Combination of capecitabine and mitomycin C as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Optimal first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is challenging, particularly in patients previously treated with (neo) adjuvant anthracyclines/taxanes. Based on preclinical synergy with mitomycin C (MMC) and capecitabine in human tumor xenografts, we conducted a phase II study of first-line capecitabine and MMC in MBC. Patients received 3-weekly chemotherapy comprising MMC 8 mg/m² day 1 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily, days 1-14.