Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine and paclitaxel as first-line treatment in advanced breast cancer.


METHODS
Patients with histologically confirmed metastatic or metastatic plus locally advanced breast cancer received gemcitabine 1,200 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 21 days for 8 cycles.


RESULTS
From December 1999 to August 2001, 45 patients, with a median age of 53.5 years (range, 22-77), received a total of 260 cycles. All were assessable for response and toxicity. Twenty-seven patients had prior adjuvant therapy. Hormonal receptor status was positive in 31.1% and negative in 40.0% of patients. Main metastatic sites included soft tissue (62.2%) and lung (53.3%). The objective response rate was 66.7%; complete response, 22.2%; partial response, 44.4%; stable disease, 15.6%; progressive disease, 17.8%. Median duration of response was 18 months and median time to tumor progression was 11 months. Grade 3/4 leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia developed in 13.3% of patients, and 15.5% developed grade 3/4 mucositis. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Median overall survival was 19 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel is an active combination with a favorable toxicity profile as first-line treatment for patients with advanced breast cancer.
Delfino
Carlos
C
Hospital Privado de Comunidad, Mar del Plata, Argentina. cadelfino2000@yahoo.com.ar
Caccia
Graciela
G
Gonzáles
Luis Riva
LR
Mickiewicz
Elizabeth
E
Rodger
Jeannette
J
Balbiani
Luis
L
Morales
Daniel Flores
DF
Comba
Alberto Zori
AZ
Brosio
Celia
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine