title: Swiss adjuvant trials in women with node-negative breast cancer. OSAKO.
abstract: Women with node-negative breast cancer have a 30% chance of relapse 5 years after mastectomy. If it is possible to prevent or defer recurrent disease with adjuvant systemic therapy, node-negative patients, with their low tumor burden, should theoretically benefit most from such treatment. In 1974 we started a randomized adjuvant trial in eastern Switzerland, using a subjectively less toxic regimen [chlorambucil, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (LMF)]. Two hundred fifty-four patients were randomly assigned after standardized modified radical mastectomy to observation only or to treatment with oral LMF for 6 months followed by BCG skin scarifications monthly for up to 2 years. While we find no significant statistical difference between the control group and the treated group in terms of relapse-free survival, there is a strong and consistent trend toward prolongation of overall survival within the treated group.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik C, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Jungi
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Senn
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002699:Chlorambucil; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate