title: Metronomic chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer patients.
abstract: Metronomic chemotherapy refers to the minimum biologically effective dose of a chemotherapy agent given as a continuous dosing regimen with no prolonged drug-free breaks that leads to antitumor activity. This schedule seems to have not only a direct cytotoxicity on cancer cells but also an effect on the tumor microenvironment by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and modulating immune response. Metronomic chemotherapy was widely investigated in patients with breast cancer. The results of these studies showed that this strategy is not only effective but has a low toxicity profile too, proposing as a promising strategy for breast cancer patients. In this review we summarize the results of Phase II and III studies evaluating metronomic therapy in metastatic breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, ASST-Monza, Ospedale San Gerardo, 20900 Monza, MB, Italy. Electronic address: marina.cazzaniga@asst-monza.it.
authors.forename: Marina Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Santa Maria, CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal; Hospital Cuf Cascais, Cascais, Portugal; I3s-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto: Research Institute on Cancer, Host Response Interaction, Neurobiology and Neurological Disorders, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dionisio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, ASST-Monza, Ospedale San Gerardo, 20900 Monza, MB, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D059250:Administration, Metronomic; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Metastatic breast cancer; Metronomic chemotherapy; Oral vinorelbine