First line cytotoxic therapy with cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone [Novantrone], 5-fluorouracil, in advanced inoperable breast cancer

ABSTRACT

Twenty-four patients [mean age 48.7 years] with advanced inoperable breast cancer, were treated with the combination of cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, 5FU 500 mg/m2 and mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2 by i.v. route. In the absence of limiting toxicity the doses of mitoxantrone and 5FU were increased, respectively, to 12 mg/m2 and 750 mg/m2. Seven patients were premenopausal and the mean rating of all patients on Karnofsky scale was 90. Six patients were newly diagnosed and 14 had a disease free interval of less than two years. The objective response rate in this study was 83.4% [CR 7/24 patients or 29.2% and PR 13/24 patients or 54.2%]. Leukopenia was the most frequent side effect [grade 3 in 25.9% of the cycles]. Grade 3 nausea-vomiting was observed that this combination is effective in inoperable breast cancer patients causing little toxicities