title: Weekly paclitaxel in pretreated metastatic breast cancer: retrospective analysis of 52 patients.
abstract: Single-agent paclitaxel has been shown to be effective as both first- and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and the efficacy and tolerability of weekly administration of paclitaxel has generated much interest. Fifty-two patients with pretreated metastatic breast cancer who were admitted to Hacettepe University between January 2001 and June 2002 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Paclitaxel was administered weekly in a dose of 80 mg/m(2) over 1 hour. The median number of cycles delivered was 20 weeks (range, 8 to 24). The median delivered dose was 2400 mg (range, 960 to 3840 mg). At a median follow-up of 12.3 months (range, 6 to 17), all patients were assessable for response and toxicity. A complete response and partial response were observed in 7 (13.5%), and 19 (36.5%) patients, respectively. Overall response rate was 50%. Median duration of response was 10 months (range, 3 to 16). Therapy was generally well tolerated, and toxicities were manageable. Severe leukopenia was seen in two (4%) patients. Based on these results, we conclude that weekly paclitaxel is a well-tolerated and highly effective regimen in pre-treated metastatic breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esmen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baltali
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Altundag
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozisik
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guler
authors.forename: Gulten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tekuzman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel