title: Combination chemoimmunotherapy of metastatic breast cancer with 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and BCG.
abstract: One hundred and five patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with 5-fluorouracil, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and BCG (FAC-BCG). The results were compared to those observed in a group of 44 patients treated with FAC chemotherapy alone. Although the overall response rates were similar (76% for FAC-BCG and 73% for FAC), the duration of remission was of 9 months for FAC and 14 months for FAC-BCG (p = 0.04). Similarly, survival or responding patients treated with FAC-BCG was significantly longer (24 months) than that observed in the chemotherapy alone treated group (15 months). There was no difference in survival or duration on study for non-responders. Response rates were not influenced by dominant site of disease, menopausal status or disease-free interval. The duration of remission and survival, however, were significantly longer for patients with bone and soft tissue involvement than for patients with visceral metastasis. Similarly patients with 1 or 2 metastatic sites survived significantly longer than those with more than 3 organ sites involved (p = 0.02). This chemotherapeutic combination is highly effective in inducing remissions. In addition, nonspecific immunotherapy with BCG appears to prolong duration of remission and survival for responding patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil