 2 neutropenia occurred in 10 patients (32.3%), but grade 3 neutropenia did not occur. Grade 1 peripheral neuropathy occurred in 3 patients (9.7%). Grade 1 nausea occurred in 3 patients (9.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly paclitaxel administration is well tolerated with a favorable toxicity profile in patients with primary breast cancer in the adjuvant setting. Weekly paclitaxel therapy can be performed safely in the outpatient setting.
Takahashi
Hiromasa
H
Dept. of Pediatric Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine.
Takahashi
Masato
M
Taguchi
Kazunori
K
Sasaki
Fumiaki
F
Todo
Satoru
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel