Capecitabine Plus Radiotherapy Followed by Capecitabine for Treatment of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients
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- Category: Vol. 79, December 2011
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Capecitabine Plus Radiotherapy Followed by Capecitabine for Treatment of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients,DALIA ABDELGHANY, KHALID N. ABDEL-HAKIM and MAHMOUD A. EL-LITHY
Abstract
Aim of the Study: This prospective phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy & tolerability of Capecit-abine administered concurrently with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) then as maintenance therapy in patients with breast cancer & newly diagnosed brain metastasis.
Patients and Methods: We evaluated the efficacy & tolerability of capecitabine administered as (825mg/m2 orally bid) on days 1-14 of the 1st 3-week cycle together with 10 days standard WBRT. Maintenance therapy will follow with capecitabine (1000mg/m2 orally bid) on days 1-14 from cycle
2 onwards, in 25 patients with breast cancer & newly diagnosed brain metastasis between February 2008 till February 2009. Capecitabine was given until the occurrence of grade 3/4 toxicity or tumor progression. Tumor response and toxicity were assessed.
Results: Complete response in the brain was observed in
3 patients, and partial response was noted in 16 patients, yielding a 76% response rate in the brain. The overall systemic response rate was 44%. Progression-free and overall survival were 3.7 months and 6.5 months, respectively. Overall toxicity was acceptable; nonhematologic grade 3 events were noted in 4 (16%) patients, and there were no toxic deaths.
Conclusions: Capecitabine combined with concurrent WBRT then maintenance capecitabine therapy, is feasible and induces a high response rate in brain metastases from breast cancer.