[Recurrent breast cancer successfully treated with a weekly dose of paclitaxel--a case report]

The patient was a 46-year-old women who was treated for axillary lymph node recurrence of breast cancer by a variety of methods, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, but who experienced recurrences in the cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes and skin, and developed hydrothorax and ascites. Although the recurrent foci responded to 4 cycles of CAF chemotherapy, there was concern that the foci would become refractory or resistant to chemotherapy. The administration of paclitaxel was therefore initiated. The patient received a dose of paclitaxel once a week for 5 consecutive weeks followed by a 1-week recovery period (one cycle). After two cycles of the paclitaxel treatment, a marked shrinkage of the lymph nodes and complete resolution of the hydrothorax and ascites were observed. Even though the patient exhibited bone marrow suppression and G-CSF was administered twice for neutropenia, there were no adverse effects except mild alopecia, again suggesting the possibility that paclitaxel is effective chemotherapy for recurrent breast cancer.