title: Capecitabine and weekly paclitaxel as first-line therapy in Thai patients with metastatic breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The combination of a taxane and capecitabine offers synergistic antitumor activity. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of a paclitaxel and capecitabine combination in Thai patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) not previously treated for metastatic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This open-label, single-center, non-comparative phase II study was conducted between December 2006 and March 2009. In all 40 MBC patients were treated with oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1 to 14, and weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) in a 3-week cycle for a total of six cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow up of 13.4 months, an overall objective response rate of 80%, with a partial response of 74% and a complete response of 5% were achieved. While 8% of patients achieved stable disease, 13% had progressive disease. Median time to progress was 8 months and median overall survival was 24.4 months. One patient discontinued because of hypersensitivity to paclitaxel. There was no grade 4 toxicity. Skin and nail toxicity was found in 75% of patients (with 25% in grade 2 or 3), followed by neutropenia (45% in all with 15% in grades 2 or 3), neuropathy (25% in total with 5% in grade 2) and stomatitis and diarrhea (in both of which 5% experienced grade 1 severity).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A first-line regimen of weekly paclitaxel plus capecitabine is effective and tolerable in Thai MBC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Department of Radiology, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. imjai@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Imjai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chitapanarux
authors.forename: Pimkhuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamnerdsupaphon
authors.forename: Ekasit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tharavichitkul
authors.forename: Vicharn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorvidhaya
authors.forename: Hongsin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trakultivakorn
authors.forename: Songpol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srisukho
authors.forename: Areewan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somwangprasert
authors.forename: Kirati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watcharachan
authors.forename: Vimol
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sukthomya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D005472:Fluorouracil