The effects of multiple combination chemotherapy with vincristine, cyclophosphamide (Endoxan), methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and prednisolone (VEMFAH) for advanced breast cancer.
Thirty-eight patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with the 'VEMFAH' multiple-drug combination chemotherapy, consisting of vincristine (V), cyclophosphamide (Endoxan; E), methotrexate (M), 5-fluorouracil (F), adriamycin (A), and prednisolone (H). Disease response was evaluated by the UICC criteria. Among the 35 evaluable cases, 4 complete responses (CR), 23 partial responses (PR), 2 cases of no change (NC), and 6 of progressive disease (PD) were observed. The response rate (CR + PR) was 77.1%. The median duration of response was 52 weeks (8-192 weeks) or 12 months. In 32 patients who received more than two courses of therapy the 50% survival time of responders was 27.0 months, which was significantly longer than the 10.3 months of nonresponders (P less than 0.05). Except for 2 patients who developed myocardial damage, the therapy was never terminated because of side effects. Cumulative cardiotoxicity was not apparent in this study. This multiple-drug combination chemotherapy with 'VEMFAH' is concluded to be an effective treatment for advanced and disseminated breast cancer.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate