[A phase II study of weekly paclitaxel for advanced or recurrent breast cancer]

The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of weekly administration of paclitaxel (PTX) for 37 patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. PTX was administered at a dose of 60 mg/m(2), 6 times every 8 weeks. The mean number of treatment cycles was 2.1, and the mean number of administrations was 12.7. Response rate was 35.1%. Two patients achieved CR, 11 PR, 13 NC (3 patients of long NC), 9 PD, and 2 NE. The clinical benefit rate (CR+PR+NC) was 70.3%. Median survival time was 733 days, and median time to treatment failure was 151 days. Grade 3 or more leucopenia and neutropenia occurred in 3 of patients (8.1%), and no patients showed hypersensitivity reaction after administration of PTX. Weekly PTX (60 mg/m(2)) is one of the treatment options in advanced or recurrent breast cancer from the standpoint of palliation.