PREVIOUSLY TREATED, LOCALLY RECURRENT BREAST-CANCER - TREATMENT WITH SUPERSELECTIVE INTRAARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of intraarterial infusion chemo therapy (IAC) with mitoxantrone hydrochloride in patients with previou sly treated, locally recurrent breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T hirty-nine women (aged 31-82 years) with recurrent breast cancer under went superselective IAC (25 mg/m(2) mitoxantrone hydrochloride every 2 4 hours) through the subclavian artery branches after heparin administ ration. The extent of tumor perfusion was monitored with computed tomo graphy during the intraarterial administration of contrast medium. IAC was repeated one to nine times. Patients had previously undergone rad iation therapy (n = 39), surgery (n = 20), or systemic chemotherapy (n = 23). RESULTS: The overall response rate was 77% (n = 30). Eight pat ients had complete remission. Progression occurred in three patients. Remission was observed in cases of lymph node involvement (n = 9). Sev en patients are still undergoing treatment Side effects were usually m oderate. Nine patients died of systemic tumor spread. In 14 patients, distant metastases developed during the first 18 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: IAC is an effective, well-tolerated therapy in patients wi th locally recurrent breast cancer.