International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 2023, Vol 33, Num 4 Page(s): 087-091
Capecitabine and Oral Cyclophosphamide Combination in Taxane/Antrhracycline Resistant Metastatic Breast Cancer

Ahmet OZET1, Dogan UNCU1, Okan KUZHAN1, Seref KOMURCU1, Mustafa OZTURK1, Fikret ARPACI1, Bekir OZTURK1

Gulhane Military School, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, TURKEY

Keywords: Breast neoplasms, Cyclophosphamide, Capecitabine
No combination chemotherapy has been shown yet to be more effective in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who did not either respond to taxanes and anthracyclines or recurred thereafter. We aimed to report in short term the effect and toxicity results of capecitabine and oral cyclophosphamide combination in MBC patients with anthracyclin and taxane resistance.

Between January and September 2007, totally 11 patients were enrolled. All of them had received anthracyclines and taxanes previously either in metastatic or adjuvant setting. They were given capecitabine (1000 mg/m2 bid) and oral cychlophosphamide (30 mg/m2 tid) on days 1 to 14 every 3 weeks.

Median age of patients was 48 years. The median number of previous chemotherapy lines given was 3. Seven patients had received trastuzumab previously, either as monotherapy or as part of combination chemotherapy. Seven had received capecitabine monotherapy before. Median follow-up was 5 months. The patients received a median of 8 cycles chemotherapy. In 4 patients (36.4%) partial response was obtained. Five patients (45.5%) remained stable, and 2 (18.1%) progressed. Median duration of response was 5 months. At the analysis time, 2 patients were dead. Totally 2 patients (18.1%) had grade 2 leucopenia, 2 (18.1%) had grade 2 hand-foot syndrome, 1 (9.1%) had grade 3 hand-foot syndrome.

Capecitabine and oral cyclophosphamide combination is a promising and well tolerated regimen in patients who previously had received taxanes and anthracyclines and in patients with cerbB2 positive tumors who received trastuzumab previously.