Randomized Phase III trial of ixabepilone plus capecitabine versus capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with an anthracycline and a taxane

Joseph A. Sparano, Eduard Vrdoljak, Oliver Rixe, Binghe Xu, Alexey Manikhas, Carlos Medina, Susanne Crocamo Ventilari Da Costa, Jungsil Ro, Gonzalo Rubio, Monica Rondinon, Gumersindo Perez Manga, Ronald Peck, Valerie Poulart, Pierfranco Conte

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

205 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: We sought to determine whether the combination of ixabepilone plus capecitabine improved overall survival (OS) compared with capecitabine alone in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Patients and Methods: A total of 1,221 patients with MBC previously treated with anthracycline and taxanes were randomly assigned to ixabepilone (40 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1) plus capecitabine (2,000 mg/m2 orally on days 1 through 14) or capecitabine alone (2,500 mg/m2 on the same schedule) given every 21 days. The trial was powered to detect a 20% reduction in the hazard ratio (HR) for death. Results: There was no significant difference in OS between the combination and capecitabine monotherapy arm, the primary end point (median, 16.4 v 15.6 months; HR = 0.9; 95% CI, 078 to 1.03; P = .1162). The arms were well balanced with the exception of a higher prevalence of impaired performance status (Karnofsky performance status 70% to 80%) in the combination arm (32% v 25%). In a secondary Cox regression analysis adjusted for performance status and other prognostic factors, OS was improved for the combination (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.98; P = .0231). In 79% of patients with measurable disease, the combination significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS; median, 6.2 v 4.2 months; HR = 0.79; P = .0005) and response rate (43% v 29%; P < .0001). Grade 3 to 4 neuropathy occurred in 24% treated with the combination, but was reversible. Conclusion: This study confirmed a previous trial demonstrating improved PFS and response for the ixabepilone-capecitabine combination compared with capecitabine alone, although this did not result in improved survival.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3256-3263
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume28
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 10 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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