LONG-TERM RESULTS OF INDUCTION-CHEMOTHERAPY AND INTENSIFICATION CHEMOTHERAPY SUPPORTED WITH AUTOLOGOUS BONE-MARROW REINFUSION IN PATIENTS WITH DISSEMINATED OR T4 BREAST-CANCER

Twenty-nine patients with metastatic or T4 breast cancel who were in p athologically proven complete remission after induction chemotherapy, received intensification chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow supp ort. Twelve patients had T4 breast cancer; 17 had metastatic disease. The median age was 42 years (27-52). Intensification consisted of cycl ophosphamide 7 g/m(2) i.v. and etoposide 1.5 g/m(2) i.v, in 24 patient s, or thiotepa 800 mg/m(2) i.v. and mitoxantrone 50-75 mg/m(2) i.v. in 5 patients. The median observation is 7 years. Median survival is 36 months Ten year relapse-free survival is 20%. For patients with metast atic disease median survival is 34 months, time to relapse 18 months t wo patients (12%) have survived disease-free for more than 6 years. Th e patients with T4 cancer have a median survival of 80 months and a me dian time to relapse of 53 months; four patients (33%) have survived m ore than 5 years disease free.