Clinical study of albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy in treatment of advanced breast cancer

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast cancer. Methods: A total of 33 patients with advanced breast cancer were enrolled into this study from July 2009 to April 2012. All patients received albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. The adverse reactions were evaluated every cycle, and the short-term response was evaluated every two cycles. The patients were followed-up, and the survival was analyzed. Results: Of twenty-eight patients who could be evaluated for short-term response, one patient achieved complete response, six patients achieved partial response, and fourteen patients had stable disease. The objective response rate was 25.0% (7/28), and the disease control rate was 75.0% (21/28). Twenty-seven of the 33 patients were analyzed for the survival. The median progression-free survival was 4.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.0-6.0], and the median overall survival was 15.0 months (95% CI: 7.9-22.1). The main toxicity was myelosuppression (grades 3 and 4 neutropenia and anemia were seen in 69.7% (23/33) and 21.2% (7/33) of patients, respectively). Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 21.2% (7/33) of patients. The most frequent hypersensitivity reactions were drug fever and (or) skin rash, and no serious hypersensitivity reaction occurred. Conclusion: Albumin-bound paclitaxel is effective and tolerable in patients with advanced breast cancer, and there is no need for premedication. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2013.03.008