Chemotherapy with mitomycin C and vinblastine in pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract

AIMS:

In February 1986 we began a study to test the activity of mitomycin C (12 mg/m2) plus vinblastine (6 mg/m2) on day 1 of a 28-day cycle (MV) as second or third-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer patients.

METHODS:

As of February 1988 the study was stopped after 26 patients had been enrolled. The median age of the patients was 54 years (range 35-78); all patients were progressive from chemotherapy; 15 (57.7%) patients were treated as second and 11 (42.3%) as third line; 19 (73.1%) patients had received anthracyclines as first (13 patients) or second-line (6 patients) chemotherapy; 18 (69.2%) patients had visceral involvement; 7 (26.9%) had one metastatic site, 11 (42.3%) two sites, 6 (23.1%) three sites and 2 (7.7%) four sites.

RESULTS:

Overall, 86 cycles were administered, with a median number of 3 cycles per patient. Toxicity was mild; hematologic side effects required discontinuation of treatment in 3 cases. Vomiting occurred in 3 (11.5%) patients, nausea in 5 (19.2%). Moderate neurologic toxicity was recorded in 6 (23%) patients. No complete and 3 partial responses were observed. The objective response rate was 11.5% (exact 95% confidence interval, 2.4-30.1). Responses occurred independently of disease-free interval, dominant metastatic site, response to previous chemotherapy, previous anthracycline and line of treatment; all responses were recorded in patients under 50 years of age. Kaplan-Meier estimated median time to progression and overall survival were 13 and 40 weeks, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The MV regimen was well tolerated but showed little activity in pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

• Authors: F Perrone, S De Placido, C Carlomagno, F Nuzzo, A Ruggiero, M De Laurentiis, C Gridelli, C Pagliarulo, A R Bianco
• Journal: Tumori (Tumori) Vol. 79 Issue 4 Pg. 254-7 (Aug 31 1993) ISSN: 0300-8916 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8249178 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Mitomycin
• Vinblastine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Mitomycin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Vinblastine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)