title: Effect of cisplatin on skin metastasis in breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic breast cancer is a common clinical entity, and its treatment is still a major clinical problem in modern oncology. Both cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are effective agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of CDDP and continuous infusion of 5-FU were evaluated in patients with pretreated metastatic breast cancer. 16 patients were surveyed. All of them were pretreated with anthracyclines in an adjuvant and/or therapeutic setting. Eight of them also received taxanes after the failure of anthracyclines. CDDP at 80 mg/m(2) for 1 day and 5-FU at 1,000 mg/m(2) as a continuous 24-hour infusion for 5 consecutive days were administrated every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  13 patients were included in response analysis. Because of severe toxicity, chemotherapy protocols of 3 patients were stopped after the first cycle. The objective response rate (partial response) was 46%. No complete response was observed. The median response duration was 5 (3.5-7) months in the response group. Favorable objective responses were observed more frequently in cases with skin metastasis. Five out of 6 patients who attained partial remission had skin metastasis. Response rates were similar in patients pretreated with taxanes and in those not pretreated with taxanes (75 vs. 80%). The most serious toxicity was myelosuppression (25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study is based on only a limited number of patients, the combination of CDDP and 5-FU can be recommended in patients refractory to both anthracyclines and taxanes and especially in cases of skin metastasis with a good performance status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. ugurcos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Coşkun
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gunel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yamac
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Altinova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D011292:Premedication; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; C080625:taxane; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil