[A case report of multiple bone metastases of breast carcinoma effectively treated with mild chemo-endocrine therapy]

A woman with multiple bone metastases three years after radical mastectomy for right breast carcinoma was admitted to the Department of Radiology, National Hakodate Hospital. She underwent radiotherapy for the metastasis of the seventh cervical vertebra, and her back pain decreased. Six courses of combination chemotherapy were undertaken using MTX, CPM, 5-FU, VCR and predonine, but her multiple bone metastases progressed. Then, she was treated with chemo-endocrine therapy which consisted of tamoxifen 30 mg daily and CPM 100 mg daily given orally. Two months later, UFT 400 mg daily was administered instead of CPM. This therapy has been effective for 8 years, and she has remained alive and well. On bone scintigram, the abnormal radioisotope uptake almost disappeared. Also, X-ray film showed no osteolytic change and no destruction of bone. These results suggest that it is important to select a suitable combination of drugs for each patient with advanced breast carcinoma.