title: Influence of radiotherapy on the dose of adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer.
abstract: 399 patients with early breast cancer were randomly allocated to treatment by either modified radical mastectomy or lumpectomy and radiotherapy. 169 had histologically involved axillary nodes and were randomised to receive either adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy (76 patients) or no systemic adjuvant treatment (93 patients). Chemotherapy comprised a combination of oral cyclophosphamide and intravenous methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) for 12 cycles over one year. Patients in the mastectomy group received a significantly higher percentage of the planned chemotherapy dose compared with those in the radiotherapy group (median 85% v. 71% p less than 0.05). Patients treated with radiotherapy were more frequently nauseated and developed more severe alopecia, but these differences were not statistically significant. At median follow-up of 37 months the relapse-rate and pattern of relapse were similar in both groups of patients receiving CMF.
authors.affiliation: ICRF Clinical Oncology Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Habibollahi
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Fentiman
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chaudary
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rubens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate