Paclitaxel/5-FU Promising in Metastatic Breast Cancer

ROME, Italy—The combination of paclitaxel (Taxol), fluorouracil (5-FU),and leucovorin, with G-CSF support, in pretreated patients with advancedbreast cancer had a good toxicity profile and an encouraging response ratein a study from the Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome.

In the poster presentation, Dr. E. Terzoli described 16 heavily pretreatedadvanced breast cancer patients who received paclitaxel, 135 to 175 mg/m²onday 1 and fluorouracil, 350 to 375 mg/m², plus leucovorin, 10 to 100mg/m², on days 1 to 3. The cycle was repeated every three weeks withG-CSF added to prevent neutropenia.

The combination therapy was delivered as first-line metastatic treatmentin three patients, second-line in five patients, and third-line or higherin eight patients. All patients had received previous anthracyclines, andeight had taken hormones.

Five of 10 evaluable patients had a partial response, and in four ofthese patients, the treatment represented third-line chemotherapy. Overall,the combination was well tolerated.