title: On the relevance of "second-line" cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer resistant to standard combinations.
abstract: 85 clinical studies concerning second-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer have been analyzed. With minor exceptions, the mean remission rates ranged between 0-10% (complete remission) and 20-40% (partial remission) for the most commonly used second-line chemotherapy modalities. The mean duration of response was 6 months, the average survival time 10 months. No significant differences in effectiveness and side effects were found when comparing the different second-line treatment programmes.
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate