Nab-paclitaxel/bevacizumab/carboplatin chemotherapy in first-line triple negative metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Triple negative metastatic breast cancer can be difficult to treat with primarily cytotoxic options. Nab-paclitaxel has demonstrated improved PFS and tolerability compared with standard cremophor-solubilized paclitaxel; based on this, we examined the efficacy and safety of combining weekly nab-paclitaxel with carboplatin and bevacizumab in TNMBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase II, multicenter trial, patients with first-line TNMBC received nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (area under the curve = 2) on days 1, 8, 15, and bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The primary end point was safety and tolerability and secondary end points included PFS, ORR, and CBR. PFS was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS: Between July 16, 2007, and October 3, 2011, 34 patients were enrolled at 4 centers. Median age was 50.0 (range, 30-76) years and 77% (n = 26) of patients received previous adjuvant therapy. Median PFS was 9.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.8-25.1 months). The CBR was 94% (95% CI, 80%-99%), and ORR was 85% (95% CI, 69%-95%) for the combination. The regimen was well tolerated with the most common grade 3/4 adverse events being neutropenia (n = 18; 53%) and thrombocytopenia (n = 6; 18%), with other serous events including 1 grade 3 and 1 grade 4 thrombotic event and 1 febrile neutropenia.

CONCLUSION: The combination of nab-paclitaxel, bevacizumab, and carboplatin as first-line treatment for TNMBC was efficacious and well tolerated. The PFS, CBR, and ORR, and tolerability of the regimen, compares favorably with other standard first-line therapies.