Efficacy and safety of metronomic capecitabine and gefitinib in heavily pretreated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

Abstract

1071 Background: Metronomic chemotherapy regimens have shown efficacy in patients with metastatic breast cancer by antiangiogenic mechanisms. When used metronomically the toxicity profile of capecitabine is low. Triple negative breast cancer is a common problem in India and developing countries. Approximately 30% of triple negative breast cancer express EGFR and its mutation. Methods: Since October 2003 to December 2011 we objectively tested response rates, clinical benefit, and safety of gefitinib and capecitabine administered with a metronomic schedule of 500 mg thrice daily in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients with gefitinib 250 mg once daily. 300 patients were screened for EGFR expression. Among 85 enrolled patients with EGFR positivity, 76 were evaluable. ECOG performance status (PS) was 0-2, median age 52 years (range 36-65), bone plus visceral metastasis in 40% of patients. Rest had only visceral metastasis. All the patients were pretreated with anthracyclines and taxanes. The combination was administered for a median duration of 32 weeks (range 12-166). Results: We observed 18 partial responses (PR: 24%), 42 (55%) stable disease (SD). Median time to progression was 53 weeks, (95% CI, range 12-166 weeks). Safety of metronomic capecitabine with gefitinib was excellent. Neither grade 2-4 haematological or clinical side effects were recorded. Only 12 patients experienced grade I (WHO) hand-foot syndrome. Conclusions: Treatment with metronomic capecitabine and gefitinib was effective and minimally toxic in heavily pretreated breast cancer patients.