Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel given as a three-hour infusion in patients with metastatic breast cancer which had progressed despite hormonal therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Design and setting: Multicentre phase it trial undertaken in five major centres or hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Patients and methods: 50 patients with clinically or radiologically measurable or evaluable metastatic breast cancer recruited between March and July 1993. All had received prior chemotherapy, with subsequent disease progression.
Intervention: Paclitaxel (Anzatax, Faulding) was given at a dose of 175 mg/m2 intravenously over three hours every three weeks for up to nine courses.
Main outcome measures: Response rate (partial or complete); duration of progression-free survival; duration of survival; and adverse reactions.
Results: Patients had a median age of 51 years; 62% had received at least two prior drug regimens for metastatic breast cancer and 48% had anthracycline-resistant tumours. A median of six paclitaxel courses was given per patient. Overall response rate was 18% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 9%-31%), with complete responses in four patients (8%). In patients with anthracycline-resistant tumours, response rate was 25% (95% CI, 10%-47%). Response was not influenced by extent of prior treatment. Estimated median progression-free survival was 4.1 months (95% CI, 3.2-6.0 months) and estimated median survival was 6.3 months (95% CI, 6.2-10.3 months). Treatment was well tolerated, with neutropenia the major toxic effect.
Conclusions: Paclitaxel (three-hour infusion) has significant activity in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer, including anthracycline-resistant tumours.