title: [Clinical evaluation of eribulin mesylate for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eribulin mesylate, a novel non-taxane inhibitor of microtubule dynamics, results in a significant improvement in the overall survival of heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer(MBC). In the present study, we aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of eribulin mesylate for the treatment of MBC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 18 patients with MBC who received eribulin mesylate in our hospital from October 2011 to May 2013. The patients were assessed for therapeutic response and adverse events with this treatment; in addition, these parameters were assessed in patients undergoing a combination treatment of eribulin mesylate and trastuzumab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients in this study was 68.7 years(range, 60-85 years). All patients exhibited metastases to lymph nodes and distant sites. The mean number of prior regimens was 4.4(range, 2-9). The mean number of cycles of eribulin mesylate treatment administered was 7.2(range, 2- 17). The objective response rate and clinical benefit rate(PR+long SD)were 33.3%(6/18)and 50.0%(9/18), respectively, and the median progression-free survival was 6 months. The Grade 3/4 adverse events occurring in the patients included neutropenia in 13 patients(72.2%), anemia in 1 patient(5.6%), anorexia in 1 patient(5.6%), stomatitis in 1 patient(5.6%), and peripheral neuropathy in 1 patient(5.6%). However, 3 elderly patients who received the combination treatment of trastuzumab and eribulin mesylate experienced no adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  eribulin mesylate appears to demonstrate an acceptable tumor response in patients with MBC, and it can be safely administered to elderly patients if myelosuppression is carefully managed.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Surgery,Funabashi Municipal Medical Center.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tohnosu
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoshiwara
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Natsume
authors.forename: Akinari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aikawa
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Akitoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Kanae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: Yukimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005663:Furans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D007659:Ketones; C490954:eribulin; D000095662:Polyether Polyketides