title: Phase II trial of weekly nab (nanoparticle albumin-bound)-paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) (Abraxane) in combination with gemcitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer (N0531).
abstract: Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel has better efficacy and practically eliminates the risk of hypersensitivity reactions associated with solvent-based paclitaxel. We studied weekly nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine combination in an open-label one-stage, phase II trial in patients with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m(2)) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) were administered on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle until disease progression. Fifty patients were enrolled. Forty (80%) had visceral organ involvement and 30 (60%) had >or= 3 sites of metastases. Four (8%) and 21 (42%) patients had complete and partial responses by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. Median duration of response was 6.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.7, not reached], median progression-free survival (PFS) 7.9 months (95% CI 5.4-10 months), and median overall survival (OS) was not reached. PFS and OS at 6 months were 60% (95% CI 48% to 76%) and 92% (95% CI 85% to 100%), respectively. Therapy was well tolerated. Neutropenia was commonest toxicity (42% and 12% grades 3 and 4 neutropenia). Only one patient developed febrile neutropenia. Significant activity and favorable toxicity profile provides a basis for considering this regimen for further evaluation in phase III trials or in combination with biologic agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. roy.vivek@mayo.edu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: LaPlant
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bane
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Palmieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000068196:Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel; D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000068196:Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel; D000418:Albumins; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine