title: Is weekly docetaxel an active and gentle chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Docetaxel is a very active drug against breast cancer, but at the standard dose causes severe myelosuppression. In order to reduce the toxicity while maintaining the activity, weekly docetaxel administration was tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 30 patients with metastatic breast cancer, who had been treated with intravenous infusion of weekly docetaxel 35 mg/m2 in 100 ml of normal saline over 30 minutes for six weeks, followed by two weeks' rest from docetaxel therapy (one cycle).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 33% (95% CI +/- 16.8%) and the estimated time to progression was 8 months. Acute toxicity was mild. Nail loss, excessive tearing and dysgeusia worsened the quality of life of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly docetaxel is an active schedule for treating metastatic breast cancer patients, particularly the elderly and those unsuited to anthracycline-based regimens.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria G. Martino, 98125 Messina, Italy. maisano@supereva.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mare
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavettieri
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caristi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesiti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scisca
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Torre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D043823:Taxoids
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel