title: Weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated or not treated with docetaxel: a phase II study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Kumamoto City Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Shoshu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel