Tolerability and safety of classic cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil treatment in Japanese patients with early breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Few reports have addressed the feasibility and safety of classic Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and Fluorouracil (CMF) therapy in Japanese female breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Twenty-four Japanese patients who received classic CMF, identical to the originally described treatment regimen were studied in terms of treatment dose, treatment delay, and toxicity.


RESULTS
Classic CMF was not discontinued in any of the cases. The median delay in treatment was 14 days, and the mean administered dose of cyclophosphamide was 98.2% of the planned dose. None of the patients suffered severe side-effects such as febrile neutropenia; however, in 22 patients in whom the effect of CMF on hair loss could be assessed, 7 (31.8%) had to wear hats or wigs.


CONCLUSIONS
Classic CMF is a feasible and safe regimen in Japanese breast cancer patients. In Japan, this regimen is still available for some specific groups of early breast cancer patients.
Tada
Keiichiro
K
Department of Breast Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, 3-10-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan. ktada@jfcr.or.jp
Ito
Yoshinori
Y
Takahashi
Shunji
S
Iijima
Kohtaro
K
Miyagi
Yumi
Y
Nishimura
Seiichiro
S
Takahashi
Kaoru
K
Makita
Masujiro
M
Iwase
Takuji
T
Yoshimoto
Masataka
M
Kasumi
Fujio
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate