Capecitabine Plus Radiotherapy Followed by Capecitabine for Treatment of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients

Aim of the Study: This prospective phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy tolerability of Capecitabine administered concurrently with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) then as maintenance therapy in patients with breast cancer newly diagnosed brain metastasis.Patients and Methods: We evaluated the efficacy tolerability of capecitabine administered as (825mg/m² orally bid) on days 1-14 of the 1st 3-week cycle together with 10 days standard WBRT. Maintenance therapy will follow with capecitabine (1000mg/m² orally bid) on days 1-14 from cycle2 onwards, in 25 patients with breast cancer newly diagnosed brain metastasis between February 2008 till February 2009. Capecitabine was given until the occurrence of grade 3/4 toxicity or tumor progression. Tumor response and toxicity were assessed.Results: Complete response in the brain was observed in3 patients, and partial response was noted in 16 patients, yielding a 76% response rate in the brain. The overall systemic response rate was 44%. Progression-free and overall survival were 3.7 months and 6.5 months, respectively. Overall toxicity was acceptable; nonhematologic grade 3 events were noted in 4 (16%) patients, and there were no toxic deaths.Conclusions: Capecitabine combined with concurrent WBRT then maintenance capecitabine therapy, is feasible and induces a high response rate in brain metastases from breast cancer.