Duration of complete response to chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer.
Twenty-seven patients with advanced breast cancer with complete response (CR) to chemotherapy have been analysed and observed for up to 8 years. Median time to attainment of CR was 8.1 months (range, 1-19.5) and median duration of CR was 27.5 months (1-97 + months). Most (16) recurrences occurred in the first 2 years. In 12 patients (63%) relapse was at sites initially involved. No clear relationship between the duration of CR and a variety of prognostic factors or the dose of cytotoxic drugs given was found, although there was a tendency to longer duration of CR when fewer sites were involved. The presence of visceral disease did not preclude a prolonged CR. It seems that despite some patients surviving many years, relapse is inevitable and cure of the disease is unlikely with presently available chemotherapy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents