[Preoperative intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in locally advanced primary breast cancer-tissue concentrations of 5-fluorouracil and adriamycin, and the histological evaluation]

Abstract

The effect of preoperative intra-arterial infusion of mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and adriamycin (ADM) were studied in seven patients with locally advanced breast cancer, including five inflammatory carcinomas, and a patient with stromal sarcoma of the breast. Reducing rate of the primary tumor of more than 30% was observed in all cases, and remarkable degenerative changes of tumor cells were histologically noted in six out of eight surgical specimens. The tissue concentrations of 5-FU and ADM were also studied in five breast cancer patients. There was no correlation between the concentration of 5-FU or ADM and histological effect. In intra-arterial infusion, ADM seemed to have a high affinity to the regional lymphnode and breast tumor, compared to normal breast tissue and might also be applicable to the control of lymphnode metastasis. Three out of six cases which received radical mastectomy subsequently had recurrence except in the regional lymphnodes and the prognosis was unsatisfactory (5 year survival was 2/4). Other alternative or multi-disciplinary treatment seems to be necessary for improving the survival rate.