title: Is capecitabine efficacious in triple negative metastatic breast cancer?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent data suggest that capecitabine may have little efficacy in women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNT). We have therefore retrospectively analysed capecitabine outcome in the TN subgroup of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated in our unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  All TNT patients on our prospectively maintained database with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who were given capecitabine as 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-line chemotherapy were assessed for response and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 363 patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated with capecitabine were identified. Eighty-nine (24.5%) patients had TNT and of these, 47 (53%) patients received capecitabine as 1st-line treatment and 42 (47%) as 2nd- or 3rd-line treatment. The overall response rate was 21% (95% CI: 13-31%), including 1 (1%) complete response (CR) and 18 (20%) partial responses (PR). Another 11 (12%) patients maintained stable disease (SD) for 6 months. An overall disease control (CR + PR + SD) was, therefore, achieved in 30 (33%) patients. The median time to disease progression was 11 weeks (95% CI: 9-13) and the median overall survival was 39 weeks (95% CI: 33-45). Median response duration was 22 weeks (95% CI: 18-25). No significant difference in efficacy was seen between 1st- and 2nd-/3rd-line treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capecitabine is a treatment option for patients with TN tumours in advanced disease including 1st line and 2nd/3rd line.
authors: Breast Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. Katerina.Kotsori@rmh.nhs.uk
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Kotsori
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Dolly
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sheri
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Parton
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Shaunak
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ashley
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Walsh
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Johnston
authors: I E
authors: IE
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil