title: Actual 5-year survival of patients with stage IIIB breast carcinoma: phase II trial of methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin, and folinic acid.
abstract: Patients with stage IIIB breast carcinoma represent only a small proportion of women with breast cancer in western countries but may constitute up to 50% of cases in underdeveloped countries. The prognosis remains poor despite aggressive treatment. Nineteen patients (11 with inflammatory breast carcinoma) received at least three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy of methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, cisplatin, and folinic acid (MVAC/FA) followed by mastectomy. Six months of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil were given after surgery. Radiation therapy followed chemotherapy. Seventy percent of patients achieved complete and 14% partial response after MVAC/FA chemotherapy alone. Eleven patients (58%) survived 5 years, and 30% survived at least 8 years. The addition of cisplatin in combination chemotherapy used as first-line treatment for stage IIIB breast carcinoma was well tolerated, resulted in higher response rates, and appeared to have an effect on overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neoplastic Diseases, University Hospital Medical Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madajewicz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hentschel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kudelka
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: DaCosta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pendyala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate