title: Docetaxel as single-agent treatment in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety profile of docetaxel, as a single agent, in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients, with a median age of 72 (range 66-84) years, were included in the study and received docetaxel (50-100 mg/m(2)) every 3-4 weeks as first- or second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was administered as primary prophylaxis in 97% of cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 50% (95% CI 32, 69). The median time to disease progression was 10.7 months (95% CI 10.0, 11.5), and the median overall survival was 26.6 months (95% CI 16.6, 36.7). Neutropenia was the most frequent grade 3/4 toxicity (18% of patients and 5% of cycles). There was just one case of febrile neutropenia that resulted in toxic death. Severe neutropenia only occurred in patients who did not receive G-CSF support from the start of the study treatment. Vomiting was the most frequent grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicity (11% of patients and 2% of cycles).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Docetaxel as a single agent is active in elderly patients with advanced breast cancer. The use of prophylactic G-CSF allowed the administration of high doses of docetaxel with minimal myelosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología, Complexo Hospitalario de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Constenla
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: García-Arroyo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carrete