In:
Tumori Journal, SAGE Publications, Vol. 85, No. 6 ( 1999-11), p. 478-482
Abstract:
Twenty-two anthracycline-resistant advanced breast cancer patients were entered from June 1995 till November 1997 in a phase II study to assess the activity and tolerability of second-line chemotherapy consisting of mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin. Study Design Patients were eligible if they failed to respond to doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy, given as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Treatment consisted of mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m 2 iv infusion on day 1, and leucovorin, 50 mg iv 1 hr before 5-fluorouracil, 350 mg/m 2 iv infusion on days 1-3, every three weeks. Results Nineteen patients were eligible for response, 2 refused further therapy after 2 cycles, and 1 was excluded because grade 3 myelotoxicity developed during the first cycle. Partial remission of 15 months duration occurred in 1 patient, in 7/19 women disease remained stable with a median duration of 11 months (range, 5-24), and 11/19 patients experienced progressive disease. Median time to disease progression was 2 months (range, 0-17), and median survival was 8 months (range, 0-24). Toxicity was generally mild and acceptable. One patient was excluded because of grade 3 granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, and one due to cardiotoxicity assessed by the drop of left ventricular ejection fraction to more than 20% below the initial value. Conclusions In spite of the very low objective response rate, almost one-fourth of our anthracycline-resistant patients achieved a disease stabilization of 27 weeks duration during mitoxantrone-based second-line chemotherapy. Hence, mitoxantrone in combination with 5-fluorouracil, especially continuous infusion, should be further investigated in this setting, particularly if new and expensive drugs, considered the most active, are not readily available.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0300-8916
,
2038-2529
DOI:
10.1177/030089169908500610
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
1999
detail.hit.zdb_id:
280962-X
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267832-3
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