Salvage therapy for metastatic disease

Available evidence supports the use of the combination of mitomycin plus vinblastine as salvage therapy for metastatic breast cancer. In our experience with 39 patients, this combination is as at least as effective as doxorubicin salvage therapy. In addition, those who respond usually do so within the first 4 weeks of treatment. Trial results show that its safety and toxicity profile was more favorable than doxorubicin-based regimens. In addition, the hematologic toxicities associated with mitomycin can be managed by decreasing the dose and/or prolonging the dosing interval. Most of the patients in this study received full doses of chemotherapy for the duration of the trial. We concluded that mitomycin plus vinblastine is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of metastatic breast disease.