PURPOSE: Tbis phase II study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel in patients with anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1996 to January 1998, 27 patients with metastatic breast cancer from 31 to 63 years of age with a performance status of 0 to 2 were registered in the phase II trial. All patients had metastatic breast cancer which had progressed or relapsed 2 during or after treatment with an anthracycline-based regimen. Docetaxel 75 mg/m2 was ad- ministered over 1 hour every 21 days until disease progression was documented or until toxic effects precluded further therapy. All patients received dexamethasone orally at the dose of 16 mg on days -1, 0, 1 of each cycle.
RESULTS: Objective responses were seen in 9 of 25 assessable patients (two complete and seven partial responses), with an overall objective response rale of 36%. The median duration of response was 36 weeks (range 19.0~40.5). The median time to progression and survival duration were 17.5 and 69 weeks, respectively, for assessable patients. One hundred fifty cycles (median, five) of docetaxel were administered. Among 27 patients assessable for toxicity, the following side effects were reported: nadir neutropenia grade 3 (4 patients) and grade 4 (22 patients); grade 2 stomatitis (6 patients); grade 2 alopecia (5 patients); grade 2 to 3 neurosensory toxicity (4 patients); no hypersensitivity reaction; mild fluid retention (4 patients).
CONCLUSION: Docetaxel is an active agent in patients with antracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer. Docetaxel was associated with severe but reversible neutropenia. Dexamethasone prevented hypersensitivity reactions and appeared to ameliorate fluid retention.
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