Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine and paclitaxel as first-line treatment in advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed metastatic or metastatic plus locally advanced breast cancer received gemcitabine 1,200 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 21 days for 8 cycles.

Results: From December 1999 to August 2001, 45 patients, with a median age of 53.

Gemcitabine/paclitaxel as first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and paclitaxel exhibit good activity and good safety profiles when used alone and together in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. In a phase II trial, 45 patients with metastatic breast cancer received gemcitabine at 1,200 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 on day 1 every 21 days. Twenty-seven patients (60.