[Combined drug treatment of far-advanced forms of breast cancer]

Seventy patients with breast cancer (stage IIIb--IV) were randomized by an "envelope" method into 2 groups, each including 35 persons. Patients of the first group were injected vincristin, 5-fluoruracil, methotrexate (once a week), cyclophosphane (3 times a week) and prednisolone daily during 3 weeks. The duration of the course of treatment was 4 weeks. The therapy course was repeated with an interval of 1--2 months. Patients of the second group in addition to the analogous treatment were subjected to ovariectomy with subsequent continuous administration of prednisolone, testosterone-propionate or synoestrol. An objective effect was noted in 24 patients of the first group (71.4%), the complete remission being gained in 4 of them. An average duration of the remission--7.6 months. An objective effect was noted in 31 patients of the second group (88.5%), the complete remission--in 4 of them. An average duration of the remission--10.7 months. Primary mammary tumors and metastases in regional lymph nodes proved to be mostly susceptible to the conducted therapy. Lung and pleural metastases were found to be less susceptible. No grave complications due to this kind of treatment were noted.