[Clinical effect and positioning of capecitabine for metastatic breast carcinoma]

We evaluated the effect of capecitabine for metastatic breast carcinoma. Of 18 metastatic breast carcinoma patients experienced in our institution from November 2002 to July 2007, all patients had resisted the anthracycline or taxanes therapy before. Of these patients, 7 had liver, 6 had bone, and 5 had lung metastases. The capecitabine response in these 18 patients was evaluated as follows: PR in 4, long SD in 6, SD in 3, and PD in 5. In particular, 3 patients with liver metastases showed remarkable tumor regression. Compared to the 3rd-and 4th-line, 2nd-line capecitabine proved more effective. Hand-foot syndrome was found in 4 patients. Only one patient discontinued the therapy due to nausea. These results showed that capecitabine may be a useful treatment regimen for chemotherapy-resistant metastatic breast carcinoma patients.