Locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the breast without distant metastasis treated with multimodal therapies

Cancer Invest. 1988;6(5):467-74. doi: 10.3109/07357908809082114.

Abstract

Locally advanced breast cancer has been treated with a variety of primary treatments with or without adjuvant therapies. This study combines radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery as a multimodal program for Stage III breast cancer. Radiation was started on day 1: 4600 rad were administered to the breast and 4500 rad were administered to the axilla and supraclavicular areas. Chemotherapy was started on day 1 with weekly intravenous injections of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) (300 mg/m2), methotrexate (15 mg/m2), vincristine (0.625 mg/m2), oral cytoxan (60 mg/m2), and prednisone (30 mg/m2 for two weeks, then 20 mg/m2 for two weeks, then 10 mg/m2 for two weeks). The 5FU, methotrexate, and cytoxan were given for 10 months postsurgery. This combination of modalities produced a complete remission in all 13 patients with Stage III breast cancer after two months of therapy. The median disease-free period was two years. The median survival was 44 months. This approach to the management of Stage III breast cancer is worthy of further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / radiotherapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pilot Projects
  • Radiotherapy, High-Energy