Paclitaxel by 3-h infusion and carboplatin in anthracycline-resistant advanced breast cancer. A phase II study conducted by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group

37 patients with advanced breast cancer resistant to anthracyclines were treated with paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) by 3-h infusion and carboplatin at an area under the curve of 7 mg.min/ml every 4 weeks with G-CSF support. There were 5 (14%, 95% CI 3-25%) complete and 11 (30%, 95% CI 15-45%) partial responders. Median duration of response was 11.5 months (range 5.2-16.8+), median time to progression 8 months (range 0.26-16.8+) and median survival 12 months (range 0.5-19.6+). Grade 3-4 leucopenia (27%), thrombocytopenia (10%) and diarrhoea (5%) were noted. In conclusion, the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced breast cancer resistant to anthracyclines. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.