Phase II and Pharmacological Study of Oral Docetaxel Plus Cyclosporin A in Anthracycline Pre-Treated Metastatic Breast Cancer

Introduction: Previously, we demonstrated that oral docetaxel plus the P-glycoprotein (Pgp; ABCB1) inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA) is safe and results in adequate exposure to docetaxel. This phase II study evaluates the anti-tumor activity, safety and pharmacokinetics of oral docetaxel in combination with CsA in women with advanced breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: Patients with measurable advanced breast cancer were given one flat dose of 100 mg oral docetaxel, preceded by one single dose of 15 mg/kg CsA, weekly for 6 weeks in a cycle of 8 weeks. Pharmacokinetic monitoring of docetaxel and CsA was performed in week 1 and 9.

Results: Thirty-three patients with a median age of 50 years were recruited. Thirty patients were evaluable for toxicity and twenty-six for response. All had received prior anthracycline treatment. The treatment was generally well tolerated with manageable toxicity although many patients needed a dose reduction, most commonly because of fatigue and uncomplicated neutropenia. The median treatment duration was 16 weeks (range 6 – 32). The overall response rate in evaluable patients was 42% (95% CI: 23 – 63) and the median overall survival was 12.2 months (8.4 – 23.1). The interpatient variability in the area under the curve of 100 mg orally administered docetaxel was moderate, respectively 49 and 30% in week 1 and 9.

Conclusion: Weekly oral docetaxel, combined with the booster drug CsA, is an active and safe treatment in anthracycline pre-treated patients with advanced breast cancer.