Two-weekly docetaxel in treatment of advanced breast cancer: A preliminary study
- Author:
Dai Wee Lee
1
;
Ik Hui Kang
2
;
Fuad Ismail
2
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Advanced breast cancer; Chemotherapy; Docetaxel; Taxane
- From: The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(4):338-341
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
- Abstract: Objective: Three-weekly docetaxel causes a high rate of febrile neutropenia, especially in the Asian population. Two-weekly docetaxel has been shown to reduce rate of febrile neutropenia in castrate-resistant prostate cancer patients. We conducted a preliminary study to investigate the safety of two-weekly docetaxel in advanced breast cancer patients. Methods: We recruited 10 patients with advanced breast cancer with ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status score of zero to two, who needed chemotherapy in the first or second-line setting to receive two-weekly docetaxel for 8 cycles. The primary endpoint was safety and secondary endpoints were response rate and progression free survival. Results: The most reported adverse events were haematological (anaemia 100% and neutropenia 90%). The febrile neutropenia rate was 10%. The overall response rate was 20%. The median progression free survival was 5.0 months. Conclusion: Two-weekly docetaxel may be a reasonable alternative treatment regimen for patients with advanced breast cancer in the first or second-line setting. This regimen is yet to be compared with standard 3-weekly schedule in a phase 3 randomised clinical trial.
