Randomized trial of sequence vs. combination of capecitabine (X) and docetaxel (T): XT vs. T followed by X after progression as first-line therapy for patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

571 Background: Capecitabine (Xeloda [X]) and docetaxel (Taxotere [T]) are highly active single agents in MBC. The XT combination leads to superior overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP) and response rate (RR) vs. T alone in anthracycline-preatreated MBC [O’Shaughnessy et al. J Clin Oncol 2002], although only one third of pts in the T group received X after progression. We designed this study to determine whether XT is better than sequential T→X in first-line MBC. Methods: 100 pts with measurable MBC, prior adjuvant anthracyclines (100%) but no prior chemotherapy for MBC and KPS ≥70 received 3-weekly cycles of either XT (X 1250mg/m2 bid d1–14 + T 75mg/m2 d1) or T→X (T 100mg/m2 d1 followed after progression by X 1250mg/m2 bid d1–14). X monotherapy data were not considered in the RR or TTP analyses but were included for OS and safety. Results: The XT and T→X arms were well balanced for prognostic factors: median age 48 (29–59) vs. 51 (31–64) years; median KPS 100 (70–100) in both arms; hormone-res...