Docetaxel and capecitabine combination chemotherapy for patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and capecitabine combination chemotherapy (DC regimen) for patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer were treated with a docetaxel and capecitabine combination regimen. All patients received oral administration of capecitabine at a dose of 1250 mg/m(2) twice daily, within 30 min after meal on D1 to D14, and intravenous infusion of docetaxel at a dose of 75 mg/m(2) on D1. The regimen was repeated every 3 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 126 cycles of DC regimen were administered in the 32 cases, with a median of 4 cycles. The overall response rate was 46.9%. Among the 32 patients, there were complete response in 1, partial response in 14, stable disease in 11 and progressive disease in 6 cases. The median time to progression (TTP) was 5.6 months. The one-year survival rate was 56.3%. The effective cases in different metastatic organs were: 8 cases in the lung, 6 cases in the liver, 3 cases in the soft tissue and 3 cases in the lymph nodes. The common adverse reactions were myelosuppression, hand-foot syndrome, nausea and vomiting. Neutropenia was observed in 84.4% of the patients. Two patients developed degree IV myelosuppression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination chemotherapy regimen of docetaxel plus capecitabine is well-tolerated and effective for anthracycline-resistant metastatic breast cancer.</p>

Effects of exogenous ER beta expression on the cell growth properties of MCF-7 breast cancer cell line / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of exogenous ER beta on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells under different treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An eukaryotic expression vector containing 1.6 kb of human entire coding sequence of ER beta (pCDNA3-ER beta) was transfected into human breast cancer MCF-7 cells using lipofectamine 2000. The biological activity of ER beta was detected with the luciferase reporter containing estrogen responsive element (ERE) and the expression of ER beta protein by Western blot. The growth properties of MCF-7, pCDNA 3-transfected MCF-7 and pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells under different treatment, including E2 (17beta-estradiol) and 4-OHT (4-hydroxytamoxifen), were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A stronger activation of the reporter by ER beta in the presence of E2 was observed in the pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells than in the pCDNA 3-transfected MCF-7 and in MCF-7 cells. Western blot analysis showed that the protein level of ER beta in the pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells was markedly increased. Exogenous ER beta expression did not change the growth properties and the morphology of MCF-7 cells under normal condition. The pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells proliferated at the same rate as naive cells in the presence of 4-OHT, whereas a strong inhibition of the proliferation of the pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells in the presence of E2 was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Exogenous ER beta expression does not increase the resistance to 4-OHT, and a strong inhibition of the proliferation may occur in the presence of E2.</p>

Relation of dose intensity and efficacy, toxicity in paclitaxel as a single agent for advanced breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the relation of dose intensity and efficacy, toxicity in advanced breast cancer treated with paclitaxel as a single agent.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-one patients with advanced breast cancer received paclitaxel as a single agent with different dose intensities. According to the phase I or phase II trial, the standard dose intensity of paclitaxel was defined as 58.3 mg.(m(2))(-1).week(-1). The dose of paclitaxel was 175 mg/m(2) given every three weeks, ranging 33.3 - 70.3 mg.(m(2))(-1).week(-1) [median delivered dose intensity 58.82 mg.(m(2))(-1).week(-1)]. Efficacy and toxicity was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall response rate in this group of advanced breast cancer was 40.8%. Responses were seen in lungs, soft tissue, bone and liver, with the response rates of 52.0%, 38.0%, 12.5%, 7.7%, respectively. When the relative dose intensity (RDI) was > 1.0, 0.9 - 1.0, < 0.9, the response rates were 44.2%, 47.6%, 0, respectively. The difference between the group (RDI >/= 0.9% - 1.0%) in 7 patients and the group (RDI < 0.9) was significant (P < 0.05). Toxicity was well tolerated, with the efficacy decreased as soon as the RDI had been reduced without embarrassing the toxicity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Paclitaxel as a single agent therapy with standard dose intensity is effective and well tolerated by patients with advanced breast cancer.</p>