Combination therapy with platinum and etoposide of brain metastases from breast carcinoma.
Twenty-two consecutive patients with brain metastases from breast carcinoma were treated with a combination of platinum (100 mg/m2 day 1) and etoposide (100 mg/m2 days 4, 6, 8) every three weeks. Five (23%) achieved a complete response (CR) while 7 (32%) obtained a partial response (PR) for an overall response rate of 55%. The 95% confidence interval for combined CR and PR was 34-76%. Five patients received brain irradiation after reaching the maximum degree of objective remission by chemotherapy. Median duration of combined CR plus PR was 40 weeks (12+; 152). Median duration of survival was 58 weeks (2; 208+). Fifty-five percent of the patients were alive at one year. Our study demonstrates that this combination treatment is highly effective in the management of brain metastases from breast carcinoma.
Cocconi
G
G
Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital, Parma.
Lottici
R
R
Bisagni
G
G
Bacchi
M
M
Tonato
M
M
Passalacqua
R
R
Boni
C
C
Belsanti
V
V
Bassi
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010984:Platinum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012074:Remission Induction
D010984:Platinum; D005047:Etoposide