title: Activity of combination chemotherapy in brain metastases from breast and lung adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Brain metastases represent a common complication of breast and lung cancer, with an overall incidence exceeding 30-40% of cases. Results achieved with radiotherapy are disappointing, with a median survival of a few months, and no clear activity has been observed with chemotherapy. The aims of this study were to assess the activity and feasibility of a new chemotherapeutic approach according to the following schedule: lomustine, 80 mg/m2 day 1; carboplatin, 80 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, 22; vinorelbine, 20 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, 22; L-leucovorin 250 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, 22; and fluorouracil, 500 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15, 22. Cycles were repeated every 6 weeks. Since January 1994, 28 patients have been enrolled and 26 are evaluable for response and side effects. Major patient characteristics were median age, 55 years (range 31-72); men/women 15/11; lung primary, 20; breast primary, 6; performance status Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, 0-2. A total of 64 cycles were administered (median/patient, two cycles). Nine partial remissions have been observed (35%, 95% confidence interval 17-56%), 6 disease stabilizations, and 11 disease progressions. Median duration of response was 3 months, and median time to progression for the whole group was 3.7 months (range 1-7). Treatment was well tolerated. Mild or moderate side effects included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, mucositis, and nausea/vomiting; grade III-IV toxicity included neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, our results indicate that the schedule proposed is feasible and effective in this subset of patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, City Hospital, Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colleoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graiff
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vicario
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgarbossa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pancheri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manente
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014747:Vinblastine; D008130:Lomustine; D016190:Carboplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D005472:Fluorouracil