Docetaxel administered on a weekly basis for metastatic breast cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of weekly docetaxel in women with metastatic breast cancer. patients and Methods: Twenty-nine women were enrolled onto a study of weekly docetaxel given at 40 mg/m(2)/wk. Each cycle consisted of 6 weeks of therapy followed by a 2-week treatment break, repeated until disease progression or removal from study for toxicity or patient preference. Fifty-two percent of patients had been previously treated with adjuvant chemotherapy; 21% had received prior chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, and 31% had previously received anthracyclines. All patients were assessable for toxicity; two patients were not assessable for response but are included in an intent-to-treat analysis. Conclusion: Weekly docetaxel is active in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer, with a side effect profile that differs from every-3-weeks therapy. (C) 2000 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.