Induction chemotherapy with versus without hormonal synchronisation in locally advanced breast cancer.
Sixty-nine patients with locally advanced breast cancer were given induction chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (day 1) followed by methotrexate and 5-Fu (day 8). Thirty-two of these patients were also given tamoxifen (days 2-6) in an attempt to induce a G1 arrest in cancer cells, and oestrogen (days 7-8) to stimulate proliferation and thus induce a synchronized wave of proliferating cells. The induction therapy response rate was 61% in the series as a whole (n = 69), but was found to be significantly better in the group on the tamoxifen/oestrogen synchronization regimen than in the remainder on chemotherapy alone (82% vs. 43%). This difference was particularly marked in the respective receptor-positive subgroups [90% (9/10) vs. 30% (3/10); p < 0.001]. The findings suggest that, in combination with chemotherapy, tamoxifen/oestrogen therapy, given in the sequence outlined here, constitutes a promising regimen for the treatment of locally advanced receptor-positive breast cancer patients.
Sjövall
M P
MP
Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Malmström
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D004967:Estrogens; D013629:Tamoxifen; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate