UNLABELLED

In human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2)-positive advanced breast cancer, taxanes plus trastuzumab are among the most widely applied options in the first-line setting. The addition of capecitabine to docetaxel significantly improves overall survival in anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of trastuzumab plus capecitabine and docetaxel regimen as first-line therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

HER-2-positive patients who had received adjuvant anthracyclines received docetaxel at 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 and capecitabine 950 mg/m(2)/day, days 1-14, every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Trastuzumab was administered at a dose of 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks. Time to progression (TTP) was defined as the primary end point.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients were evaluable (median age 52, range 34-70 years). The regimen achieved objective responses in 11 patients (38%), including complete response in three (10.3%) and partial response in eight (27.5%). The median overall survival time was 25.5 months, and the median progression-free survival time was 7.8 months. The safety profile of the combination was favorable and predictable, with a low incidence of grade 3/4 adverse events. The most common adverse events were hand-foot syndrome, and gastrointestinal toxicities. Severe myelosuppression was rare and cardiac toxicity did not occur.

CONCLUSION

These data confirm that the combination of trastuzumab plus capecitabine and docetaxel is highly active in patients with HER-2-overexpressing anthracycline-pretreated breast cancer, offering a significant survival benefit and is well tolerated.