Turkish Journal of Cancer, cilt.29, sa.3, ss.119-129, 1999 (Scopus)
To determine the efficacy and toxicity of Docetaxel (Taxotere: TXT) in anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC), twenty patients with progression under or within six months after anthracycline-based chemotherapeutic regimen with adequate hematological, renal and liver function tests were enrolled to the study. Median age was 46 with a range of 21 to 75. Dominant metastatic site was visceral in 15 patients, bone in two patients and, soft tissue in three patients. TXT was administered at a dose of 100 mg/m2 over 1 hour i.v. infusion, every 3 weeks, with standard corticosteroid medication in the outpatient setting. Patients received median 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Three (16%) of 19 evaluable patients had CR, and eight patients (42%) had PR. Overall response rate was 58% and response rate was 57% in patients with visceral metastases, and 60% in patients with liver metastases. Median remission duration was 4 months (2-8 months). Median survival was significantly longer in patients with response than in patients without response (19 months vs 9 months). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 15.5% of patients. Alopecia, edema, diarrhea, fatigue and nail changes were the major nonhematologic side-effects of therapy. In conclusion, TXT has a high-level of antitumor activity and is a safe drug in patients with anthracycline-resistant MBC and visceral metastases.