Salvage chemotherapy in anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients with docetaxel and gemcitabine: A multicenter phase II trial

Purpose: The activity of the docetaxel–gemcitabine combination in women with disease progression after initial chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) was investigated in a multicenter phase II study.Patients and methods: Fifty-two patients with metastatic breast cancer who had disease relapse or progression after completion of an anthracycline-based front-line regimen were treated with gemcitabine 900 mg/m2 on day 1 and day 8 and docetaxel 100 mg/m2 on day 8. G-CSF 150 µcg/m2/d s.c. was given from day 9 to day 16 and the treatment was repeated every three weeks. The patients' median age was 57 years and the performance status (WHO) was 0 for 26, 1 for 20 and 2 for 6 patients. The treatment was second-line for 27 (52%) and third-line for 25 (48%) patients. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity.Results: Complete response occurred in seven (14%) patients and partial response in 21 (40%) for an overall response rate of 54% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 40%–67%). Fifteen (29%) patients had stable disease and nine (17%) progressive disease. Of 25 patients previously treated with taxanes, 11 (44%) responded (1 CR, 10 PR). Interestingly, in four patients with disease progression while receiving docetaxel or paclitaxel monotherapy, the docetaxel + gemcitabine combination achieved partial responses. Responses were observed at all metastatic sites (local disease 62%, lymph nodes 58%, skin 44%, lung 47% and liver 36%) with a median duration of response of 3.6 months (range 1–16) and a median time to disease progression of eight months (range 2–18.5). Grade 3 neutropenia developed in 10 (19%) and grade 4 in five (10%) patients. Neutropenia was associated with infection in four patients without toxic deaths. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia developed in nine (17%) patients and grade 4 in two (4%). Non-hematologic toxicity was usually mild.Conclusion: The docetaxel–gemcitabine combination is an active and well tolerated salvage treatment in patients with MBC. Previous treatment with taxanes does not preclude a good clinical response to this regimen.