Capecitabine as salvage therapy for a breast cancer patient with extensive liver metastases and associated impairment of liver function.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer metastasizing to the liver with presence of a parenchymatous icterus presents a therapeutic dilemma. Treatment-related toxicity can be unpredictable due to altered drug clearance, and bilirubin exceeding 5,0 mg/dl is generally considered an absolute contraindication for the administration of cytotoxic agents. The pharmacokinetics of capecitabine--an active oral 5-fluorouracil prodrug for the treatment of advanced breast cancer--are not affected in patients with mild to moderate hepatic dysfunction, but there are no data available for patients with severe hyperbilirubinemia.


METHODS
We herein report the case of a female patient with advanced breast cancer with predominant liver metastases and severe hyperbilirubinemia (12 mg/dl). The patient received oral capecitabine at a dose of 2,500 mg/m2/day in 2 divided doses for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week rest.


RESULTS
Several assessments of liver function parameters including serum bilirubin showed a decrease to normal values within 2.5 months. After 7 courses of treatment, a partial remission was confirmed by CT scan. Treatment with capecitabine was well tolerated with grade 2 hand-and-foot syndrome and mild nausea being the only side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report suggests that capecitabine can be safely administered without dose adjustment in patients with extensive liver metastases and hepatic dysfunction.
Schüll
B
B
Division of Clinical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria.
Scheithauer
W
W
Kornek
G V
GV
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019233:Retreatment; D016879:Salvage Therapy
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D011355:Prodrugs; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil