Cyclic combination chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: comparison of two CMF schedules

104 nonrandomized patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer were treated with monthly cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). One group (group A, 44 patients) received low-dose CMF and another one (group B, 60 patients) received standard doses. In both cases, therapy was cycled every 29 days. Group A patients had a response rate of 50.7%, including 5 complete remissions. The median duration of response was 8.2 months. For group B patients, the response rate was of 68.1%, including 10 complete remissions. The median duration of response was 10.6 months. Toxicity was greater in group B patients, the main side effects being nausea, vomiting, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, alopecia and stomatitis.