title: Phase II study of weekly paclitaxel for advanced or metastatic breast cancer in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel was evaluated in Japanese women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paclitaxel was given by single weekly intravenous infusion at 100 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36 of a 49-day cycle to women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer not responding to other chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 69 enrolled patients received a median of 3 (range 1-13) cycles of treatment. The overall response rate was 44.9%, comprising 3 complete responses (CRs) and 28 partial responses (PRs). Median durations of CR and PR were 64.0 (range 57-499) and 113.0 (range 29-590) days, respectively. Grade 3 or greater adverse reactions included neutropenia in 37.7%, leukopenia in 31.9% and neuropathy in 5.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A weekly regimen of paclitaxel was well tolerated and achieved a relatively high response rate in Japanese breast cancer patients with advanced or metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-15 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. junhorig@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: Kazufumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hisamatsu
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seriu
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajima