Weekly nab -paclitaxel is safe and effective in ≥65 years old patients with metastatic breast cancer: A post-hoc analysis

• Published in: Breast (Edinburgh) 2011-10, Vol.20 (5), p.468-474
• Main Authors: Aapro, Matti, Tjulandin, Sergei, Bhar, Paul, Gradishar, William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Albumins - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Brain Neoplasms - drug therapy; Brain Neoplasms - mortality; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - mortality; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Administration Schedule; Elderly; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms - mortality; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Metastatic breast cancer; Nab®-paclitaxel; Neoplasm Metastasis; Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Pelvic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Pelvic Neoplasms - mortality; Pelvic Neoplasms - secondary; Taxoids - administration & dosage; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0960-9776; 1532-3080
• DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2011.07.005

Abstract Purpose This post-hoc analysis of 2 studies investigated the safety and efficacy of weekly and every-3-week (q3w) nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel ( nab -paclitaxel) in older patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) compared with q3w solvent-based paclitaxel and docetaxel. Results Patients ≥65 years (median: 69) were analyzed. In phase 2 ( n  = 52), overall response rates (ORR) for weekly nab -paclitaxel were 60–64% vs 22% for q3w nab -paclitaxel and 32% for docetaxel. In phase 3 ( n  = 62), ORRs were 27% for q3w nab -paclitaxel and 19% for solvent-based paclitaxel. In phase 2, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 18.9 months for 150 mg/m2 weekly nab -paclitaxel vs 8.5–13.8 months for all other regimens. In phase 3, median PFS for q3w nab -paclitaxel and solvent-based paclitaxel were 5.6 months and 3.5 months, respectively. Weekly nab -paclitaxel resulted in less serious adverse events compared with all other regimens. Conclusions Weekly nab -paclitaxel was safe and more efficacious compared with the q3w schedule and with solvent-based taxanes in older patients with MBC.