SAN ANTONIO--Use of docetaxel (Taxotere) as palliative treatment
of advanced breast cancer produced durable responses in almost
70% of patients, including three fourths of those with liver metastases,
French researchers said at a poster session of the San Antonio
Breast Cancer Symposium.

In another poster presentation, investigators from San Antonio
reported a 57% response rate in patients with advanced breast
cancer that had proven resistant to treatment with doxorubicin
or mitoxantrone (Novantrone).

Bernard Chevallier, MD, described a study in which a 100 mg/m²
docetaxel dose every 3 weeks led to significant responses in 21
(68%) of 31 advanced breast cancer patients, including 12 of 16
with liver metastases. The response rate for liver metastases
is the highest yet reported for such an application of monotherapy,
said Dr. Chevallier, medical oncologist, Centre Henri Becquerel,
Rouen, France.

Breast cancer patients with liver metastases generally have a
poor prognosis with currently available chemotherapeutic regimens,
Dr. Chevallier noted. In preliminary clinical evaluations, docetaxel
has shown antitumor activity against liver and lung metastases
in heavily pretreated breast cancer patients, he said.

Of the 31 patients in the study, 11 had previously received chemotherapy,
and 10 of the 11 had been treated with an anthracycline. Patients
received a median of five cycles of docetaxel therapy. The median
cumulative dose was 489 mg, and median dose intensity was 97%.

Median Survival of 23 Months

Overall, 16 patients had partial responses, and five had complete
responses. Among previously treated patients, five of 11 had partial
responses, and two had complete responses. The median duration
of response was 44 weeks, and median survival was 23 months.