title: Clinical effects of combination therapy with mitoxantrone, vincristine, and prednisolone in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of mitoxantrone hydrochloride which has been used as an anticancer drug in our hospital to treat breast cancer patients since 1993.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 23 patients with breast cancer were given one course of the following regimen every 3 weeks: mitoxantrone hydrochloride (8 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1), vincristine sulfate (1.2 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1), and prednisolone (30 mg orally days 1-7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 52.2% including a complete response in four patients, and a partial response in eight patients. Adverse drug reactions included leukocytopenia (78.3%, 18/23 patients), alopecia (30.8%, 7/23), and peripheral neuropathy and generalized fatigue (26.1%, 6/23). In patients responding to the drug regimen, 50% survival was 29 months, and in those not responding it was 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination treatment with mitoxantrone hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate and prednisolone is an effective treatment for breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023 Tokyo, Japan. k.katsu@col.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.forename: Mikihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusama
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koyanagi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D011239:Prednisolone; D008942:Mitoxantrone