Toxicity profile and objective response of paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of 1-hour weekly Paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer along with evaluation of overall survival.


METHODS
A phase II interventional trial.


METHODS
Oncology Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, between August 2001 to July 2003.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients were enrolled in the study. All patients with histologically confirmed and bi-dimensionally measurable metastatic breast cancer who had received previously either chemotherapy or hormone therapy were included in the study. Paclitaxel was administered in 1-hour weekly infusion in a dose of 100 mg/m2 for 12 doses.


RESULTS
All patients had received previous chemotherapy with either CAF or CMF. Twenty-five patients had also received hormone therapy, 61% had two or more metastatic sites involved, and lung was the common site of involvement. Complete response was observed in 4 (11.1%) patients, partial response in 14 (38.8%) patients, with an overall response rate of 50.0%. Clinical benefit was 94.4% and median overall survival was 11 months. Treatment was well-tolerated with no grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Common side effects were arthralgias, myalgias and neutropenia.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with 1-hour weekly infusion of Paclitaxel is a well-tolerated chemotherapy with a substantial degree of efficacy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Ansari
Tariq Nadeem
TN
Department of Oncology, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Cantt. clinicaloncologist@hotmail.com
Mahmood
Ahsan
A
Khattak
Badshah Khan
BK
Rasul
Shahid
S
Syed
Abdus Samad
AS
D000328:Adult; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel