Docetaxel in patients with anthracycline-resistant advanced breast cancer.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To better determine docetaxel activity in patients with well-defined anthracycline-resistant breast cancer.

METHODS:

From October 1996, we carried out a phase II trial in 69 heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer with docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) by a 1-hour infusion on day 1, with cycles repeated every 3 weeks. Patients were classified as having primary anthracycline resistance (n = 32), secondary anthracycline resistance (n = 7), anthracycline pretreatment (n = 22) or no anthracycline pretreatment (n = 8).

RESULTS:

Among 68 evaluable patients, we observed 6 (9%) complete responses and 27 (40%) partial responses, for an overall response rate of 49% (95% confidence interval 37-61%); the disease remained stable in 17 patients (25%). Responses according to the above subgroups were as follows: primary anthracycline resistance 41%, secondary anthracycline resistance 43%, anthracycline pretreatment 64% and no anthracycline pretreatment 43%. The median time to response, median time to progression and median overall survival were 2, 7 and 10 months, respectively. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, with grade 4 neutropenia occurring in 47% of the patients and neutropenic fever in 12%. G-CSF was added in the case of grade 4 febrile neutropenia; a 25% reduction in the dose of docetaxel was required in 4 patients. Other side effects were mild.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of the present trial confirm the high activity of docetaxel in heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer, including those with strictly defined anthracycline resistance.

• Authors: P Vici, F Belli, L Di Lauro, A Amodio, F Conti, P Foggi, T Gionfra, M F Morelli, C Botti, A Ferraironi, M Lopez
• Journal: Oncology (Oncology) Vol. 60 Issue 1 Pg. 60-5 ( 2001) ISSN: 0030-2414 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 11150910 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Taxoids
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
• Docetaxel
• Paclitaxel

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Docetaxel
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Female
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Middle Aged
• Neutropenia (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Paclitaxel (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Survival Analysis
• Taxoids
• Treatment Outcome