Weekly one-hour paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.
In this first reported study of weekly paclitaxel administered as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 was administered in a 1-h infusion on a weekly basis to 35 patients who may previously have received adjuvant chemotherapy (but not taxane-containing regimens), but not for advanced or metastatic disease. A median of 14 infusions per patient was given at a mean delivered dose intensity of 94 mg/m2 per week. In 33 assessable patients, a complete response (CR) was observed in 1 patient and partial responses (PRs) in 12 patients, producing an overall response rate of 40%. Stable disease (SD) was observed in 17 patients, of whom 9 were stabilized for more than 24 weeks. Thus, clinical benefit (CR+PR+SD(> or = 24 weeks)) was observed in 67% of the patients. Time to progression was 189 days, the duration of response 180 days and overall survival 544 days. Five patients developed grade 3 neutropenia and five patients grade 3 neurotoxicity. Thus, this study has shown that weekly paclitaxel as first-line therapy for metastatic or advanced breast cancer produces comparable response rates and less toxicity than when the drug is given every three weeks.
Wist
Erik Andreas
EA
Department of Oncology, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. erik.wist@ioks.uio.no
Sommer
Hilde Heen
HH
Ostenstad
Bjørn
B
Risberg
Terje
T
Fjaestad
Knut
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009664:Norway; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011292:Premedication; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003907:Dexamethasone; D017239:Paclitaxel