Combined-modality treatment for isolated recurrences of breast carcinoma: update on 30 years of experience at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and assessment of prognostic factors.
BACKGROUND
In three prospective, single-arm studies, the authors previously showed an improved outcome for anthracycline-naïve patients with isolated sites of recurrent breast carcinoma (BC) who were treated with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy after local therapy (surgery and/or radiotherapy). In the current report, the initial results are presented from a Phase II trial of docetaxel (100 mg/m(2) every 21 days for 6 cycles) given after local therapy for recurrent BC (Stage IV BC with no evidence of clinically measurable disease) in patients who received prior adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy, and the authors provide an update of the 3 previous studies. An analysis of prognostic factors for these patients also is presented.


METHODS
Eligibility criteria for all studies included histologic proof of recurrent BC that had been resected and/or irradiated with curative intent. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate survival analyses were performed to test for associations between patient characteristics and outcome (log-rank test). Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the multivariable correlations between patient characteristics and outcome.


RESULTS
The median follow-up for the docetaxel-based trial (n = 26 patients) was 45 months. Early outcomes for this study are promising. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 44 months, and the 3-year DFS and overall survival (OS) rates were 58% and 87%, respectively. In the 3 doxorubicin-based studies, the median follow-up was 121.5 months for all living patients, and the estimated 20-year DFS and OS rates were both 26%. On multivariable analysis of patients from all 4 studies, the only significant prognostic factor for DFS and OS (P = 0.0006) was the number of involved axillary lymph nodes at initial diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
A proportion of patients with isolated BC recurrences achieved prolonged DFS with combined-modality treatment. Patients who receive anthracycline-based chemotherapy at primary diagnosis may benefit from local treatment followed by docetaxel-based chemotherapy for isolated recurrences. The only significant independent prognostic factor was the number of involved axillary lymph nodes at initial diagnosis.
Hanrahan
Emer O
EO
Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Broglio
Kristine R
KR
Buzdar
Aman U
AU
Theriault
Richard L
RL
Valero
Vicente
V
Cristofanilli
Massimo
M
Yin
Guosheng
G
Kau
Shu-Wan C
SW
Hortobagyi
Gabriel N
GN
Rivera
Edgardo
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin