Adjuvant therapy for primary breast cancer in a female patient affected by autoimmune liver disease: does it cure breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis?
Polychemotherapy (CMF or CMF-like regimens) is the treatment of choice in premenopausal breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive nodes. In clinical practice, patients with abnormal biochemical tests of liver function are usually excluded from this potentially curative methotrexate-containing regimen in order to avoid worsening of hepatic damage. On the other hand, recent reports have shown a beneficial effect of methotrexate in a particular autoimmune liver disease such as primary biliary cirrhosis. We discuss the case of a female patient with breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis whose biochemical tests of liver function and the titer of antimitochondrial antibody persistently improved after treatment with 3 cycles of CMF. In conclusion, we suggest that the CMF regimen is potentially useful in patients with breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis.
Crivellari
D
D
Divisione di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
Cannizzaro
R
R
Galligioni
E
E
Valentini
M
M
Monfardini
S
S
Castiglione
M
M
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate