MITOXANTRONE TREATMENT IN ADVANCED BREAST CANCER

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Abstract
Half of our patients presenting with breast cancer will eventually require cytotoxic chemotherapy. In searching for an effective drug with low toxicity, many new drugs were investigated. Patients [17] with advanced breast cancer were treated with mitoxantrone, an analog of adriamycin. The response rate was 44% (CR [complete response] 6% + PR [partial response] 38%). Side effects were fewer than those normally anticipated for most cytotoxic chemotherapy in that only 2 patients suffered hair loss and 3 nausea and vomiting. There was significant bone marrow depression with granulocytopenia and 2 patients died of septicemia following treatment. Cardiac toxicity occurred in 2 patients: of these, both had prior treatment with adriamycin, and 1 had prior radiotherapy to the chest wall. Both of these patients died.