Metronomic chemotherapy against cancer: from paradigm to clinical practice?
We describe two paradigmatic cases where metronomic antitumor chemotherapy was successfully employed in patients not suitable for standard treatments. The first patient was affected by advanced soft tissue sarcoma but she also had ischemic cardiopathy. She received oral cyclophosphamide 50 mg once daily and methotrexate 2.5 mg bid twice weekly, obtaining a significant clinical response with a progression-free survival of 7 months. The second patient was over 70 years of age and suffered from metastatic gastric cancer. Because of his poor performance status he was given capecitabine 1500 mg daily, achieving a complete remission with a current disease-free survival of 13 months. In both cases no significant toxicities were observed.
Calvani
Nicola
N
Medical Oncology Unit, A Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy. nicolacalvani@hotmail.com
Orlando
Laura
L
Nacci
Angelo
A
Sponziello
Francesco
F
Cinefra
Margherita
M
Cinieri
Saverio
S
D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069287:Capecitabine; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate