DOCETAXEL - RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST 2 PRIOR CHEMOTHERAPY REGIMES FOR METASTATIC BREAST-CANCER

It is unusual to obtain responses after two different sequential regim ens in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In this retrospective a nalysis, data were examined on 22 patients who had already received tw o or three different regimens for metastatic breast cancer before bein g treated with 100 mg/m(2) docetaxel (or 75 mg/m(2) if clinically warr anted). 13 patients received three or more courses and 21 patients wer e assessable for response. 5 of 21 assessable patients (24%) responded for 3-11 months and a further 6 (29%) stabilised. Toxicity (WHO grade 3 and/or 4), principally neutropenia, stomatitis and fluid retention, occurred in 10 patients. We conclude that docetaxel is an active agen t in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer, but ca re should be taken to minimise side-effects in this group of patients. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.