Metronomic Chemotherapy Extends PFS After CDK4/6 Inhibitor Progression

This retrospective analysis offers real-world evidence that low-dose continuous chemotherapy may prolong disease control with minimal toxicity after CDK4/6 inhibitor failure in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.

metronomic chemotherapycapecitabineVEX regimencyclophosphamidevinorelbineCDK4/6 inhibitorsHR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancerretrospective cohortpropensity score matchingprogression-free survivalantibody-drug conjugates Oncology Pharmacy

Background Information

Metronomic chemotherapy improves progression-free survival in difficult-to-treat breast cancer.

Finding effective treatments for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer after progression on cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) is crucial. Metronomic chemotherapy showed the longest median progression-free survival (PFS) of 9 months and was independently linked to improved PFS with a hazard ratio of 0.46 (p < 0.001). This study suggests that metronomic chemotherapy could offer a viable, safer option for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer with improved disease control after CDK4/6i therapy. Limitations include its retrospective design. Metronomic chemotherapy may enhance disease control in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer post-CDK4/6i therapy.

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Authors: Laini L, Cosentini D, Laganà M, Grisanti S, Scartabellati G, Fogazzi G, Strazzeri S, Amoroso V, Schivardi G, Pedersini R, Berruti A, Turla A

Citation: Laini L, Cosentini D, Laganà M, et al. Use of Metronomic Chemotherapy in Hormone Receptor-Positive/HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Multicenter Study. Cancer medicine. 2026;15(10):e72325. doi:10.1002/cam4.72325

Article Links: PubMed · Journal / DOI · Free Full Text (PMC)

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