title: Effective systemic therapy for spinal epidural metastases from breast carcinoma.
abstract: A complete resolution of spinal epidural metastases following systemic therapy, consisting of chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy, is reported in four patients with breast carcinoma. Remissions were of substantially longer duration than previous remissions induced by radiotherapy. Single systemic therapy is an underestimated way of treatment for spinal epidural metastases. This way of treatment should be considered when radiotherapy has failed. Under certain circumstances it might even be considered as primary treatment. The protracted remissions following systemic therapy, even in the case of a complete myelographic block, warrant further clinical studies concerning this mode of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Division of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (Antoni van Leeuwenhoekhuis), Amsterdam.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boogerd
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Sande
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bruning
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008727:Methotrexate