Xie Y, Gong C, Zhang J, et al. - Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel showed satisfactory efficacy and safety when administered in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with visceral metastases in this phase II trial, which offers evidence for relative clinical practice. In Asian patients, 125 mg/m ² nab-paclitaxel was found to be efficacious and safe.

• A prospective, single-center, open-label, phase II study in which 80 MBC patients with visceral metastases were treated with nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane, 125 mg/m ², D1, D8, D15 every 28 days).

• Median progression free survival (PFS), overall response rate, and CBR were 5.1 months, 33.8%, and 66.2%, respectively.

• Better treatment outcomes were seen in patients in first line therapy.

• A trend of better treatment outcome in patients with premenopausal status was revealed in univariate analysis.

• Independent predictors of longer PFS were: non brain metastasis (adjusted hazard ratio HR 0.31) and first line treatment (adjusted HR 0.37).

• Overall safety was acceptable, but further alternatives (for example, combined chemotherapy or targeting therapy) might be needed for cases with premenopausal status or brain metastasis.