Gemcitabine combined with docetaxel in metastatic breast cancer

The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel exhibits good activity in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. Phase II trial response rates using 21- or 28-day schedules have ranged from 36% to 79% in patient populations with varying degrees of pretreatment. In studies of extensively pretreated anthracycline-resistant patients, response rates have ranged from 36% to 54%, with median times to disease progression of 7 to 8 months and median survival of 12.7 to 14 months. In less treatment-experienced patients, the combination produced an overall response rate of 79%, median time to progression of 7.6 months, and median survival of 24.5 months. Toxicity has primarily consisted of neutropenia. The combination warrants additional investigation as front-line chemotherapy and in patients with anthracycline-resistant and taxane-resistant advanced disease.