OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* To determine age-related changes in the pharmacokinetics (pK) of weekly paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation (nab-paclitaxel) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
* To determine age-related changes in the pharmacodynamics (toxicity) of nab-paclitaxel in these patients.
Secondary
* To determine response and time to progression in these patients.
* To explore predictors of pK parameters in these patients.
* To explore predictors of the need for dose reduction, dose delays, or grade 3 or 4 toxicity in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients are stratified by age in years (\< 50 vs 50-60 vs 60-70 vs \> 70).
Patients receive paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation IV over 30 minutes once daily on days 1, 8, and 15 as planned. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Blood is drawn for pharmacokinetic studies periodically during course 1.
Patients complete questionnaires regarding risk factors that would predict for pharmacokinetic parameters at baseline, prior to the third course of treatment, and at end of study. Data collected include medical characteristics, demographics, functional status, comorbidity, psychological status, social functioning and support, nutritional status, and cognition.
