[Jackie07]

Hi Penny,

The following abstract of a recent study brings encouraging news about SIR-spheres. Even though it didn't specify breast cancer, but the symptoms and result/benefits should be similar.

Br J Cancer. 2014 Jul 15;111(2):265-71. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.344. Epub 2014 Jul 1.
Phase I study of capecitabine combined with radioembolization using yttrium-90 resin microspheres (SIR-Spheres) in patients with advanced cancer.
Cohen SJ1, Konski AA2, Putnam S3, Ball DS3, Meyer JE4, Yu JQ3, Astsaturov I1, Marlow C5, Dickens A5, Cade DN6, Meropol NJ7.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
This was a prospective single-centre, phase I study to document the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and the recommended phase II dose for future study of capecitabine in combination with radioembolization.
METHODS:
Patients with advanced unresectable liver-dominant cancer were enrolled in a 3+3 design with escalating doses of capecitabine (375-1000 mg/m(2) b.i.d.) for 14 days every 21 days. Radioembolization with (90)Y-resin microspheres was administered using a sequential lobar approach with two cycles of capecitabine.
RESULTS:
Twenty-four patients (17 colorectal) were enrolled. The MTD was not reached. Haematologic events were generally mild. Common grade 1/2 non-haematologic toxicities included transient transaminitis/alkaline phosphatase elevation (9 (37.5%) patients), nausea (9 (37.5%)), abdominal pain (7 (29.0%)), fatigue (7 (29.0%)), and hand-foot syndrome or rash/desquamation (7 (29.0%)). One patient experienced a partial gastric antral perforation with a capecitabine dose of 750 mg/m(2). The best response was partial response in four (16.7%) patients, stable disease in 17 (70.8%) and progression in three (12.5%). Median time to progression and overall survival of the metastatic colorectal cancer cohort was 6.4 and 8.1 months, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
This combined modality treatment was generally well tolerated with encouraging clinical activity. Capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) b.i.d. is recommended for phase II study with sequential lobar radioembolization.