Adjuvant chemotherapy for operable breast cancer in premenopausal women

Surgery alone does not cure breast cancer, and adjuvant chemotherapy has changed the management of this disease. Data obtained in 81 premenopausal women with operable breast cancer, treated at our clinic, are presented. Patients with axillary node disease were treated on three different protocols: cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + fluoro-uracil + vincristine + prednisone (CMFVP), cyclophosphamide + methotrexate + fluoro-uracil (CMF), and CMF + immunotherapy with methanol extract residue of BCG (CMF + MER). Patient discriminants and treatment regimens are discussed. Analysis of the results obtained in 49 patients in one study showed an extension of disease-free survival to 4,25 years, that CMFVP was superior to CMF with or without MER, and that immunotherapy was not beneficial. The literature is briefly reviewed and the motivation for our newer studies stated.