[Recent advance in chemotherapy for breast cancer]

In cases of recurrent progressive breast cancer, ADM, CPM, 5-FU, MTX, MMC and vinca alkaloids have proven to be effective, but CMF and CAF have been considered the standard chemotherapy regimen. But no regimen can cure recurrent progressive breast cancer. Thus, the aim in recent years has been greater efficacy and longer survival by means of dose-intensity. The latter has become possible through G-CSF, the patient's own bone marrow transplant or implantation of peripheral vascular cells and the like, resulting in 70-90% efficacy. The CR rate also has reached over 50%, and long-term survival has been achieved. Clinical research has been thus moving ahead, encouraged by the promise of chemotherapy employing such huge doses. However, in combination with other forms of therapy, a great number of controversial problems are encountered which require study. Recently, a number of agents such as Taxotere or CPT-11 have been used effectively in combination for breast cancer, and they appear to be very promising.