Weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated or not treated with docetaxel: a phase II study.
BACKGROUND
Paclitaxel has been approved for 3-weekly administration in Japan. Recent reports suggest that weekly paclitaxel can achieve a higher tumor response and lower toxicity.


METHODS
This study was designed to investigate the usefulness and tolerability of weekly paclitaxel by 1-hour infusion in patients with metastatic breast cancer who were previously treated with docetaxel or other anticancer agents.


RESULTS
Thirty-five patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 41.2% (14/34, 95% confidence interval: 24.6-59.3%). The median time to progression and the median survival time were 218.5 and 624 days, respectively. One patient developed dyspnea, probably induced by a hypersensitivity reaction. The most common hematological toxicities were leukopenia and neutropenia, although no patients developed grade 4 leukopenia or neutropenia and G-CSF support was not required.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly paclitaxel could be safely administered and achieved a relatively high response rate. Weekly paclitaxel would be a good candidate second-line therapy for recurrent or advanced breast cancer.
Nishimura
Reiki
R
Kumamoto City Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
Ogawa
Takahiro
T
Kato
Masato
M
Tanaka
Maki
M
Hamada
Yuzo
Y
Shibata
Takao
T
Ishikawa
Emi
E
Koga
Toshihiro
T
Mitsuyama
Shoshu
S
Tamura
Kazuo
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel