A trial looking at weekly versus 3 weekly paclitaxel for breast cancer that has spread (Will Weekly Win)
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This trial found out if it was best for people with breast cancer to have paclitaxel (Taxol chemotherapy) every week or every 3 weeks.
More about this trial
Chemotherapy is common treatment for breast cancer that has spread (metastasised) or breast cancer that has come back (recurred) after treatment.
When this trial was done paclitaxel was one of the chemotherapy drugs that you might have. It is usually given once every 3 weeks.
Researchers thought that having paclitaxel once a week might be as good as having it once every 3 weeks.
To find out if it was as good, the people in this trial had paclitaxel either every week or every 3 weeks. Researchers compared the results of both treatment groups to find out which was better at stopping the cancer from coming back.
Summary of results
The trial team found that weekly paclitaxel was better at keeping advanced breast cancer under control than 3 weekly paclitaxel. But it didn’t find that people having it lived longer than those having 3 weekly treatment.
About this trial
This was a phase 3 trial. 569 people took part.
It was a randomised trial. There were 2 groups. Neither the person nor their doctor chose which group they were in:
- 278 people had weekly paclitaxel
- 291 people had 3 weekly paclitaxel
Results
The researchers were able to look at the results of:
- 161 people from the weekly paclitaxel group
- 173 people from the 3 weekly paclitaxel group
The team looked at how well the cancer was controlled in both groups. They found that overall the best result was that it had stayed the same (stable disease).
Half the people (50%) who had weekly paclitaxel had stable disease. And 45 out of every 100 people (45.4%) in the 3 weekly paclitaxel group did.
The team also looked at the 
time it took for the cancer to start to grow again in each group. They found it was:
- 160 days for those who had weekly paclitaxel
- 141 days for those who had 3 weekly paclitaxel
They said that this wasn’t .
Quality of life
To see if there was a difference in the quality of life between the 2 groups the team looked at the side effect of tiredness (fatigue). They found that for both groups it wasn’t severe and the amount of tiredness was similar in both groups.
Side effects
In the weekly paclitaxel group the researchers found that a drop in white blood cells called was more severe than the 3 weekly group. A severe drop in neutrophils can cause an increased risk of getting an infection. However the number of infections in each group was similar and none were severe.
Other side effects were the same in each group and none were severe. These included:
- feeling and being sick
- inflammation of the mouth
Conclusion
The team concluded that these results show that weekly paclitaxel might be:
- used in future trials
- a treatment in chemotherapy suites
They say that the small benefit in controlling the cancer needs consideration. Especially when people have it in a busy chemotherapy suite as it takes more time to give weekly paclitaxel.
Where this information comes from
We have based this summary on information from the research team. As far as we are aware, the information they sent us has not been reviewed independently () or published in a medical journal yet. The figures we quote above were provided by the research team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Dr Mark Verrill
Supported by
Anglo Celtic Cooperative Oncology Group
Bristol Myers Squibb
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
