Purpose: The taxanes and capecitabine have synergistic antitumor activity in preclinical models. This trial was designed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of weekly paclitaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
Patients and methods: Participants had histologically proven breast cancer, with measurable metastatic disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group. Exclusion criteria included prior taxane therapy or any prior capecitabine or infusional fluorouracil. Participants received capecitabine 825 mg/m2/dose orally bid (1,650 mg/m2/d) for days 1 to 14. Paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 was administered intravenously weekly on days 1 and 8. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. Responders (complete or partial) or those with stable disease were treated until progression of disease or intolerable toxicity.
Results: Fifty-five women were enrolled; 94% received study therapy as first-line treatment for MBC. In the intent-to-treat population, objective responses (partial) were achieved in 30 patients (55%; 95% CI, 40% to 69%), and six additional patients had stable disease for 6 months or longer (clinical benefit rate of 65%). The median duration of response was 10 months (range, 2.5 to 18.7 months). Dose modifications and reductions were common, particularly for capecitabine, leading to a delivered dose-intensity of 75% for capecitabine and 91% for paclitaxel. The most frequent grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events were hand-foot skin reaction (n = 10); neutropenia (n = 7); fatigue (n = 4); and leukopenia, diarrhea, and pain (n = 3 each).
Conclusion: Capecitabine in combination with weekly paclitaxel is an active and tolerable regimen as first-line therapy for women with MBC.