Clinical course of patients with breast cancer with ten or more positive nodes who were treated with doxorubicin-containing adjuvant therapy.
Between 1974 and 1986, 283 patients with ten or more positive nodes were treated in four prospective trials using doxorubicin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 92 months, 182 patients had had a recurrence, and 158 died. An estimated 41% and 37% were disease-free at 5 and 7 years, respectively. Patients with ten positive nodes had a significantly better disease-free survival than those with more than ten such nodes (P = 0.04). The disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate were not influenced by the estrogen receptor status of the tumor, patient age, or disease stage. Long-term data on a large number of patients treated at this institute showed the natural history of this subgroup of patients. Approximately 30% of patient survived disease-free at 10 years after treatment with the systemic therapies used in these protocols. Newer approaches are needed to alter the prognosis of this subgroup of patients further.
Buzdar
A U
AU
Department of Medical Oncology (Medical Breast Service), University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
Kau
S W
SW
Hortobagyi
G N
GN
Ames
F C
FC
Holmes
F A
FA
Fraschini
G
G
Hug
V
V
Theriault
R L
RL
McNeese
M D
MD
Singletary
S E
SE
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004317:Doxorubicin