Current and planned trials with capecitabine in adjuvant/neoadjuvant therapy of breast cancer

The demonstration of the activity of capecitabine (Xeloda) in advanced breast cancer and of the ability of capecitabine/docetaxel (Taxotere) to improve tumor response, time to disease progression, and survival in this setting has prompted considerable interest in examining uses of capecitabine in adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy. Trials are planned to compare capecitabine/docetaxel with docetaxel after AC in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings, weekly paclitaxel vs capecitabine/docetaxel followed by fluorouracil (5-FU)/epirubicin (Ellence)/cyclophosphamide and local surgery in both adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings, and AC or cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-FU vs single-agent capecitabine in adjuvant therapy of elderly patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative disease. Results of these trials should provide important information on the range of uses of capecitabine in treating breast cancer.