[Therapeutic results and toxic side effects of the cytostasan, adriamycin and vincristine combination as second line therapy in metastatic breast cancer]

Abstract

Remission rates of 30-50% can be obtained using different cytostatic combinations in second line therapy of metastatic breast cancer. The combination of adriamycin and vincristin with cytostasan revealed a remission rate of 50% in 62 CMF-pretreated patients. Considerable toxic side effects led to a dose reduction of cytostasan and adriamycine in 43 patients without clinical efficacy loss. The long remission periods of the total responders (8-23 months) were remarkable. Both, 3 patients with bone +/- soft tissue metastasis and 4 patients with visceral metastasis benefited from a clinical total remission. The remission rates indicated no significant differences between the group of patients with soft tissue +/- bone metastasis (47.3%) and that with a predominantly visceral metastasis (50%). The CyAV-combination with a low dosage provides an effective therapeutical scheme with acceptable side effects for CMF-pretreated patients with breast cancer.