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Weekly Docetaxel in Breast Cancer: Applying Clinical Data to Patient Therapy

Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

Correspondence: Jose Baselga, M.D., Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Servicio de Oncologia, P. Vall D'Heron 119-129, Barcelona 08035, Spain. Telephone: 34-93-274-6077; Fax: 34-93-274-6059; e-mail: baselga{at}hg.vhebron.es

The use of weekly 35-40 mg/m² docetaxel, typically on a schedule of 6 weeks of therapy followed by a 2-week break, has produced response rates ranging from 33%-50% in patients with advanced breast cancer, the majority of whom have already received chemotherapy. These encouraging levels of response are seen across disease sites and in patients with prior anthracycline exposure. Importantly, the weekly administration of docetaxel allows prolonged treatment to a high cumulative dose: the weekly regimen is minimally myelotoxic, and neuropathy and other adverse events are infrequent. Weekly single-agent docetaxel may be a useful therapy in particular groups of patients such as those with reduced bone marrow reserve. It may also be a helpful means of delivering a highly active cytotoxic drug in combination with radiation therapy, other proven chemotherapy agents such as doxorubicin, and new, highly promising biological agents such as Herceptin.

Key Words. Advanced breast cancer • Docetaxel • Weekly schedule • Doxorubicin • Herceptin

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