title: Combination chemotherapy and adriamycin in patients with advanced breast cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study.
abstract: In January, 1972, the Southwest Oncology Group initiated two randomized studies for patients with advanced breast cancer. The study for patients with prior chemotherapy showed a 33% response rate with adriamycin. The study for patients without previous chemotherapy consisted of three treatment regimens; a weekly repeated combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, vincristine, and prednisone; these same five drugs given in courses of 5 days repeated every 4 weeks; and adriamycin as a single agent every 3 weeks. For the 283 evaluable patients, the response rates were: weekly combination 63/106 (59%); intermittent combination 39/98 (40%); and adriamycin 31/79 (39%). The median duration of response was 8 months for weekly combination, 10 months for intermittent therapy and only 4 months for adriamycin. Leukopenia was the dose-limiting toxicity with all three regimens. The weekly combination is the most effective therapy for patients with advanced disease. Extensive trails of combinations that include adriamycin are underway.
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate