A CISPLATIN-BASED REGIMEN AS A SALVAGE TREATMENT FOR METASTATIC BREAST-CARCINOMA

The role of chemotherapy in refractory metastatic breast cancer is sti ll debated. We employed a schedule of cisplatin, mitomycin and vindesi ne in twenty-one anthracycline- or anthraquinone-pretreated breast can cer patients. The most relevant characteristics of our group were a go od performance status (mean Karnofsky index 84) and a high percentage of bone disease (71%). Out of 20 evaluable patients, 4 (20%) achieved a partial response with a median duration of 3.7 months. Median surviv al was 12.5 months. Severe gastrointestinal toxicity was reported in 6 6% of patients and G3 alopecia was seen in 24%. Other side effects, in cluding hematological, were negligible. On the basis of the low respon se rate and poor tolerability we do not reccommend this combination as salvage treatment in metastatic breast cancer. The use of cisplatin-b ased regimens in untreated patients waits further investigation.