Weekly docetaxel (Taxotere (R)) in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Background: Docetaxel (Taxotere(R)) has demonstrated high antitumour activi ty in first- and second-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. This st udy analysed the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel given weekly. Patients and methods:Thirty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer rec eived docetaxel, 35 mg/m(2) weekly for six weeks, followed by two weeks wit hout treatment. Additional cycles (three weeks' treatment, two weeks' rest) were given until disease progression. All patients had received prior chem otherapy: 32 and 5 patients had received prior anthracycline-containing and taxane-containing regimens, respectively. Docetaxel was administered for a total of 359 doses (median 9, range 6-22). Results: There was one complete response (3%), 11 partial responses (31%), 17 patients with stable disease (49%) and six with disease progression (17% ). Overall response rate was 34% (95% confidential interval (95% CI): 18%-5 1%). Median survival was 307 days; median progression-free survival was 2.6 months (range 1.5 to greater than or equal to5.5 months). Three patients s howed grade 3 neutropenia, 14 showed grade 3 alopecia, and various grade 1- 2 non-haematological toxicities were observed. Treatment was delayed in two patients due to haematotoxicity, and stopped in one patient due to painful nail toxicity. Conclusion: Weekly administration of docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m(2) is e ffective and of low toxicity in patients with metastatic breast cancer.