Continuous 5-fluorouracil infusion in refractory carcinoma of the breast.
Twenty-five patients with refractory, metastatic carcinoma of the breast were treated with continuous ambulatory 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) infusion (200 to 300 mg/m2/day) through a chronic indwelling central venous catheter. All patients had had extensive previous treatment, including hormonal therapy in 20/25 patients (80%), radiation therapy in 18/25 patients (72%), and an average of 4.6 previous chemotherapy drugs per patient (range 1-10). Twenty-three of 25 patients (92%) had had previous bolus 5 FU. Seventeen of 25 patients (68%) had two or more metastatic sites of involvement and 17/25 patients (68%) had visceral involvement.


RESULTS
complete remission-1/25 (4%), partial remission-7/25 (28%), stable disease-6/25 (24%), and progressive disease-11/25 (44%), for an overall response rate of 8/25 (32%). Median duration of response was 6 months. Toxicities included hand-foot syndrome, mucositis, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting, and required treatment interruption and/or dose attenuation in 9/25 patients (36%). No myelosuppression or serious catheter-related problems were seen. We conclude that continuous 5 FU infusion is a potentially effective salvage treatment that may provide meaningful palliation in some patients with carcinoma of the breast, in spite of extensive previous treatment.
Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
R
R
Hansen
E
E
Quebbeman
P
P
Beatty
P
P
Ritch
T
T
Anderson
D
D
Jenkins
J
J
Frick
R
R
Ausman
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged
D005472:Fluorouracil