title: Gemcitabine monotherapy as salvage chemotherapy in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine monotherapy in heavily pretreated, breast cancer patients as salvage chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A weekly infusion of gemcitabine at 850 mg/m2 for 30 min, for 3 of every 4 weeks, was introduced in advanced breast cancer patients who had failed previous doxorubicin and taxane based chemotherapy. There was no dose modification, and the treatment was delayed until the leukopenia was recovered with G-CSF support. The efficacy was evaluated every three cycles and the treatment was continued until either disease progression or 12 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 41 enrolled patients, 38 were evaluable with a median age of 47. Total 178 cycles of gemcitabine was administered and the relative dose intensity was 89. The toxicity was mild with 12 of grade III neutropenia and 14 of grade III/IV thrombocytopenia without clinical symptoms. The response rate was 20 (8/38), comprising two complete and six partial responses. The median response duration and overall survival were 9 (2-25) and 11 months, respectively. The overall survival of 12 months was better in the third line patients than the 7 months in the fourth line treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gemcitabine monotherapy is effective and safe as salvage treatment in heavily pretreated, breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Ku, Seoul, Korea 120-752.
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.forename: Yong Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hei Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.forename: Yong Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Woo Ick
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chang Ok
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Gwi Eon
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Hyun Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000093542:Gemcitabine