Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a weekly schedule of low dose-intensity docetaxel monochemotherapy for patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in poor physical status.
Methods: Thirty MBC patients who were previously exposed to anthracycline treatment received docetaxel alone at a dose of 30 mg/m2 on D1, D8 and D15, repeated every 4 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles.
Results: Of the 30 evaluable patients, 2 (6.7%) achieved a complete response, and 9 (30.0%) a partial response, with an overall objective response rate of 36.7% (95% CI: 20.5%-53.9%). The most common adverse event was hematologic toxicity. After an average follow-up of 15.0 months, the median time to progression (TTP) was 8. 5 months and the median overall survival (OS) had not reached yet at the end of follow-up.
Conclusion: The weekly low dose-intensity docetaxel monochemotherapy is effective and well-tolerated in patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer in poor physical status.