Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2004, 203(3)

Weekly Paclitaxel in Pretreated Metastatic Breast Cancer: Retrospective Analysis of 52 Patients

ESMEN BALTALI, KADRI ALTUNDAG, YAVUZ OZISIK, NILUFER GULER and GULTEN TEKUZMAN

Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey

Single-agent paclitaxel has been shown to be effective as both first- and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and the efficacy and tolerability of weekly administration of paclitaxel has generated much interest. Fifty-two patients with pretreated metastatic breast cancer who were admitted to Hacettepe University between January 2001 and June 2002 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Paclitaxel was administered weekly in a dose of 80 mg/m² over 1 hour. The median number of cycles delivered was 20 weeks (range, 8 to 24). The median delivered dose was 2400 mg (range, 960 to 3840 mg). At a median follow-up of 12.3 months (range, 6 to 17), all patients were assessable for response and toxicity. A complete response and partial response were observed in 7 (13.5%), and 19 (36.5%) patients, respectively. Overall response rate was 50%. Median duration of response was 10 months (range, 3 to 16). Therapy was generally well tolerated, and toxicities were manageable. Severe leukopenia was seen in two (4%) patients. Based on these results, we conclude that weekly paclitaxel is a well-tolerated and highly effective regimen in pre-treated metastatic breast cancer.

keywords —— metastatic breast cancer; weekly paclitaxel; chemotherapy

© 2004 Tohoku University Medical Press

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