Phase II study of weekly low-dose 4'-epi-doxorubicin in advanced postmenopausal breast cancer.

A phase II study of 4'-epi-doxorubicin in 39 fully evaluable patients with advanced postmenopausal breast cancer has been performed. The patients received 20 mg of 4'-epi-doxorubicin iv weekly, irrespective of surface area. This dose schedule follows previous work with doxorubicin, showing good therapeutic effect with very low toxicity.

A phase III trial comparing prednimustine (LEO 1031) to chlorambucil plus prednisolone in advanced breast cancer.

Prednimustine is an ester of chlorambucil and prednisolone. The drug has had some activity in experimental as well as in human tumors, including breast cancer. The objective of the current study is to compare the clinical effectiveness and toxicity of prednimustine with its components of chlorambucil plus prednisolone, and to compare the clinical effectiveness and toxicity of a continuous treatment with an intermittent one.

Current status of high dose progestin treatment in advanced breast cancer.

Progestins, especially high dose medroxyprogesterone acetate, are receiving renewed attention in treatment of advanced breast cancer. The trials reviewed here indicate that such regimens may be as effective as tamoxifen in postmenopausal unselected cases, and that they may be effective as second-line treatment in patients resistant to tamoxifen and/or to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

A phase II study of combined 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in advanced breast cancer.

In a Phase II study, 50 patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2) and mitomycin C (6 mg/m2 on day 2) (FuMi regimen). The courses were repeated every third to sixth week. Although 35 patients had previously received combination chemotherapy and 40 patients had received endocrine treatment, objective responses were obtained in 29 patients (six complete, 23 partial).