VERY LOW-DOSE ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY IN STEROID-RECEPTOR NEGATIVE STAGE-I BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

A randomised clinical trial was performed to test whether or not low-d ose chemotherapy lasting only 35 days improves the outcome of breast c ancer patients with stage I disease and negative oestrogen and progest erone receptors (ER-, PgR-). Between 1984 and 1990, 277 stage I breast cancer patients with tumours negative for both oestrogen and progeste rone receptors were randomised to receive either low-dose short-term c hemotherapy or no chemotherapy. Chemotherapy consisted of one cycle of doxorubicin, vincristin (AV) and one cycle of cyclophosphamide, metho trexate, fluorouracil (CMF). Patients were stratified for tumour stage , type of surgery, menopausal status and participating centre. Results were analysed both by univariate and multivariate statistical. After a median length of follow-up of 84 months, disease-free (DFS) and over all survival (OS) did not differ significantly between patients having received adjuvant chemotherapy and the control group. Uni- and multiv ariate analysis did not show any significant prognostic or therapy rel ated factor. A low-dose short-term adjuvant chemotherapy is insufficie nt to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer stage I wit h ER-, PgR-tumours. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.