e12018 Background: Addition of capecitabine to docetaxel improves survival outcomes compared with single agent docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this study we analyzed efficacy of maintenance therapy with single agent capecitabine after six cycles of docetaxel/capecitabine chemotherapy in MBC patients. Methods: Patients with metastatic HER2 negative breast cancer were included. Six cycles of docetaxel (75mg/m2 q3wk) / capecitabine (1650mg/m2/day on days 1 to 14) followed by capecitabine (2000 mg/m2/day on days 1 to 14) were administered. Demographic features, progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and response to treatment were recorded. Results: Fifty-four patients were included. Thirty-five patients (65%) were postmenopausal, and 40 (74%) were ER/PR positive. Median age was 53 (range 28 – 70). Number of metastatic sites was one in 23 patients, two in 21, three or more in 10 patients. Most common metastatic sites were bone (67%), lymph nodes (33%), lungs (30%), liver (13%); 13 patients (24%) had bone only disease. Forty-four (81.5%) patients received treatment in first-line, 10 (18.5%) received in second line setting. Median number of cycles applied (including docetaxel/capecitabine combination) was 9 (range 2 – 31, total 576). Median PFS was 9 months (10.4 for hormone receptor positive, 7.3 for negative patients) and median OS was 28 months. Objective response was assessable in 38 patients. Overall response rate (partial + complete response) was 42.6% (95% CI 29.6 – 55.6) with 1 complete response. Toxicities were evaluated in 41 patients; grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed in 10% and grade 3/4 hand-foot syndrome was observed in 24% of patients. Dose reduction was performed in capecitabine in 37%, and in docetaxel in 20% of patients. Conclusions: Maintenance with single agent capecitabine therapy after six cycles of docetaxel/capecitabine chemotherapy is an effective and tolerable treatment option for HER2 negative MBC patients.
Luminal-like metastatic breast cancer: which is the room of endocrine maintenance therapy after first line chemotherapy?
