Capecitabine in combination with radiotherapy for treatment of brain metastases in patients with breast cancer

The article reviews the experience of capecitabine application in 65 breast cancer (BC) patients with metastatic brain damage. 35 patients underwent early chemoradiation, (brain irradiation) simultaneously with the start of capecitabine. In 30 patients delayed chemoradiation was conducted, in the first phase - induction chemotherapy with capecitabine, then brain irradiation in patients receiving capecitabine. The effectiveness of the immediate and long-term outcomes in the two groups was analyzed. In the group of early chemoradiotherapy objective effect in the brain was 77.2%. The median time to progression - 15.3 months. The median survival - 22 months. In the group of delayed chemoradiotherapy objective effect was 56.6%. The median time to progression - 12 months. The median life expectancy - 15.1 month. When comparing the time to disease progression in the brain in early chemoradiotherapy group (15.3 months), and the group of delayed chemoradiotherapy (12 months), and also when comparing the median survival in early groups (22 months) and delayed (15, 1 month.) chemoradiotherapy statistically significant differences were found (p = 0.3; p = 0.25, respectively). The reviewed modes of chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine (early and delayed chemoradiotherapy) had comparable effectiveness.