title: A modified weekly docetaxel schedule as first-line chemotherapy in elderly metastatic breast cancer: a safety study.
abstract: Standard dose docetaxel is burdened by severe toxicity. Weekly schedules have been shown to be active as standard scheme with reduced side effects. In 20-30% of elderly patients (pts) the classic 6-week schedule induces grade 3/4 fatigue and other cumulative toxicities. We carried out this safety study in order to evaluate whether a modified weekly docetaxel schedule would improve the toxicity profile. Twenty-one untreated elderly (> or = 70 years) pts suffering from metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in the study. Pts were treated with a weekly dose of 35 mg/m2 docetaxel for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest. Further cycles were performed with this modified schedule: docetaxel days 1, 8 and 15 every 29 days. All pts received at least the first cycle (6 weeks). A total of 261 doses were delivered. No toxic deaths occurred. The toxicity was mild: we recorded 1 episode of grade 3 neutropenia and severe asthenia in only 2 pts (10%). We recorded an overall response rate of 33% (1 CR, 6 PR). Our data showed a reduced incidence of severe asthenia (2/21), obtained with a light modification of a weekly docetaxel schedule.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Complessa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria G. Martino Policlinico Messina Via Consolare Valeria, Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy. maisano@supereva.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mare
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caristi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiofalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picciotto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carboni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mafodda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Torre
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel