Long-term survival of a patient with primarily chemo-resistant metastatic breast cancer treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate.
The prognosis of breast cancer patients with liver metastases is extremely poor. Here we present the case of a 66-year-old female breast cancer patient with multiple liver metastases diagnosed 2 years after a radical modified mastectomy followed by adjuvant tamoxifen. At progression, anthracycline-based chemotherapy was administered, but a CT scan following two cycles of FEC (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide) showed progression of the liver metastases. Chemotherapy was therefore switched to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). After 3 months the patient's general status improved, and disease stabilization was observed at the next CT scan. A further 4 months of MPA treatment resulted in complete response of all liver lesions. Treatment with oral MPA was continued for 4 years. At present, 11 years after the diagnosis of metastatic liver involvement, the patient is alive, free of cancer, and fully ambulatory. Despite bulky visceral disease and chemoresistance, hormonal treatment with MPA resulted in a spectacular and long-lasting response.
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Debinki 7, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland. rzaucha@amg.gda.pl
R
R
Zaucha
K
K
Sosińska-Mielcarek
J
J
Jassem
D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D015251:Epirubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D005472:Fluorouracil