Capecitabine as salvage therapy for a breast cancer patient with extensive liver metastases and associated impairment of liver function.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer metastasizing to the liver with presence of a parenchymatous icterus presents a therapeutic dilemma. Treatment-related toxicity can be unpredictable due to altered drug clearance, and bilirubin exceeding 5,0 mg/dl is generally considered an absolute contraindication for the administration of cytotoxic agents. The pharmacokinetics of capecitabine--an active oral 5-fluorouracil prodrug for the treatment of advanced breast cancer--are not affected in patients with mild to moderate hepatic dysfunction, but there are no data available for patients with severe hyperbilirubinemia. PATIENT AND METHODS: We herein report the case of a female patient with advanced breast cancer with predominant liver metastases and severe hyperbilirubinemia (12 mg/dl). The patient received oral capecitabine at a dose of 2,500 mg/m2/day in 2 divided doses for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week rest.
RESULTS: Several assessments of liver function parameters including serum bilirubin showed a decrease to normal values within 2.5 months. After 7 courses of treatment, a partial remission was confirmed by CT scan. Treatment with capecitabine was well tolerated with grade 2 hand-and-foot syndrome and mild nausea being the only side effects.
CONCLUSION: This case report suggests that capecitabine can be safely administered without dose adjustment in patients with extensive liver metastases and hepatic dysfunction. Copyright 2003 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg