ABSTRACT
The authors treated 39 heavily pretreated breast cancer patients, median age 72, with a combined oral regimen featuring idarubicin and cyclophosphamide, administered without hospitalization in cycles repeated every 4 weeks for a total not to exceed idarubicin 400 mg/m2. Treatment was remarkably well tolerated, with generally mild hematological toxicity and only one discontinuation caused by severe neutropenia; non-hematologic toxicity consisted mainly of moderate nausea and vomiting in fewer than half the cycles, and hair loss of various severity in the majority of patients. Therapeutic results were graded as partial responses (13 cases), no change (NC; 11 cases) or progressive disease (11 cases) for a response rate of 37.2% (95% CI: 21.1-53.1%). The authors single out the NC issue as being of special interest, its mere occurrence being rewarding in the circumstance and its duration in excess of 5 months (seen in six cases) almost equivalent to therapeutic success.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Administration, Oral , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Breast Neoplasms/mortality , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/mortality , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology , Carcinoma, Lobular/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Lobular/mortality , Carcinoma, Lobular/pathology , Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Idarubicin/administration & dosage , Lymphatic Metastasis , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Staging , Survival Analysis , Time FactorsABSTRACT
We studied the correlation between tumor size, nodal status, menopausal status, nuclear oestrogen receptors, disease free survival and Ki67 (proliferation rate) measured by mean of immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibody. Median value was 10%. From December 1986 to October 1989 we studied 236 consecutive patients (pts). Median follow up was 34 months (range 7-51 months). Median age was 56 years (r. 26-82). We observed: 1) lower levels in smaller tumors; 2) poor correlation with nodes involvement; 3) lower levels when nuclear oestrogen receptors were positive. Preliminary data seem to suggest longer disease free survival when Ki67 is low.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/analysis , Breast Neoplasms/chemistry , Neoplasm Proteins/immunology , Nuclear Proteins/immunology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Ki-67 Antigen , Middle Aged , PrognosisABSTRACT
Authors describe the results obtained with weekly low-dose (20 or 30 mg/total) of intravenous bolus epirubicin, used as second line chemotherapy, after CMF, in 29 advanced breast carcinoma patients. 29% objective response rate (1 complete + 6 partial responses) has been observed in 24 evaluable patients, with median response duration of 4 months (range 1-7+). The discrete response rate and the minimal incidence of side effects call for further studies and more extensive evaluation of epirubicin given alone or in combination through this new treatment schedule.
