[Efficacy of combination chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, vincristine, doxifluridine and prednisolone for recurrence of breast cancer].

We treated fifteen patients with recurrent breast cancer by a combination of mitoxantrone (8 mg/m i.v., day 1), vincristine (1.2 mg/m i.v., day 1), doxifluridine (800 mg/body po, everyday) and prednisolone (30 mg/body po, day 1-7). Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks and all patients received more than 2 cycles. A response to treatment was observed in 9 of 15 evaluable patients (60.0%) with 4 complete remissions and 5 partial remissions. Eight patients were previously exposed to anthracyclines. In 5 of 7 cases with no previous chemotherapy, treatment was effective, and in 4 of 8 cases previous chemotherapy was effective. The toxicity was primarily leucopenia (86.7%), and 9 patients received G-CSF therapy. Other toxicities (alopecia, neurologic and general fatigue) were mild. Two patients with heart failure were recognized and treated with other therapy. This chemotherapy is effective for the treatment of recurrent breast cancer.