Taxol (paclitaxel) plus recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

We treated 28 patients who had no prior chemotherapy for stage IV breast cancer and 51 patients with extensive prior exposure to other chemotherapeutic agents with a 24-hour infusion of Taxol (paclitaxel) as a single agent. Prophylactic recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered routinely to ameliorate the anticipated dose-limiting toxicity of neutropenia. Nonhematologic toxicity was mild to moderate in most cases. Taxol was more active in patients with chemotherapy-naive stage IV disease, but activity was also observed in extensively treated patients as well. There is a strong clinical suggestion of at least partial noncross-resistance with doxorubicin. Taxol is a very promising agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer; its optimal application in this disease will be the subject of future trials.