title: Possible use of combination chemotherapy with mitomycin C and methotrexate for metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most patients with breast cancer need anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens in the adjuvant setting, and an increasing number of them receive taxanes either in this setting or as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, no standard chemotherapy has been fully established for MBC patients pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 48 patients with MBC who had been treated with chemotherapy combining mitomycin C and methotrexate (MMC/MTX), following treatment with anthracycline and taxanes. MMC was given at a dose of 8 mg/m(2) on day 1, and MTX of 60 mg/m(2) on day 1 and day 15. The cycle was repeated every 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 11 partial responses (24%). The median time to progression was 4.8 months. The response rate of liver metastasis was 31%. Thrombocytopenia (grade 3) was observed in five patients (10%). Other toxicity was mild and manageable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that MMC/MTX could be an effective subsequent treatment for patients whose MBC has been pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-10-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Nahomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokudome
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.forename: Kiyohiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D043823:Taxoids; D016685:Mitomycin; D008727:Methotrexate