title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, and 5-fluorouracil in locally advanced breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our primary objective was to determine the response rate; secondary objectives were to assess the toxicity rate, and disease-free and overall survival rates in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) receiving a cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2), mitoxantrone (12 mg/m2) and 5-fluorouracil (500 mg/m2) (CMF) chemotherapy regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data from 74 patients with LABC with neoadjuvant CMF chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperatively, all patients received 3 cycles of CMF on day 1, repeated every 21 days. In 3 (4.1%) patients, breast-conserving surgery was given and in 71 (95.9%) modified radical mastectomy. All patients received radiotherapy and 3 additional cycles of CMF chemotherapy after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age of the patients was 47 years (range: 17-74). 43 patients were premenopausal, whereas 31 were postmenopausal. 54 patients were in stage IIIA, and 20 were in stage IIIB. The overall clinical response rate was 88%; 11 (14.9%) had a complete response, 54 (73%) had a partial response, and 2 (2.8%) had progression. 14 (18.9%) had a pathological complete response. The median follow-up was 62 months. The median disease-free survival was 64.9 months, and the median overall survival was 97.5 months. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 52% and 79.9%, respectively. Most frequent side-effects were nausea/vomiting, mucositis, alopecia and leukopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CMF regimen has a high overall response rate and an acceptable side effect profile in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. Further studies are needed to evaluate its effectiveness in breast-conserving strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,Institute of Oncology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kutlu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Esmen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baltali
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Altundag
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guler
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozisik
authors.forename: Demir Ali
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Onat
authors.forename: Iskender
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sayek
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atahan
authors.forename: Gülten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tekuzman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D015984:Causality; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015897:Comorbidity; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate