Combined chemoimmunotherapy and radiation therapy of inflammatory breast carcinoma.
Thirty-two patients with a diagnosis of primary inflammatory breast carcinoma were treated with combination chemoimmunotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (FAC) plus BCG followed by radiation therapy. This group of patients was compared to a group of 32 consecutive historical controls treated with radiation therapy alone. The estimated mean disease-free interval for the FAC-BCG group was 16 months, compared to 9 months for the radiation therapy alone group (P less than 0.01). The estimated median survival for the FAC-BCG treated group was 24 months, compared to 18 months for the radiation therapy alone group (P = less than 0.03). The combined modality approach consisting of chemoimmunotherapy and radiation therapy significantly improved the disease-free interval and survival of patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil