Mitoxantrone as single agent in the treatment of advanced breast cancer: Clinical study at Siriraj Hospital.

ABSTRACT

During August 1986 – August 1988, a total of 35 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with Mitoxantrone (Novantrone), 14 mg/M3 intravenously every 3 weeks. Of these, 27 patients with total 78 lesions could be evaluated for response and 30 patients for toxicity. The mean follow-up period was 18 months (2-24 months). The median time to achieve response was 9 weeks after treatment. Eleven patients (41%) achieved an objection tumor response (CR+PR) including four (7%) complete response. In another way of evaluation, a total of 78 evaluable lesions were assessed of which 29 (37%) achieved response (CR+PR), including 10 (13%) complete response. The duration of response varied from minimum 2 months to more than 19 months (median=5 months). The median time to treatment failure was 5.9 months. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity and was observed with moderate to severe degree in 19 patients (63%). The most frequent non-haematological toxicities were mild grade of nausea and vomiting occurred in 137 cycles from the total number of 195 evaluable cycles (70%). No cardiotoxicity was noted in this study after the maximum cumulative dose of Mitoxantrone 157.5 mg. This agent is well tolerated and offers comparable efficacy with less tolerable toxicity than other effective agents currently used as single agent in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.