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.
Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital, Parma.
G
G
Cocconi
R
R
Lottici
G
G
Bisagni
M
M
Bacchi
M
M
Tonato
R
R
Passalacqua
C
C
Boni
V
V
Belsanti
P
P
Bassi
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