Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound-Paclitaxel Instead of Standard Paclitaxel in Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimen for Breast Cancer Under COVID-19 Pandemic—A Single Center Feasibility Study in China

Abstract

The management of breast cancer patients in the current COVID-19 outbreak is challenging. Myelosuppression associated with cancer treatment may increase the risk of infection in both hospitals and at home. We implemented the following strategy to reduce myelosuppression of adjuvant chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) changing the original regimen of AC×4→wT×12 to wT×12→AC×4. (2) substitution of standard paclitaxel with nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel). For 43 patients who completed nab-paclitaxel treatment, the compliance rate was 100%, without interruption or delay of nab-paclitaxel treatment. Dose reduction was necessary in 2 patients (4.6%) due to peripheral neuropathy. Thus, 98.6% of the planned doses were administered. As expected, the adjusted adjuvant regimen was safe and well tolerated. Therefore wT×12→AC×4 treatment procedure may be considered for breast cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic.