title: [A case of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast, in which irinotecan was effective against respiratory failure due to pulmonary metastases].
abstract: We present our experience with chemotherapy using irinotecan for lung metastases of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast. The patient is a 50-year-old female, who consulted our hospital due to a large breast tumor about 7 cm in diameter. Although computed tomography revealed invasion to the chest wall, no distant metastases were confirmed. Chemotherapy (FEC100 followed by paclitaxel) was not effective for down-staging. To improve her quality of life, standard radical mastectomy with combined partial resection of the chest wall was performed. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as spindle cell carcinoma. After the operation, multiple lung metastases appeared, and she had severe dyspnea. Thereafter irinotecan was administered. One week after the administration, metastatic lesions were reduced so that her dyspnea was remarkably relieved. The patient continued to receive irinotecan weekly until she died on the 49th day of treatment with irinotecan.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Breast Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Aichi Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Momoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oda
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin