title: A phase II study of weekly docetaxel in patients with anthracycline pretreated metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Docetaxel has significant activity in metastatic breast cancer and weekly schedules are associated with less myelosuppression than 3-weekly schedules. We evaluated the toxicity and the activity of weekly docetaxel in anthracycline-pretreated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 patients were studied. Treatment consisted of docetaxel 35 mg/m2 weekly as a 30-min infusion for 6 weeks followed by a 2-week rest, with dexamethasone 8 mg i.v. pre-medication and 4 mg orally 12-hourly for 48 h following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the patients was 53 years (range 34-74). Twenty-six (62%) patients had received prior chemotherapy for advanced disease. Patients received a median 10 weeks of treatment (range 1-24). 11 had a partial response (ORR 26%; 95% CI 13-39%), five of whom had relapsed <12 months since the end of previous anthracycline-based chemotherapy. In addition six patients (14%) had stable disease for >16 weeks. Myelosuppression was rare with only 2 patients (5%) experiencing grade 3 neutropenia (no grade 4 neutropenia). Non-haematological grade III toxicities were as follows: fatigue 17%, neuropathy 0%, hyperlacrimation 5%, stomatitis 7%, diarrhoea 14%, and cutaneous toxicity 19%. Skin toxicity consisted of limb/palmar-plantar erythematous reactions, or fixed-plaque erythrodysaesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly docetaxel has moderate activity in women with anthracycline pre-treated breast cancer. Although the level of myelosuppression is lower than 3-weekly regimens, this weekly regimen cannot be recommended due to the significant non-haematological toxicities associated with the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Breast Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Trust, 233 Fulham Road, SW3 6JJ, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hugo E R
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Yoon-Sim
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.forename: Ian E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Stephen R D
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel