title: Etoposide, mitomycin, and methotrexate combination in heavily treated breast cancer: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 2004, metastatic breast cancer patients pretreated with anthracyclines, taxanes, and capecitabine have been treated in our institution with a combination of mitomycin C, methotrexate, and VP-16 (VMM). We report in this study a retrospective analysis of the activity and safety of the VMM combination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated with a combination of VP-16 (100 mg/m2 on day 1), mitomycin C (MMC, 10 mg/m2 on day 1), and methotrexate (MTX, 12.5 mg/m2 twice a day on day 2 and 3) in a 21-day cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients were treated. Median age was 48 years. A total of 256 cycles were administered. Median relative dose intensities were 0.87, 0.87, and 0.95 for VP-16, MMC, and MTX, respectively. Objective response rate was 31%, with a clinical benefit rate of 47%. Median response duration was 5.8 months. Median disease stabilization duration was 9.1 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.2 months with a 14% 1-year PFS rate. Median overall survival (OS) was 6.2 months, with a 25% 1-year OS rate. Myelosuppression was the most common toxicity. The most commonly reported extra-hematological adverse event (AE) was fatigue. Emesis and alopecia were rarely reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combination appears to be effective and well tolerated in this heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, CRLC Val d'Aurelle, 208 rue des Apothicaires, 34298, Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Kais.Aldabbagh@valdorel.fnclcc.fr
authors.forename: Kais
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aldabbagh
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pouderoux
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poujol
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romieu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jacot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D005047:Etoposide; D008727:Methotrexate