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Capecitabine

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Abstract

  • ▴ Capecitabine is an orally administered fluoropyrim-idine carbamate used for the treatment of paclitaxel- or anthracycline-refractory breast cancer.

  • ▴ Capecitabine is metabolised via a 3-step process to the active agent fluorouracil. The final step of this process occurs preferentially in malignant tissue.

  • ▴ In patients with paclitaxel-refractory breast cancer receiving capecitabine (2510 mg/m2 /day for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle) the objective tumour response rate was 20%. Disease progression occurred in 34% of patients and 40% had stable disease.

  • ▴ In this trial, the median duration of response was 241 days. Disease progression or death occurred in 83% of patients, and median time to progression was 93 days. Median survival time was 384 days.

  • ▴ In previously untreated patients with breast cancer, the response rate was higher and time to disease progression was longer after oral capecitabine (2510 mg/m2 /day for 2 weeks of a 3-week cycle) than after intravenous cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil therapy.

  • ▴ In clinical trials, generally gastrointestinal or haematological adverse events were reported most frequently. Other commonly reported events included hand-and-foot syndrome, fatigue, hyperbilirubinaemia, dermatitis and anorexia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 10, New Zealand

    Mukta Dooley & Karen L. Goa

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  1. Mukta Dooley
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  2. Karen L. Goa
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Correspondence to Mukta Dooley.

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Dooley, M., Goa, K.L. Capecitabine. Drugs 58, 69–76 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958010-00006

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199958010-00006

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