MFL-P Chemotherapy for Pretreated Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: A Regimen with Triple Biochemical Modulation by...

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapeutic regimens, such as cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + 5FU (CAF) or cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + 5FU (CMF), are sometimes used in combination with endocrine or radiotherapy as a standard first line of treatment for recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. However, many cases are, or become, refractory to these treatments. METHODS: Twenty-one women with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer who previously underwent treatment were administered our original regimen of combinationchemotherapy, MFL-P: Day 1, bolus methotrexate (MTX) 50 mg/body (median dose, 33 mg/m(2); range, 29-35 mg/m(2)) and 4 hours later 5-fluorouracil (5FU) 750 mg/body/h (median dose, 497 mg/m(2)/h; range, 441-528 mg/m(2) /h); Days 2-3, bolus leucovorin(LV) 15 mg/body every 8 h x 3; Days 2-5, 72 hours continuous 5FU 750 mg/body/24h; Day 6, cisplatin (CDDP) 50 mg/body/h (median dose, 33 mg/m(2)/h; range, 29-35 mg/m(2) /h) with sufficient hydration. The subjects ranged in age from 26 to 63 years (mean age, 51.3 years). RESULTS: One complete and 9 partial responses were achieved among the 20 patients (response rate, 50%). In 1 patient, diffuse liver metastasis was not measurable. Among various metastatic sites, a higher response rate was observed especially for soft tissue lesions (skin, chest wall and lymph nodes; 9 responders among 11 lesions). On the other hand, in visceral or skeletal metastases, the response rate was poor. The adverse effects were tolerable in all patients, except for common low-grade stomatitis or anorexia. CONCLUSION: MFL-P is useful as a second or third line of therapy for patients with refractory, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer with soft tissues lesions.