Comparison of the efficacy of capecitabine and platinum-based chemotherapy in first-line and second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer

YAN Shi; MENG Qingwei; CAI Li

Abstract：Objective To explore the efficacy of capecitabine and platinum?based chemotherapy in first?line and second?line treatment of advanced breast cancer. Methods From January 2010 to June 2013, 317 patients with advanced breast cancer were en?rolled in this study. They were treated capecitabine and platinum?based chemotherapy with a cycle of 3 weeks. Tumor evaluation was performed according to RECIST 1?0 criteria and toxicities were evaluated according to NCI CTC 3?0. Patients receiving different chem?otherapy regimes were followed up and the medium progression free survival ( PFS) were compared. Results One hundred and eight?een and 78 patients can be evaluated in first?line and second?line treatment, respectively. Difference in first?line response rate ( 53?6%vs. 63?3%) and disease control rate (81?2% vs.91?8%) of capecitabine and platinum?based chemotherapy has no statistical signifi?cance (P>0?05). Similarly, no statistical significance was observed in second?line response rate (42?9% vs. 47?2%) and disease control rate ( 90?5% vs. 91?7%) between capecitabine and platinum?based chemotherapy. In first?line treatment, median progression?free survival ( PFS) of patients receiving capecitabine and platinum?based chemotherapy were 15?6 and 12?4 months with statistical significance ( P<0?05) . However, in second?line treatment, median PFS of patients receiving capecitabine and platinum?based chemo?therapy were 11?1 and 12?8 without statistical significance in difference ( P>0?05) . Adverse reactions mainly included hematological toxicity, nausea and vomiting, hand foot syndrome, asthenia, oral ulcers and diarrhea. Compared with platinum?based chemotherapy, there were lower incidence of grade 1?2 nausea and vomiting but higher incidence of hand?foot syndrome in the first?line capecitabine?based chemotherapy with statistical significance ( P<0?05) . Lower incidence of fatigue and grade 1 nausea and vomiting and higher in?cidence of hand?foot syndrome were observed in capecitabine versus platinum?based chemotherapy in second?line treatment with statisti?cal significance ( P<0?05) . Conclusion Both capecitabine and platinum are effective in the first?line and second?line treatments of advanced breast cancer. Well?tolerated patients treated with capecitabineare had a longer PFS in first?line treatment.