TY - JOUR
T1 - Minimal residual disease in metastatic breast cancer
T2 - Treatment with IFN-β, retinoids, and tamoxifen
AU - Recchia, Francesco
AU - Frati, Luigi
AU - Rea, Silvio
AU - Torchio, Pierfederico
AU - Sica, Gigliola
PY - 1998/1
Y1 - 1998/1
N2 - The aim of this pilot study was to investigate if chemotherapy (CT) followed by the combination of interferon-β (IFN-β), retinoids, and tamoxifen could be effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Thirty-six patients with stage IV carcinoma of the breast were treated with six courses of cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, 4-epidoxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone every 3 weeks (FECPV), followed by two courses of non-cross-resistant drugs, methotrexate, mitomycin C, and mitoxantrone (MMM). Treatment was continued, in responders, with low dose IFN-β, retinyl palmitate, and tamoxifen until relapse of the disease occurred. Among 36 evaluable patients, 23 achieved a clinical response (64%) (95% confidence interval [c.i.] 46%-79%), 7 had stable disease (19%), and 6 (17%) progressed. Leukopenia occurred in 15 patients, thrombocytopenia in 6, and anemia in 11. Sixteen patients had nausea/vomiting, stomatitis was observed in 9, and diarrhea occurred in 3. Toxicity from maintenance therapy was mild and mainly hepatic. Median response duration was 31 months (range 5-107). Median overall survival was 32 months (9-108). Our study shows that this combined approach for the treatment of MBC is feasible, with an acceptable toxicity.
AB - The aim of this pilot study was to investigate if chemotherapy (CT) followed by the combination of interferon-β (IFN-β), retinoids, and tamoxifen could be effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Thirty-six patients with stage IV carcinoma of the breast were treated with six courses of cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, 4-epidoxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone every 3 weeks (FECPV), followed by two courses of non-cross-resistant drugs, methotrexate, mitomycin C, and mitoxantrone (MMM). Treatment was continued, in responders, with low dose IFN-β, retinyl palmitate, and tamoxifen until relapse of the disease occurred. Among 36 evaluable patients, 23 achieved a clinical response (64%) (95% confidence interval [c.i.] 46%-79%), 7 had stable disease (19%), and 6 (17%) progressed. Leukopenia occurred in 15 patients, thrombocytopenia in 6, and anemia in 11. Sixteen patients had nausea/vomiting, stomatitis was observed in 9, and diarrhea occurred in 3. Toxicity from maintenance therapy was mild and mainly hepatic. Median response duration was 31 months (range 5-107). Median overall survival was 32 months (9-108). Our study shows that this combined approach for the treatment of MBC is feasible, with an acceptable toxicity.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 9475666
AN - SCOPUS:0031930136
VL - 18
SP - 41
EP - 47
JO - Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research
JF - Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research
SN - 1079-9907
IS - 1
ER -