The combination of capecitabine and cyclophosphamide for metastatic breast cancer patients

e12025 Background: Capecitabine (X) is converted into 5-FU by thymidine phospholylase (TP). Cyclophosphamide (C) has been shown to make TP higher in the preclinical study. Therefore, the combination of capecitabine and cyclophosphamide (XC) is thought to have a synergistic activity. We explored the efficacy of XC for metastatic breast cancer patients. Methods: 50 metastatic breast cancer patients were treated with XC in our medical center between April 2004 and December 2008. Median patient age was 58 years old (range: 34–79 years old). 36 patients were postmenopausal. X was 1675mg/m2 days 1–21 and C was 67mg/m2 days 1–14 on a 28-day cycle in all-oral combination. This therapy was continued until progression of disease or unacceptable toxicities occurring. Results: Median time to treatment failure was 28 weeks (range: 2–158 weeks). 9 patients were not evaluable for tumor response. Among 41 evaluable patients, complete response (CR) was observed in 2.4% (1 patient) and partial response (PR) was 29.2% (12 patients). Stable disease (SD) was 41.4% (17 patients) and progression of the disease (PD) was 26.8% (11 patients). The objective response rate (CR+PR) was 31.7% and the overall clinical benefit (CR+PR+SDÅÜ24 weeks) was 53.6%. Significant toxicities were uncommon: grade 3 toxicities were encountered for neutropenia in 1 patient, anorexia in 1 patient and hand-foot syndrome in 2 patients. Conclusions: XC is an effective regimen in metastatic breast cancer, and this therapy is of an easy administration and very well tolerated. No significant financial relationships to disclose.