Is weekly docetaxel an active and gentle chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer?
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.
Maisano
Roberto
R
Unità Operativa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria G. Martino, 98125 Messina, Italy. maisano@supereva.it
Mare
Marzia
M
Zavettieri
Maria
M
Caristi
Nicola
N
Mesiti
Mario
M
Scisca
Claudio
C
La Torre
Francesco
F
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
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel