Triple-negative metastatic/recurrent breast cancer: Treatment with paclitaxel/carboplatin combination chemotherapy

1086 Background: Patients with triple negative (ER, PR, Her2 negative) breast cancers do not derive benefit from Herceptin or hormonal agents. For them, conventional chemotherapy remains the only option. Recent data suggests that triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) have increased sensitivity to platinum agents. We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine the response rates of such patients treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) chemotherapy. Methods: Patients with metastatic/recurrent TNBC were included in our study. Chemotherapy administered at weekly (paclitaxel 80mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 on D1, D8, D15) or 3 weekly intervals (paclitaxel 175mg/m2 and Carboplatin AUC 5 on D1). ER and PR status was defined using IHC. Her 2 positive was defined by a positive FISH or 3+ IHC staining. Results: 101 patients with TNBC were diagnosed at our centre from 2002 to 2005 and of these only 23 patients had metastatic/ recurrent disease. 14 patients were treated with TC and therefore included in our analysis. Median age of patients was 53 yrs (range 36 to 68yrs). 3 patients had metastatic disease at diagnosis and 11 patients were treated for recurrent disease. Median time to recurrence for this subgroup was 20 months (range 8 to 224mths). 4 and 6 patients had prior adjuvant exposure to taxanes and anthracyclines respectively. Median prior lines of chemotherapy was 1 (range 0–4). Median number of disease sites in patients was 4. Eight patients (57%) experience a partial response (PR) with TC. 2 patients had stable disease and 4 progressive disease. Although no patients experienced complete response, 3 patients had good PR. One patient with metastatic disease had complete resolution of a large, 9cm locally invasive breast tumor after 3 cycles of TC. The second had a 90% reduction in volume of a large chest wall recurrence after 2 cycles TC. Patients who had 2 or 3 prior lines of chemotherapy also continued to show response. The median time to tumor progression was 16 weeks (range 4–28 wks). Conclusions: TC gives a high response rate in patients with metastatic/ recurrent TNBC. Patients with prior exposure to taxanes and those with large volume disease showed good response. Randomised trials are underway to compare the TC regimen with non-platinum containing doublets. No significant financial relationships to disclose.