title: Efficacy and safety of low-dose metronomic chemotherapy with capecitabine in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Registered dose capecitabine monotherapy is active against metastatic breast cancer (MBC), but retrospective analyses indicate that lower doses may be as effective and better tolerated. This study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of metronomic capecitabine in heavily pretreated patients with MBC.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this phase II study 60 MBC patients received continuous metronomic capecitabine monotherapy (1500 mg once a day). Primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate, secondary end points were clinical benefit rates (CBRs), tumour response rates (RRs), overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), duration of response (DOR) and toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty eight assessable patients received two or more 28-day cycles of metronomic capecitabine. The CBR was 62%. Median DOR was 7 months. Median TTP and OS were 7 and 17 months, respectively. Two partial responses and 7 cases of stable disease were recorded in 13 patients who had previously received capecitabine intermittently (2000 mg/m(2)/day on days 1-14 every 21 days) as first- or subsequent-line treatment for MBC. Grade 3-4 adverse events were uncommon; haematologic toxicity was infrequent (5%) and consistently mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This regimen of metronomic capecitabine displayed good activity and excellent tolerability in MBC patients, including those who had previously received the drug at standard doses.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, A. Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy. minafedele@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nacci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sponziello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calvani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinefra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinieri
mesh_terms: D059250:Administration, Metronomic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil