Lapatinib plus Capecitabine for HER2-Positive Advanced-Stage Breast Cancer in Elderly Women: Review of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology (ASMO) Experience.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy and safety of the lapatinib and capecitabine combination remain elusive in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), who progress after trastuzumab-based therapy.


METHODS
A total of 26 patients with HER2-positive MBC were included in this retrospective multicenter study. Median age was 69 years (range 65-82 years). All patients were treated with the combination of lapatinib (1,250 mg/day, continuously) and capecitabine (2,000 mg/m(2) on days 1-14 of a 21-day cycle). Data on demographics, clinical outcome, and toxicity were collected for descriptive analyses.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 10 months (range 2-31 months). An overall response rate of 33.4% was achieved, including 1 complete response (3.8%), and 8 partial responses (30.8%). Median progression-free survival was 7 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 5-8), and the median overall survival was 15 months (95% CI 11-19). Most common side effects were fatigue (53.8%), diarrhea (46%), vomiting (36.3%), hand-foot syndrome (34.5%), and anorexia (34.6%). Grade 3-4 toxicities were identified as hand-foot syndrome (3.8%), diarrhea (7.6%), and fatigue (11.5%). There were no symptomatic cardiac events.


CONCLUSIONS
Lapatinib and capecitabine combination therapy was effective and well tolerated in elderly patients with MBC, who had progressive disease after trastuzumab-based therapy.
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Bulent
B
Cetin
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Benekli
Department of Medical Oncology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Faysal
F
Dane
Department of Medical Oncology, Selcuk University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Cem
C
Boruban
Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Mahmut
M
Gumus
Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Berna
B
Oksuzoglu
Department of Medical Oncology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Mehmet A
MA
Kaplan
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Gulnihal
G
Tufan
Department of Medical Oncology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Alper
A
Sevinc
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Ugur
U
Coskun
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Suleyman
S
Buyukberber
Advanced breast cancer; Capecitabine; Elderly women; HER2; Lapatinib