Phase II trial of oral tegafur and folinic acid with mitoxantrone as first-line regimen in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Tegafur acts as a deport form of 5-fluorouracil when administered orally for long periods of time since it is an active drug in metastatic breast cancer, with response rates of 29-44%. Biochemical modulation with folinic acid and the addition of mitoxantrone could increase the efficacy of tegafur in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: A prospective phase II trial in patients with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer was carried out.