title: Protracted administration of weekly docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer. Fifty-seven patients were enrolled in this study of weekly docetaxel given at 25 mg/m(2)/week as a 1-h infusion in out-patient setting. Each cycle consisted of 3 weeks of therapy followed by 1-week treatment break, and the patients received a median of 24 infusions with a median cumulative dose of 600 mg/m(2). Overall response rate was 30% [95% confidence interval (CI), 18-42%], and 31% (18-42%) of patients had stable disease for at least 6 months. With a median follow-up of 16 months, the median time to treatment failure was 11 months (6-14 M), and 3-year survival rate was 60%. There was no grade 4 toxicity, and myelosuppression, fatigue, nausea, vomiting was mild, thus the regimen was generally well tolerated. On the other hand, 44% of patients had grade 1-2 nail change, 21% had grade 3 pleural effusion, 17% had grade 1-2 tearing, and these became more common with prolonged administration of docetaxel. Thus, a weekly schedule of docetaxel at low dose maintains activity and is less myelosuppressive, however, one should be careful about cumulative toxicities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Showa University Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo 135-8577, Japan. kurochan@dd.iij4u.or.jp
authors.forename: Katsumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroi
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Shigehira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saji
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel