IFOSFAMIDE, MESNA AND EPIRUBICIN AS 2ND-LINE CHEMOTHERAPY IN ADVANCEDBREAST-CANCER

The ifosfamide, mesna and epirubicin (IMEpi) combination is administer ed to 16 patients having advanced metastatic breast carcinoma as secon d-line chemotherapy. We observed complete response in 6%, partial resp onse in 44% (total overall response rate of 50%), stable disease in 12 % and progressive disease in the remaining 38% of the patients. The me dian remission duration in responders was calculated to be 9.6 months. IMEpi regimen had a tolerable toxicity profile including alopecia, na usea and vomiting, microscopic hematuria, leukopenia and neurotoxicity in which serious complications necessitating discontinuation of the c hemotherapy were not encountered. It might be concluded that IMEpi che motherapy combination is an effective alternative among schedules in t he management of patients with stage IV breast carcinoma without serio us side effects.