Clinical effects of combination therapy with mitoxantrone, vincristine, and prednisolone in breast cancer.
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.
Katsumata
Kenji
K
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023 Tokyo, Japan. k.katsu@col.ne.jp
Tomioka
Hidenori
H
Kusama
Mikihiro
M
Aoki
Tatsuya
T
Koyanagi
Yasuhisa
Y
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
D014750:Vincristine; D011239:Prednisolone; D008942:Mitoxantrone