Weekly paclitaxel combining with gemcitabine is an effective and safe treatment for advanced breast cancer patients

• Published in: Japanese journal of clinical oncology 2011-04, Vol.41 (4), p.455-461
• Main Authors: Rau, Kun-Ming, Li, Shan-Hsuan, Chen, Shyr-Ming Sheen, Tang, Yen, Huang, Cheng-Hua, Wu, Shih-Chung, Chen, Yen-Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - adverse effects; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Paclitaxel - adverse effects; Retrospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0368-2811; 1465-3621
• DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyq232

Patients with metastatic breast cancer usually accept several lines of chemotherapy. This retrospective study is to analyze the therapeutic effect and tolerance of weekly paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination on patients with metastatic breast cancer. Paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine 800 mg/m(2) were administered sequentially on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days. Patients with measurable metastatic breast cancer or locally advanced breast cancer were included. From March 2005 to December 2006, 50 patients received this treatment at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center. Thirteen (26%) patients accepted this regimen as their first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer and 25 (50%) patients accepted this regimen after at least three lines of therapies for metastatic breast cancer. The overall response rate was 56% (95% confidence interval: 42.2-69.8%), 2 patients achieved complete response and 26 patients (52, 95% confidence interval: 38.2-65.9%) achieved partial response. The median progression free survival was 7.4 months (95% confidence interval: 5.5-9.3 months), and the median overall survival was 19.0 months (95% confidence interval: 9.7-28.3 months). Except alopecia, the most common Grade 3/4 toxicities were anemia and leucopenia; the incidences of both were fewer than 10%. The combination of weekly gemcitabine and paclitaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer showed acceptable outcome and excellent toxic profiles. This therapeutic benefit could be achieved in any linage of patients with good performance status; earlier usage of this regimen can provide better result.