PHASE III COMPARISON OF TAXOTERE (DOCETAXEL) AND TAXOL (PACLITAXEL) IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED BREAST CANCER

Study start date: August 1, 1994

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven metastatic or locally advanced, inoperable adenocarcinoma of the breast Clinically evident metastases (e.g., clearly malignant lesions on chest x-ray or CT or abdominal CT do not require histologic confirmation) Hot spots on bone scan not shown to be malignant on plain x-rays are not adequate evidence of malignant disease in the absence of other lesions Must meet 1 of the following conditions: Disease progression after 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for locally advanced or metastatic disease (which may or may not have followed a separate adjuvant regimen using chemotherapy or hormonal therapy) Locally advanced or metastatic disease during or after 1 adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen One of the above chemotherapy regimens must have contained an anthracycline (e.g., doxorubicin, but not mitoxantrone) Single drug substitution (e.g., methotrexate for doxorubicin) during prior combination chemotherapy allowed Bidimensionally measurable No clinical or radiographic evidence of brain or leptomeningeal disease Hormone receptor status: Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% OR ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL No uncontrolled hypercalcemia Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No history of arrhythmia requiring treatment No heart block No clinical evidence of congestive heart failure No unstable angina (e.g., new onset, crescendo, or rest angina) Stable exertional angina allowed Other: No current symptomatic grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy No history of hypersensitivity to products containing Cremophor EL (e.g., cyclosporine or teniposide) or Polysorbate 80 (e.g., IV etoposide) No serious infection No significant psychiatric disease that would preclude study No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer or completely excised carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior bone marrow or stem cell transplantation Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (2 weeks for oral cyclophosphamide or 6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) No prior high-dose chemotherapy given with ablative intent No prior taxoids No other concurrent antineoplastic therapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior hormonal therapy as adjuvant therapy or for metastatic disease allowed At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy No concurrent corticosteroids except: Prophylaxis or treatment for acute hypersensitivity reactions Chronic therapy (more than 6 months) at low doses (20 mg/day or less of methylprednisolone or equivalent) Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to major bone marrow areas No prior high-dose radiotherapy given with ablative intent No concurrent radiotherapy except limited palliative radiotherapy (e.g., for a solitary rib fracture) during objective response Surgery: See Disease Characteristics More than 2 weeks since prior surgery except simple biopsy or placement of venous access device Other: At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs Concurrent medications known to alter cardiac conduction (e.g., digoxin, beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers) allowed No concurrent ketoconazole No concurrent bisphosphonates unless initiated more than 3 months before randomization No concurrent experimental drug or therapy